September 2025

After three days of entertaining Champions League action across the continent, the top spots in the preliminary groups were decided by the final games of the Qualification Round on Sunday. VPK Primorac Kotor beat last season’s runners-up VK Novi Beograd on penalties to top Group A, while Vasas Plaket claimed a narrow victory against KEIO CN Sabadell to reach the summit of Group B, and HAVK Mladost brushed AN Brescia aside to take the honours in Group C. The final group line-ups for the men’s 2025/26 Champions League season can be found at the end of this article. 2025/26 Champions League MenQualification RoundDay 3, Sunday 21 September Group A (Belgrade) CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU) 21-8 Pays D’Aix Natation (FRA)VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 13-13 (3-5P) VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) Standings: 1. Primorac 8pts, 2. NBG 7pts, 3. Steaua Bucharest 3pts, 4. Pays d’Aix Natation 0pts Group B (Sabadell) KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) 10-12 Vasas Plaket (HUN) Standings: 1. Vasas 6pts, 2. Sabadell 3pts, 3. Spandau 0pts Group C (Zagreb) HAVK Mladost (CRO) 18-8 AN Brescia (ITA) Standings: 1. Mladost 6pts, 2. Brescia 3pts, 3. Vouliagmeni 0pts Group A (Belgrade) CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU) 21-8 Pays D’Aix Natation (FRA) Steaua Bucharest piled more misery on Pays d’Aix Natation on the final day of the Qualification Round, as the French suffered a third successive heavy defeat in Belgrade. The writing was on the wall from the start, as the Romanians raced into a 5-1 lead in the first quarter. Five more Steaua goals followed in the second and with the score standing at 10-3 at half-time, the result was in no doubt, and it was clear Pays d’Aix Natation were going to be heading home with little to show for their efforts. They did manage to win the third quarter (4-5), reducing the deficit to five on two occasions (12-7 and 13-8), which allowed them to avoid an even bigger loss, especially as Steaua showed no mercy in the closing stages, hitting eight without reply. As both teams finished in the bottom two, they will now go on to contest the Euro Cup qualifiers, which take place from 3rd-5th October. VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 13-13 (3-5P) VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) Penalties were needed to decide the outcome of Group A, after VK Novi Beograd and VPK Primorac Kotor played out an entertaining 13-13 thriller in the day’s final game. The hosts got off to the brighter start, working the ball well and establishing a 4-2 lead after the first break. Their advantage should have been three, but Nikola Lukic saw his penalty saved by Dimitrije Risticevic. In the second, Marko Mrsic and Dordije Stanojevic struck back-to-back goals to level things up for Primorac, and then their new signing, Japanese star Yusuke Inaba, missed the chance to give his side the lead as his penalty was saved by Milan Glusac. Miroslav Perkovic edged the hosts back in front from a six on five, but then Inaba made up for his earlier miss with a fine action goal, and further strikes from Stefan Vidovic (from a penalty) and Balsa Vuckovic (from action) saw Primorac move two in front (5-7) with 1:21 left in the half. NBG were being roared on by the home support, and by the end of the third, the scores were level at 10-10, which set up a grandstand finish. Vasilije Martinoviv hammered in after two minutes from action to put the hosts back in front, but Marko Mrsic converted a six on five to equalise with 5:23 on the clock. The tension was clearly rising and Primorac coach Athanasios Kechagias was shown a yellow card, a minute before Inaba scored from an extra to make it 11-12. At this point, NBG were throwing everything into their attacks and although Luka Gladovic tied the game at 12-12, there was still 4:04 left to play and Mrsic silenced the supporters again by making it 12-13 with 3:37 remaining. NBG agonisingly missed two six on fives (the second after a time-out), but 50 seconds from the final buzzer, Nikola Lukic stepped up to score from 6m and sent the game to a shootout. Primorac were flawless, with Mrsic, Inaba, Savo Cetkovic, Balsa Vuckovic and Nikola Brkic all converting their shots, while Duro Radovic missed in the third round, which meant NBG would finish as runners-up in the group. Group B (Sabadell) KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) 10-12 Vasas Plaket (HUN) Hungary’s Vasas inflicted a narrow defeat on Sabadell on the last day of the qualifiers to finish top of Group B. The Spaniards led 3-1 late in the first, but they never managed to pull away and open up a significant advantage. Vasas’ Bence Batori had the final say of the opening quarter, converting a six on five to make it 3-2. It was Batori who levelled things up early in the second from another extra, then Sabadell reset their two-goal lead through Jan Perez Rodriguez and Sergi Cabanas, both from six on fives. The gap could have been three, but Oscar Asensio Surribas saw his shot from extra saved in the middle of those two strikes. Vasas hit a wave after that, firing in three unanswered goals to move 5-6 up at half-time, and ultimately it was a lead they never relinquished. Dome Dala continued the Hungarians’ scoring run at the start of the third for 5-7, and although Cabanas cut the deficit to one 22 seconds later, that was as close as Sabadell got in the remaining time. By the end of the third, Vasas were clear by four (8-12) and despite not scoring in the fourth, their defence limited Sabadell to two goals, and Marton Mizsei also saved an Alberton Barroso penalty, which was enough to secure all the points and win the group. Group C (Zagreb) HAVK Mladost (CRO) 18-8 AN Brescia (ITA) HAVK Mladost enjoyed a second double-digit victory in the Qualification Round as they eased past AN Brescia in Zagreb. After thrashing Vouliagmeni by 12 (16-4) on Saturday,

All six spots in the main Group Stage were booked on day two of the men’s Champions League Qualification Round. KEIO CN Sabadell, Vasas Plaket, HAVK Mladost, AN Brescia, VK Novi Beograd and VPK Primorac Kotor all landed expected wins to confirm their places at the top table. However, there is still plenty to play for in the three preliminary groups, as the top spots will all be decided on Sunday. 2025/26 Champions League MenQualification RoundDay 2, Saturday 20 September Group A (Belgrade) VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 20-6 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 17-8 Pays D’Aix Natation (FRA) Standings: 1. NBG 6pts, 1. Primorac 6pts, 3. Steaua Bucharest 0pts, 3. Pays d’Aix Natation 0pts Group B (Sabadell) KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) 12-11 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) Standings: 1. Vasas 3pts, 1. Sabadell 3pts, 3. Spandau 0pts Group C (Zagreb) HAVK Mladost (CRO) 16-4 Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) Standings: 1. Mladost 3pts, 1. Brescia 3pts, 3. Vouliagmeni 0pts Group A, Belgrade VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 17-8 Pays D’Aix Natation (FRA) Once again, the two favourites – Primorac and NBG – did a clean job on the second day of the Qualification Round. Primorac stormed into a 7-2 lead against Pays d’Aix Natation in one and half periods and never looked back. The Montenegrins outclassed their rivals from the start, but the French were able to force a more balanced game in the third quarter, which saw three goals apiece. However, Primorac were leading by five goals at that point (11-6) and were firmly in control. They even started rolling in the fourth again, hitting six more goals to extend their lead to nine and comfortably secure a spot in the Group Stage again. VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 20-6 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU) On Sunday, Primorac will clash with hosts Novi Beograd for the top spot in this group, as both teams remain unbeaten and on maximum points. In NBG’s second game, against Steaua Bucharest, the Serbs started in a dominant fashion and were soon cruising along on their desired path. After just 80 seconds, they were up by two and the score was 7-0 at the first break. The Romanians finally managed to open their account after 10:09 minutes, but at that stage, NBG held a 9-0 advantage. Not surprisingly, NBG switched to power-saving mode, but they still kept their composure and concentration levels high enough to score 20 goals in total, after netting 23 on day one. Group B, Sabadell KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) 12-11 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) Spandau forced another tight clash, this time against the hosts, Sabadell, but again agonisingly fell short by a single goal (after losing to Vasas 16-17 on day one), and this second defeat ultimately ended their qualification hopes. Sabadell’s win also secured a ticket to the main Group Stage for Vasas, whose players enjoyed a rest day after edging out the Germans on Friday. Just like the Hungarians, the Spaniards also found it extremely difficult to down the Berliners, who took the lead three times in the first quarter, before the home side buried two six on fives in the last minute to take a 4-3 lead. Federico Panerai’s fine centre shot doubled Sabadell’s lead early in the second, then came four and a half minutes of tough battling, before Marton Nagy hit a great one from action. However, Sergi Cabanas, one of Spain’s freshly-crowned world champions, put away an extra with 0:02 on the clock to make it 6-4 at half-time. When Sabadell added two more 90 seconds into the third, while killing a man-down in between, they seemed to have taken the upper hand at 8-4. The Germans were far from done, though, and hit back with three action goals in a row, two more from Nagy, and another nice shot from veteran captain Marko Stamm and they were back in it at 8-7. A Sabadell time-out call came immediately and that helped settle the hosts. The Spaniards forced a penalty, Panerai buried it, and in 27 seconds, Alberto Barroso finished off a counter for 10-7. Spandau still kept some hope for the final quarter as Matej Caraj sent the ball home from a man-up. However, it was Sabadell who scored first in the fourth, after just 47 seconds, and even though Stamm managed to pull one back, Jan Perez also buried an extra with 4:56 on the clock for 12-9. Stamm was on fire, though, and fired one in from 6m right away, and Spandau had 4:36 minutes to earn something from this entertaining encounter (and keep their qualification dreams alive). In the end, Sabadell’s defence held firm, as when Stamm hit his fourth of the afternoon, from a six on five, only 38 seconds remained. And they never had the chance to force at least a shootout, as the hosts forced a man-up 18 seconds from time and kept the ball until the end. Group C, Zagreb HAVK Mladost (CRO) 16-4 Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) Hosts Mladost took to the stage for the first time, and they kicked off their Champions League campaign with a real show of power. Vouliagmeni were totally blown away and an upset against the star-studded Croatian line-up never looked on the cards. Mladost established a 3-1 lead in the first period, and hit three more at the start of the second for 6-1, which practically broke the Greeks. The Croats were clinical in front of the goal, firing in great shots from action and also converting man-ups with a fine percentage – with two six on fives before the middle break giving them a 9-3 advantage, so the result was all but decided by half-time. Vouliagmeni’s Nikolaos Giannatos pulled one back 55 seconds into the third, but that turned out to be his team’s final goal, as the second half turned into an even more one-sided affair. In the last 13 minutes, Mladost handed out a 7-0 thrashing, which was enough to secure their place in the main Group Stage, along with

On the opening day of the Champions League Qualification Round, Vasas downed Spandau in a thrilling match in Sabadell, while Brescia fended off Vouliagmeni’s late surge in Zagreb. These wins might be crucial in the race for the spots in the Group Stage. Elsewhere, Novi Beograd and Primorac Kotor both kicked off their respective campaigns with convincing wins. 2025/26 Champions League MenQualification RoundDay 1, Friday 19 September Group A (Belgrade) VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 23-10 Pays D’Aix Natation (FRA)VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 15-12 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU) Group B (Sabadell) Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) 16-17 Vasa Plaket (HUN) Group C (Zagreb) Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) 13-15 AN Brescia (ITA) Group A, Belgrade VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 23-10 Pays D’Aix Natation (FRA) Last season’s runners-up VK Novi Beograd took a flying start against Pays D’Aix Natation in the opening clash of the weekend. The French managed to withstand some early pressure in the first period and kept up until 4-3, but after that the Serbs blew them away. Two more goals put NBG in control at 6-3 and they then produced a 5-0 blitz in the second quarter, which practically decided the outcome by half-time. With three more goals in the third, NBG staged a 10-0 run, while shutting out their rivals for almost 12 minutes. NBG stopped at 23, adding six goals per period in the second half, and Vasilije Martinovic led the charge with seven goals. VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 15-12 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU) In the second match, Primorac also claimed a dominant win. However, it took some time for the Montenegrins to deliver the killer blow to Steaua, as the Romanians only trailed by two midway through the second quarter (6-4). But then came the knockout sequence. In a devastating three-goal burst, Primorac showed off their full arsenal – lightning counters, a thunderbolt from the centre, and a display of power that sucked the life out of their Romanian rivals. Suddenly it was 9-4 and the game was well and truly slipping away from Steaua. By the start of the third, Primorac’s lead had grown to five (11-6), and at that point it was hard to imagine a Steaua comeback. It never came, as the Montenegrins expertly managed the rest of the game in a professional manner. They never let the Romanians inside four goals, apart from at the very end, 44 seconds from time, but by then, the game had long been over. Group B, Sabadell Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) 16-17 Vasa Plaket (HUN) Both teams may have gone through some changes in the summer, but Vasas were still considered the favourites and they played accordingly while storming to a 3-6 lead in the first eight minutes. However, the Germans caught a wave early in the second and hit three goals from as many possessions and that turned the game into a thriller. The Hungarians were able to regain a two-goal lead from time to time – they led 7-9 at half-time – but Spandau always found a way to catch them up. What’s more, they hammered in another 3-0 rush after 9-11 to take the lead for the first time at 12-11, which they held at the end of the third. The Magyars hit back with a quick double, though Marek Tkac equalised again for 13-13. After that, Vasas went ahead again and again, but the Germans kept levelling it up every time until 16-16. Marton Nagy, a Hungarian, was on fire for Spandau, he netted his side’s last two goals (he finished the game with five), but it was Vasas that had the last laugh. Tamas Gyarfas also buried his fifth goal, from a man-up, with 1:19 to go. Spandau had one last chance, a six on five right at the end with just 11 seconds remaining, but Vasas goalkeeper Marton Mizsei, who came in for the last period, delivered the decisive save to prevent his team from the tensions of a shootout. In this group of three, this win maybe decisive in the contest for the two qualifying spots. Group C (Zagreb) Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) 13-15 AN Brescia (ITA) After an action-packed first period, that saw Brescia build a 4-6 lead, the Italian side launched the perfect storm in the second quarter. After Tommaso Gianazza’s early hit from action, a penalty save gave Brescia an even bigger boost, as they added three more before half-time, while the bewildered Greeks were unable to find the net. Beside the penalty, they missed three six on fives, while Brescia established a 4-10 lead at the turnaround. Gianazza netted another one right after the restart, and they seemed to be in cruise control. However, the Greeks smelled blood, went all-in and with a 0-4 run, they came back to 8-11 with eight minutes remaining. They had a shot to come even closer, missed it, then Alessandro Balzarini’s fine action goal ended their surge, and even though Vincenzo Dolce’s penalty was well saved, Dolce soon scored from action for 8-13, leaving no way back for Vouliagmeni. Still, the Greeks fought on and netted the last two goals for 13-15, and they had 67 seconds to produce a miracle. It never happened though, as Brescia landed all three points despite losing the second half 9-5. For the full fixtures/schedule/tables from the Champions League Qualification Round, click hereWatch all the action live on European Aquatics TV Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

The new water polo season is set to begin on Friday, as the Champions League Men’s Preliminary Round kicks off across Europe. In the reshaped competition format, the 10 teams competing will play for the six remaining Group Stage spots at three venues across the weekend (19-21 September). Group A, Belgrade • VK Novi Beograd (SRB)• VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE)• CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)• Pays D’Aix Natation (FRA) There is no doubt last season’s runners-up, VK Novi Beograd, are the outstanding favourites in this quartet. The Serbs, despite seeing more changes in their line-up (a batch of key players moved to arch-rivals Radnicki in the summer), still have the strength and depth to play in the Group Stage. Montenegro’s VPK Primorac Kotor look set to be their main rivals in the race for the first place. With the top two teams advancing, the result between them might not be that crucial, though both sides will want to make an early statement this weekend. CSA Steaua Bucharest and Pays D’Aix Natation will also be confident of challenging the two favourites, but they will need a perfect day if they are to cause an upset. Group B, Sabadell • KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP)• Vasas Plaket (HUN)• Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) This group is going to be tough, as one of the three competing sides – all with plenty of Champions League experience – will fall at the end. Back in the 1980s, the battles between Hungary’s Vasas Plaket and Germany’s Spandau 04 Berlin were the pinnacle of the competition. The two sides also had several showdowns with the trophy at stake. This time, the losers of the opening day’s duel might have to face elimination, as hosts KEIO CN Sabadell appear the strongest. Still, it’s only two matches in total each – and the outcomes are unpredictable – so we can expect lots of drama. Group C, Zagreb • HAVK Mladost Zagreb (CRO)• AN Brescia (ITA)• Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) Like Group B, this three-horse race promises nothing but sheer excitements. Hosts HAVK Mladost Zagreb are ready to chase the old glory, especially with more seasoned veterans from Croatia’s Olympic silver medal-winning side added to their line-up. However, they will face some fierce opposition from Italy’s AN Brescia and Greece’s Vouliagmeni NC. Both sides went through some changes recently, relying more on home players – many of them young and hungry – rather than foreign aces, and that might just give them more determination to clinch one of the two qualifying spots. For the full fixtures/schedule/tables, click hereWatch all the action live on European Aquatics TV Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics