November 2025

Pro Recco became the second team to qualify for the Quarter Final Stage after a powerful third-quarter performance helped them outgun VK Novi Beograd by four goals. Elsewhere, SPD Radnicki’s seasoned pros combined to sink Vasas Plaket in Budapest, Jadran finally got off the mark with a hard-fought home victory against Herceg Novi, and Zodiac CNAB pulled away in the third period to down local rivals Sabadell. 2025/26 Champions League MenGroup Stage, Day 4Wednesday 19 November Group A Vasas Plaket (HUN) 13-15 SPD Radnicki (SRB) Group B Pro Recco (ITA) 13-9 VK Novi Beograd (SRB)VK Jadran Split (CRO) 15-13 Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) Group D Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 13-7 KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) Group A Vasas Plaket (HUN) 13-15 SPD Radnicki (SRB) Radnicki came to Budapest to stay alive – an unexpected defeat would have definitely dropped them out of the race for the Quarter Final Stage. Vasas didn’t let them achieve their goals easily, but in the end, the Serbs won and remain on track. In the first period, Radnicki seemed to gain control thanks to their seasoned veterans, as Andrija Prlainovic, Dusko Pijetlovic, Angelos Vlachopoulos and Boris Vapenski all netted fine goals, three from action, to take a 1-4 lead. It could have been more, but Joao Fernandes stopped Strahinja Rasovic’s penalty, and that gave the game an unexpected twist. Out of nowhere, Vasas hit two in the last 39 seconds of the first quarter. Bence Batori netted a penalty, then Soma Lakatos finished off a counter to make it 3-4. Benedek Ragacs’ fierce one-timer put Vasas back level at the start of the second, and, even though Vlachopoulos halted the hosts’ run with a man-up goal, Kristof Varnai also put away one from close range to make it 5-5. The hosts then made a couple of mistakes up front, and Radnicki’s experienced players punished them immediately. Rasovic and Petar Jaksic scored two fast man-up goals in a span of 30 seconds. Vasas then missed a six-on-five, while Vlachopoulos’ smart shot from the perimeter expanded the gap to three goals once more at 5-8. Dome Dala pulled one back from an extra, then Vasas also killed a man-down, but wasted their next extra without a shot, so Radnicki led 6-8 at half-time. Still, Peter Szalai beat three blocks and the goalie in the dying seconds to cut the deficit to a single goal, and Vasas managed to stay close in the following minutes. They converted their extras, though Fernandes couldn’t do much with the Serbs’ perimeter shots either. The next twist came at 9-11, when Vasas couldn’t convert their third six-on-five, while Vlachopoulos’ ball sailed into the net again to reset the three-goal difference. And the Greek genius ensured Radnicki kept control as he put away another extra after a fine action goal from Varnai, giving the Serbs a 10-13 lead after three periods. Fernandes produced another penalty save early in the fourth, but unlike in the first period, this didn’t send Radnicki into a downward spiral. Radoslav Filipovic also posted a crucial save in a man-down, and Prlainovic beat the blocks and the goalie at the other end for 10-14. Dala pulled one back soon after, but Vasas ran out of steam to impose a real threat on their rivals. The next five minutes left the scoreboard untouched, before Nikola Dedovic converted an extra 57 seconds from time to seal Radnicki’s important win. Batori added two more in the remaining time, but it was only late consolation, as Vasas bowed out of the contest for the top two spots – while Radnicki still need big wins to go through. Group B Pro Recco (ITA) 13-9 VK Novi Beograd (SRB) Novi Beograd put up a good fight, but Recco started dominating in the third period thanks to their physical superiority – and in the end they won their fourth match to remain the only unbeaten side besides title-holders Ferencvaros. The young Serbs took the lead twice in the first three minutes but couldn’t add any more in the remaining five of the first period, while Giacomo Cannella and Francesco Di Fulvio hit back-to-back goals to put Recco ahead. Andrea Mladossich netted another from action to make it 4-2 early in the second, but NBG replied immediately, as Milos Cuk converted a man-up. The pattern continued – Rino Buric put away a six-on-five, but Miroslav Perkovic delivered a great finish from the centre midway through the quarter. Cannella also converted a man-up, then the Serbs earned back-to-back man-ups but missed both. They earned another in the dying seconds, though, and Dusan Trtovic’s buzzer-beater made it 6-5. Recco needed only 15 seconds to open the third with a goal, Australian star Luke Pavillard putting away an extra. The Italians couldn’t score from the next one but killed two man-downs in a row. Still, Nikola Lukic hit one from action for 7-6, suggesting a tight battle. Not for long. Alvaro Granados finally scored from a man-up, and at the other end Vasilije Martinovic missed a penalty. This changed the course of the game, as Recco earned a penalty of their own and Granados buried it, so instead of 8-7 it stood 9-6. Soon NBG had a six-on-four, but Recco’s defence did a tremendous job, first denying that situation and then another man-down after Novi’s time-out. Granados completed a hat-trick shortly after by converting an extra. Again, the Serbs missed a man-up, and Pavillard answered with a brilliant action shot for 11-6 – a blow that practically floored their rivals. Milos Cuk pulled one back two seconds from time, but a miraculous comeback in the fourth seemed far-fetched with four goals to make up. And indeed, it never came. After a quick exchange of goals, NBG missed another six-on-four; they later scored from a single man-up, but missed their next. Matteo Iocchi Gratta sealed Recco’s fourth victory by netting a nicely played six-on-five with 1:45 remaining. Group B VK Jadran Split (CRO) 15-13 Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) Jadran Split

FTC-Telekom were held 4-4 at half-time by Oradea, as the Romanians put up a great fight – only to be completely outclassed in the second half after the title-holders switched gears and staged a 0-13 rout. Fradi became the first team to reach the Quarter Final Stage. Tuesday’s other clashes offered a lot more excitement. Mladost won an absolute thriller to end Olympiacos’ unbeaten run – the Croats came back from three goals down to bury a last-gasp penalty. Hannover’s home trap worked again, as after their stunning win over Sabadell, the Germans produced an even bigger upset by downing last season’s F4 participants Marseille. Brescia and Primorac were part of another scoring festival. The Italians prevailed, and only a series of unlikely results may prevent them from going through. 2025/26 Champions League MenGroup Stage, Day 4Tuesday 18 November Group A HAVK Mladost (CRO) 14-13 Olympiacos SFP (GRE) Group C CSM Oradea (ROU) 5-17 FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN)AN Brescia (ITA) 19-16 VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) Group D Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) 14-13 CN Marseille (FRA) Group A HAVK Mladost (CRO) 14-13 Olympiacos SFP (GRE) The clash in Zagreb was an absolute thriller, decided by a penalty called at the moment the last buzzer went. Since Ivan Nagaev buried it, Mladost managed to end Olympiacos’ unbeaten streak. The first half was evenly contested, with the lead changing hands constantly. The Greeks went in front twice before Josip Vrlic scored a fabulous goal from the centre, and just 42 seconds later Ante Vukicevic converted an extra to make it 3-2. Konstantinos Kakaris levelled it with a close-range finish on a man-up. Then Panagiotis Tzortzatos stopped Konstantin Kharkov’s penalty, which led to Gergo Zalanki’s blistering shot at the other end 16 seconds from the first break for 3-4. A nice set-up found Vrlic on the 2m line, who equalised 45 seconds into the second quarter. Both teams then missed a six-on-five, and Daniel Angyal’s fine action shot from the perimeter put Olympiacos ahead once more at 4-5. Vukicevic was on target again, and Matias Biljaka’s marvellous lob made it 6-5. However, in just 40 seconds it turned back – Dimitrios Dimou buried an extra, then Olympiacos forced a penalty on another six-on-five, and Konstantinos Genidounias scored for 6-7. Tzortzatos made a couple of big saves to hold that score until half-time, including another man-down stop early in the third. Franko Lazic finally beat him, tying it at 7-7. The Greek reply was swift – a great feed to Ioannis Alafragkis at the far post for an easy put-away on an extra, followed midway through the third by Ioannis Fountoulis burying a penalty. For the first time, there was a two-goal gap, soon extended to three as Angyal’s block killed Mladost’s extra, and Evangelos Pouros found the back of the net on the Greeks’ man-up. At 7-10, Olympiacos seemed in control. They denied another Croatian six-on-five and had a couple of shots to go up by four but missed them. Still, even though Ivan Nagaev pulled off his trademark no-look shot from a sharp angle on Mladost’s last extra – which also ended the hosts’ drought after 5:30 minutes – Olympiacos still looked stronger and more composed. That changed 55 seconds into the fourth when Andrija Basic netted a fine action goal, which was significant in a game where most goals had come from extras and penalties. The Greeks’ offensive rhythm dropped significantly, as they missed another extra, and with 4:03 on the clock, Kharkov’s rocket brought the home side back to even at 10-10. Olympiacos’ troubles continued as Mauro Cubranic saved Zalanki’s penalty on the next possession. At 10-10, it was a huge turning point. Amidst some controversy, Mladost’s man-up goal was annulled. A six-on-four came instead, which they missed. Moments later, a penalty was called for an illegal re-entry, and Nagaev scored to extend the Croatian run to 4-0. The Greeks could barely find their way back, missing another extra before converting one and then forcing a penalty – Konstantinos Genidounias scored for 11-11 with 1:57 remaining. What followed were the craziest two minutes of the season. Kharkov fired in a brilliant action goal immediately, but Genidounias equalised from a man-up after a time-out, with 1:08 to go. At the other end, following an exclusion and a time-out, Lazic finished brilliantly 38 seconds from time for 13-12. Just 10 seconds later, Olympiacos forced a six-on-five, which Angyal scored from after a precise delivery with 0:15 on the clock to make it 13-13. Another exclusion came at 0:05, and a penalty was called right on the buzzer. The Greeks hotly debated it, though the replay showed contact from Angyal justified the call (no VAR is in place at this stage). Nagaev calmly swam up to take it and left no chance for the goalie, securing three extremely valuable points for Mladost, potentially worth a berth in the quarters. Group C CSM Oradea (ROU) 5-17 FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) Fradi came within 27 seconds of something they hadn’t experienced in years – a scoreless quarter. Their attack simply wasn’t firing, and whenever they did produce a chance – including three six-on-fives – Oradea goalkeeper Lazar Dobozanov was there with a big save. At the other end, the title-holders gradually locked in defensively. Although they conceded early when Filip Gardasevic fired home from distance just 27 seconds into the game, the Hungarians quickly tightened up. Akos Nagy finally broke the ice with a delicate lob that dropped into the net, bringing Fradi level at 1-1 with 27 seconds left in the first period. FTC’s outside threats began to find their range in the second quarter, as Krisztian Manhercz and Marton Vamos struck with well-taken action goals. But the hosts kept responding. At 3-3 they even earned a six-on-four but squandered it, only for Vendel Vigvari to convert the ensuing man-up. Once again, though, the equaliser came quickly. Flavius Ilisie scored with 26 seconds remaining, making it 4-4 and setting up what looked like a very

Heading into the second half of the Champions League group stage, the stakes are higher and the pressure is growing, as the margin for error gets smaller by the minute in the matches scheduled for Day 4. Group A(CET times shown) Tuesday 20.30HAVK Mladost Zagreb (CRO) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) Head-to-head: 0-3Day 1: 9-13. 2018-19: 6-14, 8-13 Last week, both sides claimed hard-fought away wins, which put them in pole position before the start of the second half, the ultimate phase in the race for the top two qualifying spots. It’s one of the biggest clashes in this round, as the winners will almost surely go through. Olympiacos are fresh from their huge win in Kragujevac – now they face another demanding task, a visit to Zagreb. On the opening day, they downed Mladost at home by four goals despite missing no fewer than four penalties in the game, so their dominance was clear. Still, winning in the Mladost pool has always been a tough challenge for the top sides when the Croats belonged to the European elite – and their current team are on their way to entering the highest ranks again. The Greek champions are led by a Croat, Elvis Fatovic, which adds some extra flavour to this contest, and they seem to be the favourites in this match too. Wed 20.30VasasPlaket (HUN) v SPD Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) Head-to-head: 0-1Day 1: 16-17 After losing tight battles to their biggest rivals – Mladost and Olympiacos – in two consecutive weeks, Radnicki need to approach each match as a final in the remaining three rounds. One thing is sure, they cannot afford to drop any points in Budapest, where the Greeks and the Croats managed to land all three in the previous rounds. Still, despite three straight losses, Vasas should not be underestimated, as they also put big pressure on Mladost – and the Serbs could also recall their home opener, where they had to dig deep to fend off the Hungarians’ never-ceasing attacking threats. Bence Batori, captain of Vasas, is committed to coming up with something special in their last home game in this stage. “There is no question that Kragujevac are a world-class team, full of Serbian stars and other internationals. “But we played a really good match against them in Kragujevac a few weeks ago and now we are preparing for something similar in the Komjadi pool, in front of the Vasas fans.” Group B(CET times shown) Wed 18.30Jadran Split (CRO) v Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) Head-to-head: 4-3 (1d)Day 1: 11-14. 2023-24: 16-14, 11-10, 2020-21: 11-14, 15-10. 2019-20: 6-12. 2018-19: 11-9, 6-6 The battle of the two Jadrans has a lot more at stake for the Montenegrins. After three straight losses, the Croatians only have a slim chance of reaching the next round – but they can be dangerous too, as a quality team playing with a nothing-to-lose attitude can pose a big threat to any rival, especially at home. As their player Ivan Zovic put it, “We need to focus entirely on the match against Herceg Novi and give our maximum. There’s no point thinking about reaching the next round – too many things would have to go our way. “What matters is that we can play much better, and I hope we show that on Wednesday. I believe in this team. We have players with strong character and we need to show that every time we play.” The Montenegrins managed to win the first leg of the Duel of the Adriatic, and their big away win in Belgrade rocketed them into the top contenders’ position for the runners-up spot behind Recco. They have to come up with the same – or an even better – performance to prevail in Split, though it will be anything but an easy ride. Wed 20.30Pro Recco (ITA) v VK Novi Beograd (SRB) Head-to-head: 5-0Day 1: 12-8. 2023-24: 10-10 (pen: 5-4), 15-7. 2022-23: 14-11 (final). 2021-22: 13-13 (pen: 4-3, final) It’s hard to see any other outcome than a victory for Recco in this fixture. The current team of Novi Beograd is no longer the side that might match the Italians’ strength. The reshaped team of the 11-time winners showed no mercy at home, thrashing both Jadrans, and their 12-8 win in Belgrade also came after a dominant performance. Francesco Cassia’s words before the game mirror that confidence, “We’ve only played three games, so there’s a long way to go. So far, things have been positive, but as always, we’ll assess everything at the end. “Yes, the match against Novi will be crucial. We’re lucky to be playing at home, so I expect a big crowd. It’s very important for us, and we’ll give our best as always. The guys and the team are fantastic, and the staff are incredible too. “[Sandro] Sukno is an excellent coach, so everything is going great. I’m satisfied. We’re preparing very well for this match against Novi Beograd.” Group C(CET times shown) Tue 18.30CSM Oradea (ROU) v FTC-Telekom (HUN) Head-to-head: 0-3Day 1: 19-11. 2024-25: 7-18, 10-20 In this calendar year, Oradea have met Fradi three times and never had any realistic chance to force a close match. The number of conceded goals tells the story – 18-19-20 – the Romanian champions are the underdogs at home too. Still, what may be good news for the local fans, at least in advance, is that the title-holders’ appearance guarantees a scoring festival. They kicked off their campaign against Oradea with a 30-goal game, followed by a 38- and a 41-goal feast, against Brescia and then against Primorac. The FTC coaching staff are not as happy with that as the fans have been, though, and they would definitely like to see a change in the way the team defends, and this match in Oradea seems to be a good opportunity to advance this plan. Still, the hosts also wish to have a word or two. “Things didn’t go as we wanted against Brescia last week,”

It’s going to be a historic week in water polo: from 10–13 June, Malta will host both the Men’s and Women’s Champions League Final Four tournaments. This marks the first time ever that these two events are held in the same place, at the same time, with Europe’s best women’s and men’s teams set to be crowned on back-to-back days.All eyes will be on Malta’s aquatic temple, the Tal-Qroqq Complex, as the top four teams in both the Men’s and Women’s Champions League converge for the ultimate water polo showcase. While Malta hosted the last two editions of the men’s finals, the agreement to add the women’s Final Four was only approved last weekend. European Aquatics First Vice-President Josip Varvodić was on site in Malta to sign the contract with the Minister for Education, Sport and Youth of Malta, Clifton Grima, and the President of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta, Karl Izzo.Never before have these finals been staged together—a concept other team sports have yet to explore. This groundbreaking move by European Aquatics sets the stage for a historic double coronation to conclude the continent’s premier club competitions.“We are glad that the Government of Malta and the ASA of Malta agreed to support our intention to bring the promotion of our top club competitions to a new dimension,” Mr Varvodić said. “With this, we also give a tremendous boost to the attention women’s water polo enjoys nowadays. Handing over the two most coveted trophies within 24 hours on the same stage is something every water polo fan wants to see, and together with our Maltese hosts we can offer these unforgettable moments for fans across Europe and around the world this coming June.”The four-day spectacle will start with the women’s semi-finals on 10 June, followed by the men’s semis the next day. The Champions League Women’s final shall be played on 12 June, and the top men sides will clash for the Champions League trophy on 13 June –after the contest for the bronze medal.      

1. Hitting the halfway mark, it’s clear that title-holders FTC-Telekom, 11-time winners Pro Recco and a reshaped Olympiacos Piraeus made the most of the first three rounds, as they’re the only teams with a perfect record. At the other end of the scale, Vasas, Primorac Kotor and Jadran Split are already heading toward the exit with three straight losses. While the teams with three wins caused no surprises by reaching that mark, Jadran’s miseries are somewhat unexpected. The Croats at least made the quarter-final round in previous seasons, though they crashed spectacularly both in 2024 and 2025 as they were unable to win a single game in regular time (a shootout win in Piraeus was their lone success in 12 games). Now they seem set to avoid all the usual spring embarrassments, but for the wrong reasons, as they might not even advance from the Group Stage. Too bad to see that from a team that recently had great aspirations, though never fulfilled their potential. 2. Another stunning takeaway from the first half of the Group Stage is the struggles of the Serbian teams. Obviously, there was a shift in power between the two greats, as Radnicki drew most of Novi Beograd’s star players to Kragujevac like a magnet. Still, Radnicki have produced the same performance as NBG – just one win from three games and two losses. After a hard-fought victory against underdogs Vasas, they fell short in Zagreb, and on Day 3, Olympiacos upended them as well. This is a team with a star-studded line-up, with Olympic gold medals shining in every square metre of the pool – yet they now face an uphill battle in the remaining three rounds, with two away matches and the ultimate goal of beating Mladost at home by at least three goals on Day 5. In the other camp, in the capital, the NBG project has been toned down, as the young team are no longer expected to make the Final Four, where they had been a constant feature in the last four editions – in the last two years on their own merit (in 2022 and 2023 they were the hosts) – even reaching the final after a brilliant win against CNAB in the semis. And they still have a chance to turnaround their fortunes, as they lost by only a single goal to Jadran Herceg Novi this week – it’s not going to be easy to take revenge in Montenegro, but they would need just a win to force a tie in the head-to-head and leave the decision to total goal difference. 3. As usual, there is a lot to talk about with Ferencvaros, as the title-holders never cease to offer new perspectives for evaluating their performances. As of now, they are shaping into a kind of Budapest Globetrotters, with pure entertainment in focus. After producing a 38-goal game in Brescia, they topped it with a 41-goal festival at home against Primorac. This is the best thing that can happen for fans in the stands and in front of screens worldwide – but it doesn’t make head coach Balazs Nyeki too happy, as his side conceded 17 on Day 2 and 15 on Wednesday. At the same time, they hit 26, a Champions League record for them – and they achieved that with Dusan Mandic (F8 MVP in 2021) and Krisztian Manhercz (F4 MVP in 2025) sitting in the stands. That’s remarkable, to say the least, and a true demonstration of their enormous depth. Still, their defence is underperforming, though coach Nyeki said in his post-game interview that attacking is in the blood of all Hungarian players, while defending is a kind of second-rated task – and in this new water polo in the 25m field, he has no intention of holding his players back. “Honestly, when you win by 11 goals in the Champions League, should I tell them to feel ashamed?” Szilard Jansik offered another point – that by scoring a lot, they also give their rivals as many opportunities to restart the game 26 times from the half-line, with a full 28 seconds of possession and the chance to bring in players from the bench with fresh legs. “Many of these attacks end in an exclusion, a fine scoring opportunity,” said Jansik. “Also, our rivals take a lot more risks when playing with us. They face the European champions, they will take shots at every opportunity or make moves which in a tight game they wouldn’t make against a defence which is organised around launching counters. I guess conceding another goal from the best team is not something they worry about.” 4. Sabadell threw Group D into turmoil by beating Marseille in France, the most stunning result of the third round. The Spanish have never lacked the edge to cause trouble even for the best sides, as seen on Day 1 against Barceloneta (and recall they were the last team to beat Ferencvaros in Budapest in a Champions League match, though that dates back to 2023). However, their failure in Hannover on Day 2 was a devastating blow to their campaign to claim the runners-up spot. Two weeks on, they visited Marseille, a team fresh from bringing down CNAB in Barcelona, an absolutely amazing feat. On paper, the outcome seemed obvious – another win for the French, who are traditionally stronger at home, and a third straight defeat for Sabadell, which would have dropped them out of the race. Instead, the Spaniards came up with a brilliant outing. Edu Lorrio posted another great performance in goal, while Kanstantin Averka and Rafael Saboya led the charge up front, and despite Marseille’s late surge, they held on to leave the pool with three points. The other three groups all see the usual 9-6-3-0 points ranking pattern, where the top-ranked sides are almost through, while those at the bottom have little or no chance of a comeback. Here, Marseille and CNAB both have six points, while Waspo and Sabadell

KEIO CN Sabadell edged a tight contest in southern France, stunning CN Marseille to claim all three crucial points, while Olympiacos secured a narrow away win over SPD Radnicki on Day 3 of the men’s Champions League Group Stage. Elsewhere, FTC Telekom Waterpolo cruised past VPK Primorac Kotor in Budapest, and Zodiac CNAB hammered Waspo 98 in Hannover. 2025/26 Champions League MenGroup Stage, Day 3Wednesday 12 November Group A SPD Radnicki (SRB) 12-13 Olympiacos SFP (GRE) Group C FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 26-15 VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) Group D CN Marseille (FRA) 11-12 KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP)Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) 11-27 Zodiac CNAB (ESP) Group A SPD Radnicki (SRB) 12-13 Olympiacos SFP (GRE) Olympiacos needed just four minutes to stun the hosts, netting back-to-back man-up goals. Radnicki required 6:35 to open their account, with Strahinja Rasovic converting a dying man-up, but Gergo Zalanki fired in a perimeter shot just 18 seconds later. Angelos Vlachopoulos struck early in the second quarter, disappointing his fellow Greeks, but Daniel Angyal quickly replied from the 2m line on Olympiacos’ next extra. The visitors missed another chance that could have given them a three-goal lead, instead, Dusko Pijetlovic finished a close-range man-up for 3-4 after a time-out. The time-out also worked in Olympiacos’ favour. Ioannis Alafragkis scored, and they successfully killed a man-down. The final moments before half-time were extraordinary – Andrija Prlainovic buried a penalty with 13 seconds left, only for Zalanki’s rocket to reset the two-goal gap at 4-6 with 0:01 on the clock. Sixteen seconds into the third, Olympiacos extended their lead to three as Dimitrios Nikolaidis converted a quick man-up. The Greeks denied Radnicki’s six-on-five, seeming to take control, but the Serbian stars needed just a minute to cut the deficit to one, with Nikola Dedovic and Boris Vapenski scoring back-to-back extras. Konstantinos Kakaris replied brilliantly with a centre shot, but the home side’s veterans didn’t panic. Dedovic scored another six-on-five, and Strahinja Rasovic netted a classic counter to level at 8-8. The Serbs surged, the Greeks looked briefly bewildered, missed an extra, and Vlachopoulos scored on a counter in a 78-second whirlwind that put Radnicki ahead for the first time in the game. It didn’t last long. Konstantinos Genidounias stayed calm to convert an extra, but Vapenski’s magnificent one-timer made it 10-9 with 1:41 to go. The Serbs killed the next man-down, thrilling the crowd, but Zalanki had the final say in the period, equalising with 0:09 left. The break shifted momentum, and Olympiacos struck early afterwards. Zalanki buried a penalty after 24 seconds, and a successful six-on-five led Nikolaos Gkillas to double their lead with 5:40 remaining. The Serbs forced a penalty in their next six-on-five, Prlainovic converted it, and just 40 seconds later Nikola Murisic’ backhander brought Radnicki back to 12-12. Thirty seconds later, the hosts had a rare five-on-four chance but missed. Tensions ran high as the Greeks failed on a six-on-four, and the Serbs earned a penalty with 2:04 remaining. Vlachopoulos hit the post, a miss that would prove costly. With 50 seconds left, Zalanki blasted in another 6m shot – his fifth goal of the night – to secure the win for Olympiacos. Emanouil Zerdevas then made a decisive save on Vlachopoulos’ final six-on-five attempt. This crucial away victory could be key for Olympiacos’ quarterfinal chances, while Radnicki find themselves in trouble, having lost two of their first three matches. Group C FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 26-15 VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) Fradi offered another spectacle for their loyal fans, with 41 goals lighting up the evening – pure entertainment, though the number of goals conceded was embarrassingly high once again, just as it had been in Brescia. Credit goes to Primorac, who tried to keep pace as long as possible, made the most of the chances they created, and trailed by just four deep into the third period before running out of steam. The first period saw little – if any – defending. Fradi built a three-goal lead in six minutes, but Primorac struck back with three goals in the final 80 seconds to pull it back to 7-6. It was then time for Soma Vogel to take over, as starting goalie Marton Levai had made no stops in eight minutes. Vogel’s impact was immediate, apart from a blast from Savo Cvetkovic, he got a hand to a series of shots, including Yusuke Inaba’s penalty attempt. At the other end, Fradi’s scoring machine didn’t slow down – the title-holders produced brilliant goals, most from structured action. With Vogel’s backing, they staged a 6-0 run to move 14-7 ahead, effectively deciding the match by half-time, though two fine steals set up Marko Mrsic to briefly break Vogel’s spell. FTC eased off slightly after the long break, with incoming Primorac goalie Marko Pejovic performing far better than Dimitrije Ristisevic, who sat out after making just a single save from 15 shots. Deep into the third, Mrsic brought his side even closer at 15-11 – he would finish the match with seven goals – but Stylianos Argyropoulos – with a slice of luck – halted the comeback with a six-on-five goal, then later his counterattack goal put the hosts 18-12 ahead before the final break. The Montenegrins faded completely in the fourth, while Fradi picked up the pace, adding eight more goals to finish at 26 – just one shy of CNAB’s single-game scoring record set in Hannover two hours earlier. Group D CN Marseille (FRA) 11-12 KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) Sabadell clawed back the three points they dropped in Hannover with a stunning win in Marseille. The French, who shocked CNAB in Barceloneta on Day 2, struggled to impose their usual pressure on the Spaniards, and once they fell behind early, they were unable to chase them down. Thomas Vernoux opened the scoring with a blast, but the Spaniards replied with two from action. Vernoux struck again, and a late exchange of goals settled the score at 3-3 after eight minutes. Sabadell took the lead three

Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi and HAVK Mladost pulled off crucial away wins on Day 3 of the men’s Champions League Group Stage. The Montenegrins beat last season’s finalists Novi Beograd, while Mladost scored the final three goals in Budapest to fend off Vasas’s late surge. Elsewhere, the Italian sides cruised to comfortable victories – Recco thrashed Jadran Split, while Brescia overwhelmed CSM Oradea. Champions League MenGroup Stage, Day 3Tuesday 11 November Group A Vasas Plaket (HUN) 10-13 HAVK Mladost (CRO) Group B VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 11-12 Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE)Pro Recco (ITA) 15-9 VK Jadran Split (CRO) Group C CSM Oradea (ROU) 11-16 AN Brescia (ITA) Group A Vasas Plaket (HUN) 10-13 HAVK Mladost (CRO) Mladost had to survive a late scare, but a brilliant 0-3 finish earned them three crucial points in Budapest. Vasas buried two extra-man goals in just 47 seconds to take a 2-1 lead, but after missing another six-on-five, the momentum shifted. Mladost struck twice to edge ahead 2-3 after the opening eight minutes. Defences tightened further in the second quarter. Both teams converted one extra, then killed off the next opportunities. While the Croats were sharp from close range, they struggled to beat Marton Mizsei from distance – though Ivan Marcelic was equally strong in Mladost’s goal, denying Vasas sharpshooter Bogdan Durđic on a couple of occasions. Konstantin Kharkov’s fierce perimeter strike doubled Mladost’s lead a minute before half-time, and the hosts failed to capitalise on two more man-up chances before the break. That proved costly as Kharkov opened the third with another thunderous goal in a six-on-five, and after a successful man-down defence, Josip Vrlic finished off a counter for 3-7. Vasas, showing the same attacking struggles seen against Olympiacos (when they managed only five goals on Day 2), finally found some rhythm, scoring twice to halve the deficit after missing four straight man-ups. Luka Loncar restored Mladost’s cushion with a close-range finish, but Tamas Gyarfas replied from distance to keep Vasas within reach at 6-8 heading into the fourth. Vrlic quickly re-established the three-goal gap with a powerful centre shot just 43 seconds into the final quarter, only for Soma Lakatos to respond immediately from a man-up. That set off an attacking flurry – Ante Vukicevic converted on extra, but Vasas hit back with two rapid action goals to close the gap to one within 35 seconds (9-10). Tension mounted, and after two minutes of fierce battling, Angelos Foskolos struck his second from the centre – a superb backhand that levelled the score at 10-10 with 3:27 remaining. The Croats, however, kept their composure and found their best finishes when it mattered most. Within 53 seconds, Franko Lazic fired home in a six-on-five, a crucial block denied Vasas at the other end, and Andrija Basic’s fierce bouncer made it 10-12. Marcelic then produced his 12th save of the night during a man-down, effectively sealing the contest. Luka Bukic’s fine action goal from Ivan Nagaev’s pinpoint assist added the finishing touch, completing Mladost’s decisive 0-3 run in the final three minutes. Group B VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 11-12 Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) For eight minutes, it looked like just another familiar chapter in this rivalry, as Novi Beograd dominated from the start. The Serbs raced to a 2-0 lead and, although Jadran managed to get on the scoreboard, the hosts were sharper at both ends and led 4-2 after the opening period. Late in the quarter, Jadran’s Francesco Valera missed a penalty, giving the home side an extra lift. After that action-packed start, the second quarter began to resemble the old, fierce defensive battles between the Serbians and Montenegrins. For four and a half minutes, it was a physical contest filled with exclusions, but both goalkeepers and defences stood firm. NBG missed a six-on-four opportunity, and after a third successful man-down defence, Strahinja Gojkovic delighted his father, Vladimir, on Jadran’s bench by breaking the deadlock with a fine action goal for 4-3. After both teams missed another man-up, Jovan Vujovic finally converted to level the game with 1:12 remaining, and just 36 seconds later, Dorde Lazic struck again to give the Montenegrins their first lead (4-5). Novi Beograd’s struggles continued after half-time, as Vasilije Radovic fired in from a free throw to double Jadran’s advantage. Having been shut out for the entire second period and facing a 0-4 run, the Serbs looked shaken. Their attack had stalled – until, after 10 and a half minutes without a goal, salvation came from an unlikely source, their goalkeeper. Milan Glusac spotted the opportunity after a save, noticing his opposite number out of position, and lobbed the ball into the empty net. However, Jadran hit back just 41 seconds later, Gojkovic finding the net in a man-up for 5-7. Milos Cuk reduced the gap with a six-on-four conversion, but Matija Sladovic kept his composure on another extra to restore Jadran’s two-goal lead. Viktor Urosevic halved the deficit again with an action goal for 7-8, but a missed man-up soon proved costly as Radovic struck once more from distance. The Serbs responded through Vasilije Martinovic, who capitalised on Sladovic’s red card to score from the left wing for 8-9 with three seconds remaining in the quarter. Though Cuk’s shooting lacked its old sharpness, he opened the fourth with a powerful effort to equalise. Yet his next attempt was saved, and Dmitrii Kholod finished coolly to restore Jadran’s lead. That proved pivotal. Over the next two minutes came the decisive phase – a block stopped NBG’s man-up, then Vujovic outmuscled his defender at centre-forward to make it 9-11 with 4:20 to play. The Serbs earned another extra, but Cuk’s shot was blocked again. Jadran also missed a six-on-five, but a recovered ball launched a counter, and Lazic finished it off for 9-12 with 3:09 remaining. Novi’s next man-up was again snuffed out by a block before Cuk finally broke through. With two minutes left, the hosts needed two goals, but couldn’t create any real danger.

Things are getting serious in all four groups as the men’s Champions League Group Stage hits the halfway mark this week. Teams already having lost one or even two matches might face the exit after another defeat, so tensions will grow across the eight pools where more top-level action is in sight this Tuesday and Wednesday. Group A(Local times shown) Tues 20.30Vasas Plaket (HUN) v HAVK Mladost (CRO) Head-to-head: 0-42011-12: 6-10 (qualifications), 7-11 (bronze medal). 2010-11: 8-9, 7-8 After back-to-back defeats, this is Vasas’s last chance to stay in contention for the qualifying spots – though even at home, they are not the favourites to win this match. Mladost’s star-studded line-up looks clearly stronger, and another three points would further extend the advantage they gained over Radnicki by beating them on Day 2. Indeed, Vasas have produced contrasting performances – they delivered a brilliant display of offensive play in Kragujevac on Day 1, yet two weeks later they collapsed at home, scoring only five goals against Olympiacos – something hardly expected in today’s new form of water polo. Meanwhile, Mladost had some fine moments in Piraeus in the opening round and then took the upper hand in a thrilling encounter with Radnicki. The Croats are on the rise and seem poised to claim another three points in Budapest. Group A(Local times shown) Wed 20.30SPD Radnicki (SRB) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE) Head-to-head: 1-4 (1d)2022-23: 7-13, 10-10. 2021-22: 7-11, 10-8. 2014-15: 7-13, 7-8 Radnicki fell short in the endgame in Zagreb, and if they lose to Olympiacos at home, their chances of advancing would suffer a serious blow. This team, strengthened year after year with more Serbian Olympic gold medallists, has been built to reach the finals. It’s not yet a do-or-die game, but if they fail to beat the Greeks, each of their remaining three will effectively become one. At the same time, Olympiacos showed real quality in the first two rounds. While they are in a transition period under new coach Elvis Fatovic, whose approach differs from the playing style the team had grown used to in the past, this has not been reflected in their results so far. What’s more, after two rounds, they have conceded the fewest goals (14) in the field. The Serbs, by contrast, allowed 16 against Vasas and 17 against Mladost. It’s going to be a great test for both sides, with plenty at stake. Group B(Local times shown) Tues 20.30Pro Recco (ITA) v VK Jadran Split (CRO) Head-to-head: 4-02023-24: 13-10, 18-9. 2022-23: 13-8, 14-7 Perhaps not only on paper, but in reality as well, this is shaping up to be another fine home match for Recco. So far, the eight-time winners have had no trouble handling their assignments in what could be called the “Yugo Challenge.” The draw has paired them against powerhouses from the former Yugoslavia – after facing the Serbs (Novi Beograd) and the Montenegrins (Jadran m:tel), the Croats are now next in line. And Jadran do not even remotely resemble a team capable of posing a real threat to the strongest sides. They lost to both Herceg Novi and NBG by three goals, and their trip to Recco doesn’t promise a better outcome. Still, in Italy, there is great respect for their rivals, as goalie Gianmarco Nicosia put it: “Jadran Split are a team with great qualities. They’re complete in every aspect, in every position. “They have an excellent goalkeeper and several players from the Croatian national team. So we’ll be facing a very strong side with top-level players, and even though they haven’t earned any points yet in the Champions League in their first two games, I believe we’ll meet a team eager to get a good result against us. “The key aspect, as always, will be our defence, and at the same time, we must stick to our own style of play and keep trying to apply it as a unit.” Group B(Local times shown) Tues 20.30VK Novi Beograd (SRB) v Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) Head-to-head: –Never met in CL. Though they have no shared history in the Champions League, the Regional League has seen a series of clashes between these two. Interestingly, while the first five encounters went to NBG, Jadran managed to break that run last January, and their latest battle also ended in the Montenegrins’ favour, after a shootout. There’s no doubt this is a clear sign that another fierce fight is in sight, where small details may separate the rivals. And this could well have an impact on the qualifying path. Since both teams managed to defeat Jadran Split, but fell to Recco, the second spot behind the Italians will likely go to the team that comes out on top in this duel. Group C(Local times shown) Tues 19.30CSM Oradea (ROU) v AN Brescia (ITA) Head-to-head: 1-52024-25: 7-7, pen: 7-6. 2019-20: 1-18 (qualification). 2018-19: 4-16 (qual.). 2017-18: 8-15 (qual). 2013-14: 6-10, 7-18 After their stunning win over Primorac two weeks ago, Oradea are no longer considered an underdog. Though Brescia still looks stronger, Primorac – who pushed the Italians into a close battle on Day 1 – also came to the Romanian champions’ home aiming to collect three points, but not only left empty-handed, they were beaten badly. Oradea’s coach Petar Kovacevic strongly believes his team can deliver another upset. “The victory against Primorac Kotor, though extremely important, is now history. We have to focus 100% on the next match, because we are facing another very difficult and strong opponent. “Compared to last season, we have strengthened our squad with three good players – Sebastian Oltean, Bogdan Remes and Raul Bindea. They should bring added quality to the team. So we should see progress and be better.” Brescia’s legendary boss, Sandro Bovo, is also aware that playing Oradea at home won’t be just a walk in the park. “It will be an important and difficult match against a very complete team, strong in every position and with great individual quality,” Bovo said. “They