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Champions League Men: Jadran win Croatian derby after dramatic shootout victory against Mladost

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While Ferencvaros kicked off their campaign with a blast, the other three matches were full of drama on Wednesday as Day 1 of the men’s Champions League Group Stage concluded. Title-holders CNAB had to come back from three goals down at home against Novi Beograd, while Panathinaikos almost forced a shootout in Marseille. Indeed, only penalties decided the all-Croatian derby, with Jadran upsetting Mladost in Zagreb in a brilliant game. 2026/27 Champions League MenGroup Stage, Day 1Wednesday 7 October Group C Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 15-12 VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB)(1-3, 5-3, 5-2, 4-4)HAVK Mladost (CRO) 17-18* VK Jadran Split (CRO)(3-3, 4-4, 3-4, 4-3, 3-4P) Group D FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 23-7 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)(7-2, 5-3, 6-0, 5-2)CN Marseille (FRA) 12-11 Panathinaikos AC (GRE)(5-5, 3-1, 1-2, 3-3) Group C Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 15-12 VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB)(1-3, 5-3, 5-2, 4-4) Just like in the previous season’s quarterfinal stage, Novi Beograd caused some headaches for Barceloneta, but in the end, the Spaniards prevailed as the Serbs were unable to cope with the pace of the high-intensity game CNAB managed to maintain for the last three periods. A week ago, the hosts claimed the Super Cup and perhaps the festive mood was still on, as the Serbs produced a stunning start. They jumped to a 3-0 lead in less than four minutes with a series of pinpoint shots, while CNAB wasted three man-ups, hitting the post a couple of times, with Milan Glusac also coming up with his usual stops. Finally, 14 seconds from time, Marc Valls somehow found a hole in the NBG wall to put the title-holders on the scoreboard. It looked like the home side found the reset button during the first break, as they came back with a lot more focus, and Vince Vigvari’s fine steal and great finish from a counter was a sign of change. In 47 seconds, it was even, as Alberto Munarriz’s blast also found the net. Milos Cuk added another brilliant action shot from the perimeter, but Valls also converted CNAB’s six-on-five, though NBG’s Luka Pljevancic was on target from close range as well to edge his team 5-4 ahead. After three minutes of battling, with one denied man-up apiece, Francesco di Fulvio equalised again, then Nikola Kojic made no mistake in a 6-on-4. It came 11 seconds before the buzzer, but that was enough time for CNAB to force a penalty, and Vigvari converted it for 6-6. The Serbs still had the legs to kill two more man-downs, while Vasilje Martinovic buried a penalty in between to put NGB ahead once more early in the third. Soon, the Serbs had back-to-back six-on-fives, but this time the home defence worked well, and di Fulvio, despite hitting the post with his first attempt, let the ball fly a bit later and that was good enough for another equaliser in the middle of the quarter. It was a turning point – just 18 seconds later, Vigvari gave Barceloneta the lead for the first time in the match, and a further 54 seconds later, Bernat Sanahuja doubled it with a fierce shot, soon after denying another NBG extra. Another buried penalty by Martinovic halted CNAB’s rush, but only temporarily. Roger Tahull came up with an astonishing centre-shot, then the Serbs missed back-to-back six-on-fives, and Alejandro Bustos hit one from close range for 11-8 with 0:02 on the clock. After trailing 7-6, CNAB hit back with a 5-1 run in four minutes, and that swung the game firmly in their favour. Indeed, three minutes into the fourth, the result was beyond doubt when Sanahuja and Tahull hit two in 41 seconds for 13-8, and once more, the Serbs were unable to convert their six-on-five in the meantime. Though Novi could pull two back a bit later, Di Fulvio added two more fine goals to seal a big opening day win for CNAB. Group C HAVK Mladost (CRO) 17-18* VK Jadran Split (CRO)(3-3, 4-4, 3-4, 4-3, 3-4P) Just five days ago, Mladost outclassed Jadran in the Croatian Super Cup final with an 18-10 trouncing. They continued in the same vein as they had finished the summer, when they swept their arch-rivals aside in the league final. However, on Wednesday, Mladost were unable to break Jadran this time, as the Split side saved the game for a shootout and sailed away with the two points. Jadran took the lead three times in the opening period, but Mladost managed to equalise on every occasion, finally with Luka Bukic’s fine action goal 21 seconds from time. The hosts then went ahead for the first time early in the second period, but Jadran brought their best to the pool and replied with two buried penalties in 40 seconds. Next came Mladost’s fast two goals, as they needed just 50 seconds to make it 6-5, only to see an even quicker response from Jadran. A centre-shot by Lukas Seman, followed by a steal and a counter by Ivan Zovic, all came within a span of 22 seconds to put Jadran 7-6 ahead. Marko Radulovic’s quick finish then put Mladost back on level terms after a period of twists and turns, setting the 7-7 half-time score. The script didn’t change in the third, with only one goal separating the sides, never two. Jadran had the better start, but again the Zagreb boys scored back-to-back goals to go ahead at 10-9. However, Jadran’s defence started working better and shut Mladost out for the remainder of the quarter, while Dusan Matkovic and Duje Pejkovic put away man-ups respectively, as the visitors edged 11-10 ahead with eight minutes to go. Mladost seemed to be in trouble early in the fourth as Mislav Curkovic fired one in from the perimeter, giving Jadran a two-goal lead for the first time in the game. They then killed a man-down in the following possession. Still, Mladost fought on and Ante Vukicevic pulled one back a bit later, while Ivan Nagaev also converted a six-on-five to level it up once

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Champions League Men: Sabadell, Recco, Olympiacos and Radnicki all head home with three points

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Recco and Sabadell were the big winners as the Champions League Group Stage got underway across the continent, with both teams earning crucial away victories at Brescia and Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi, respectively. The Italian derby saw the 11-time winners produce a phenomenal third quarter as they fought back from 5-2 down to win by three goals. Elsewhere, Olympiacos and Radnicki also earned victories on the road, as the Greek giants took down Waspo in Hannover and the Serbians swept Oradea aside in Romania. 2026/27 Champions League MenGroup Stage, Day 1Tuesday 6 October Group A Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) 10-17 Olympiacos SFP (GRE)(3-5, 4-4, 1-2, 2-6)Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) 16-17 CN Sabadell (ESP)(4-6, 5-3, 4-4, 3-4) Group B CSM Oradea (ROU) 9-14 SPD Radnicki (SRB)(1-5, 3-3, 1-2, 4-4)AN Brescia (ITA) 13-16 Pro Recco (ITA)(2-2, 4-2, 3-7, 4-5) See the full scores and tables by clicking here Group A Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) 10-17 Olympiacos SFP (GRE)(3-5, 4-4, 1-2, 2-6) Waspo enjoyed a strong spell midway through the second period, staging a 4-0 run to take the lead. However, Olympiacos responded in style, after trailing 7-6 they went on a 11-3 rush to sail away with the win. The Greeks started strongly, with their new centre-forwards Luka Loncar and Semir Spachits netting one action goal apiece. It proved decisive in a first period in which Olympiacos went 5-3 up. Nikolaos Gkillas’ blast kicked off the second quarter and Olympiacos seemed to have taken control, but Yannek Chiru had a nice reply right away. Soon, Waspo hit two in 50 seconds to level it at 6-6. The Greeks lost their composure in this phase, missed an extra, then Lazar Vukicevic buried a penalty for 7-6 and the game started to look similar to those upsets in previous seasons which sent Waspo to the quarterfinal stage. The Greeks were aware of that, for sure, and managed to raise their game just in time before getting into deeper trouble. After the Germans netted four goals in a row, Olympiacos hit back with a 3-0 run. Ioannis Alafragkis, Konstantinos Genidounias and Ioannis Fountoulis all scored great action goals, and the Greeks denied Waspo’s late man-up to lead 9-7 at half-time. The Germans missed another extra early in the third and Genidounias fired in again from the perimeter to restore the three-goal gap (10-7). Though Niclas Schipper pulled one back from a six-on-five, Daniel Angyal’s rocket from the wing reset the gap to three. It could have been more, but Olympiacos wasted three man-ups before the last break. That didn’t cost them anything as Hannover seemed to have run out of steam. The Greeks added two fast goals to make it 13-8 early in the fourth, putting a virtual end to the contest. Though Andrija Basic halted Waspo’s drought after exactly eight minutes, their defence and goalie could no longer withstand the pressure. Olympiacos scored six alone in the final period to ensure a perfect beginning to their Champions League season. Group A Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) 16-17 CN Sabadell (ESP)(4-6, 5-3, 4-4, 3-4) Jadran and Sabadell produced the fifth thriller of the season, a 33-goal epic in which the Spaniards scored three connecting goals in 76 seconds late in the fourth period to turn the game around and bag three really important points. Sabadell made a flying start, scoring two great goals from counters before two penalties earned in the centre gave them a 4-1 lead after four and a half minutes. The Montenegrins climbed back a little before the first break, but Sabadell continued to play well and were 6-4 up. Then the landscape gradually changed in the second period. The Spaniards lost their edge in offence, while the hosts’ snipers started finding the back of the net again and again. Their young stars, Strahinja Gojkovic and Danilo Stuper, were both on target as Jadran put together a 5-0 run to rally from 6-3 down to lead 8-6. Roberto Valera’s counter halted Sabadell’s bad run and, with 14 seconds left on the clock, he managed to score the equaliser for 9-9, putting a fitting end to an action-packed first half. Rafael Saboya needed only 13 seconds to give the lead back to the Spaniards in the third, but Jadran struck back with a double in 49 seconds. A little later, after 11-11, the hosts scored twice in a span of 23 seconds to go up by two once more at 13-11. Sabadell weren’t done, though, and with some luck, they forced a penalty from a second attempt in a man-up, which was buried by Francisco Valera. Just 37 seconds later, Kanstantsin Averka netted the equaliser once again. After netting 13 goals apiece across the first three periods, the fourth saw some more resistance from the defences. Valera put away an extra for 14-13 after two minutes, but despite killing a man-down, Danilo Radovic could score from distance, on equal strength, for 14-14. With 3:24 to go, Gojkovic stunned Edu Lorrio from the same spot and Jadran led once more at 15-14. But Sabadell had more in the tank. Averka delivered a couple of pinpoint shots from the next two Spanish possessions and Saboya added a man-up goal to give them a 17-15 advantage with 1:42 to go, while the Montenegrins’ attacks ended in turnovers. Gojkovic netted his fifth in a man-up to leave his side 1:30 to find the equaliser once more. But first Gojkovic, then Stupar hit the post in the remaining two attacks – the leftie’s last shot danced around the virtual goal-line but never crossed it, and Sabadell could celebrate a great away victory. Group B CSM Oradea (ROU) 9-14 SPD Radnicki (SRB)(1-5, 3-3, 1-2, 4-4) Radnicki stormed to a 4-0 lead and never looked back – indeed, the Serbs managed the game superbly, as Oradea could come as close as two goals early on, but were never able to cut the deficit below four in the second half. The favourites produced the perfect start, netting their first

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Champions League Men: The grandest stage awaits as Europe’s elite clubs set for battle

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Two ‘national’ battles headline the start of the 2026/27 Champions League Group Stage. Italy’s in-house clash between Brescia and Recco in the toughest group of the prelims is a must-see on Day 1, while Croatia’s Mladost and Jadran should also serve up an entertaining and lively encounter. 2026/27 Champions League MenGroup Stage, Day 1(CET times shown) Group A(Tuesday 6 October) 18:30: Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE)18:30: Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) v CN Sabadell (ESP) Group B(Tuesday 6 October) 18:30: CSM Oradea (ROU) v SPD Radnicki (SRB)20:30: AN Brescia (ITA) v Pro Recco (ITA) Group C(Wednesday 7 October) 20:30: Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB)20:30: HAVK Mladost (CRO) v VK Jadran Split (CRO) Group D(Wednesday 7 October) 18:30: FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)20:30: CN Marseille (FRA) v Panathinaikos AC (GRE) Group A(Tuesday 6 October) 18:30: Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE) Head-to-head: 1-5 (1d) 2022-23: 7-16, 8-15. 2020-21: 10-8 (for 5-8th). 2018-19: 9-9, 7-17. 2017-18: 7-11, 7-12 Though Olympiacos went through some transformation with their two giant centre-forwards, Konsantinos Kakaris and Dimitris Nikolaidis, leaving alongside left-handed sniper Gergo Zalanki, those coming on board – Luka Loncar, Semir Spachits and Loren Fatovic, son of head coach Elvis – make the team as formidable as ever. Many of the Greek players began the season on the back of a soul-lifting summer triumph in the World Cup, a first-ever major title for the country. That definitely adds some extra fuel for the first couple of months, but even without it, Olympiacos would still be considered heavy favourites in Hannover. Still, Waspo showed last year that, especially at home, they can be a real threat, upsetting Marseille and Sabadell on their way to the quarter-final stage. “We’re facing the strongest opponents in the group this week, so we’re expecting a very tough game,” said Hannover’s Marko Macan. “We will, for sure, play as hard as we can, as we want to continue our good Champions League story from last season.” “One of our main goals for this season is to play at a faster pace and increase the intensity compared to last year,” said Olympiacos head coach Elvis Fatovic. “That is what we’re aiming to do. We know everything takes time, but we’ll do everything we can to increase the speed of our game. “We know that we’re going to face a very physical and powerful team in Hannover, who have a very strong defence. “They have some very good defenders, strong blocking, and we can also expect a lot of movement and drives from their second centre forward, which is something they use regularly. “However, I believe we also have a lot of quality. Our goal will definitely be to increase the tempo of the game and avoid playing at their pace, even though they also have a very strong counter-attack. “We’re expecting a very good and competitive game, and of course, we hope for the best.” “Last season left us with a bittersweet feeling and we are eager to try again and reach the Final Four,” added Olympiacos’s Panagiotis Tzortzatos. “The opening game is always difficult and potentially tricky. “We’ve prepared very well for this trip to Hannover. One of their main strengths is their quick offensive transition, as well as the shooting ability of several of their players. “Our aim is to stop their counter-attacks, which help them build momentum. At the same time, we need our defence to perform at a very high level in order to make our task as straightforward as possible. “We’re going there to win, with our defence as our main weapon, and we want to start the competition in the best possible way.” 18:30: Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) v CN Sabadell (ESP) Head-to-head: 2-1 2017-18: 10-8, 7-8. 2015-16: 7-6 (qual) With Olympiacos standing out, the race for the second qualifying spot should be intense in this group, with the clash between Jadran and Sabadell a key feature of these battles. The young Montenegrin side, under the guidance of master coach Vladimir Gojkovic, can rival any opponents if they can produce their A-game. However, experience will be on the other side in almost every match in this pool. “Our expectations and hopes for this year’s tournament are very high,” said Jadran’s Aleksa Ukropina. “We are a new team, still figuring things out, and we need time to get in shape, but we have great quality and I think we can reach another level and play in the next stage.” Sabadell have begun a new chapter with Albert Espanol at the helm. The 2024 Final Six MVP led Spain’s No. 2 side through the qualifications, and they’re chasing a quarter-final berth once more. “We know Jadran, they are a very good team,” commented Sabadell’s Francisco Valera. “They have some really good players and are playing at home, so we’re expecting a very tough game, as both teams know how important it is to take these first three points of the Champions League.” Group B(Tuesday 6 October) 18:30: CSM Oradea (ROU) v SPD Radnicki (SRB) Head-to-head: 1-4 2014-15: 8-13, 10-9. 2013-14: 5-13 (qual), 6-8, 6-16. Radnicki are back, even stronger than last year, with a great mix of veteran Serbian Olympic champions and young talents. To add more ‘cement’ to their defence, they’ve even brought Croatian goalkeeper Ivan Marcelic on board. The Serbian champions are among those who could be considered genuine title contenders, so a win at Oradea would provide the perfect kickstart to their campaign, especially with Italy’s top two sides waiting in the following rounds. “Oradea are a great team, especially at home, so we have a tough job ahead of us,” said Radnicki’s Strahinja Rasovic. “We respect their quality, but we firmly believe in ourselves. “We’re expecting a really tough match, but we’re going for the win. There is zero margin for error.” 20:30: AN Brescia (ITA) v Pro Recco (ITA) Head-to-head (CL): 1-5 2018-19: 8-9, 6-12. 2017-18: 8-8, pen:

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Super Cup Women: Olympiacos sweep Catalunya aside to claim fourth title

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Champions League title-holders Olympiacos left little doubt that they reign supreme in women’s club water polo as the Greeks blew away Euro Cup winners Catalunya in the most lopsided Super Cup final ever on Saturday evening in Piraeus. The Spaniards stayed close until half-time, but couldn’t keep up after the long break. It was Olympiacos’s fourth Super Cup triumph, adding to their victories in 2015, 2021 and 2022. 2026 European Aquatics Super Cup Women’s finalSaturday 3 October, Athens Olympiacos SFP (GRE) 18-4 EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP)(3-1, 1-1, 7-2, 7-0) For full game stats CLICK HERE With Greece’s best team facing the Spanish league’s sixth-placed side, the outcome seemed somewhat inevitable – though Champions League winners Olympiacos still surpassed expectations by completely dismantling Catalunya in the second half of the Super Cup final, scoring seven goals in both the third and fourth quarters. At the beginning, the Spanish side managed to withstand the pressure, but it was already clear they’d find it extremely hard to break down the hosts’ well-organised defence. Catalunya’s Dutch European champion goalkeeper, Laura Aarts, also produced a series of sensational saves in the first half to keep the Spaniards within touching distance. Olympiacos jumped to a 2-0 lead with a couple of action goals from Stefania Santa and Abby Andrews, while Catalunya missed their first three six-on-fives. New Zealand ace Emmerson Houghton then broke the ice with Catalunya’s fourth attempt on extra to put them on the scoreboard after six minutes, but the reply came immediately as Santa found the net from a woman-up. The second period was more balanced. Aarts and Catalunya’s defence produced some heroic efforts to prevent the Greeks from extending their lead after Vasiliki Plevritou’s early action goal. Marina Pineda then scored a fine goal from the centre with 33 seconds remaining to set the half-time score at 4-2. However, two action goals in 44 seconds early in the third, from Rafaela Saltamanika and Maria Myriokefalitaki, rocked the Spaniards. Soon afterwards, Kata Hajdu made up for her earlier missed penalty with a fine finish from extra to make it 7-2 midway through the third. A time-out did little to help Catalunya. Houghton pulled one back, but the ruthless Greeks responded fiercely, scoring three goals in succession in just 74 seconds. Houghton’s buzzer-beater therefore did little to dampen the spirits of the Olympiacos fans, who packed the stands and created the usual electrifying atmosphere. The fourth quarter underlined the gulf between the two sides. Catalunya ran out of steam completely, while the Greeks showed no sign of slowing down in attack or loosening their grip in defence. The result was a 7-0 demolition in the final eight minutes. Olympiacos cruised to their fourth Super Cup title. They lost their first final as LEN Trophy winners in 2014 but have never failed to lift the Super Cup trophy when entering the final as Champions League title-holders. In fact, this was their most emphatic victory yet and, overall, the most lopsided final ever. Sabadell had won by the biggest margin two years ago, beating Padova 19-7, but the Greeks surpassed that mark with their outstanding second-half performance. Rewatch all the Super Cup action on European Aquatics TV Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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Super Cup Women: Stage is set in Piraeus for Catalunya-Olympiacos showdown

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Champions League winners Olympiacos are seeking their fourth Super Cup victory on Saturday afternoon when they clash with Catalunya in the final. For the Euro Cup-winning Spaniards, it’s their first-ever chance to land this trophy – but, playing in Piraeus, they’ll need to produce a big performance to have a chance against the Greek giants. 2026 European Aquatics Super Cup Women’s finalSaturday 3 October, Athens(Local time shown) 17:30: Olympiacos SFP (GRE) v EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP) Unlike the men’s finalists, CNAB and Marseille, who share a rich head-to-head history from the previous three seasons, Olympiacos and Catalunya will clash for the first time ever in European competitions. While Olympiacos have long been part of the show and are always among the top-tier Champions League contenders, Catalunya’s women’s team have only recently started their quest in the European cups. Their men were the rulers of Europe in the mid-90s, winning the Champions League in 1995 and the Super Cup twice, in 1992 and 1995. A fourth Champions League title, after triumphs in 2015, 2021 and 2022, propelled Olympiacos into another Super Cup final, and following each of their previous Champions League successes, they went on to add the Super Cup trophy to their cabinet. Their only defeat in this competition was on their first attempt, back in 2014, against Sabadell when the Greeks were the Euro Cup (LEN Trophy) winners. It’s some hope for Catalunya that Olympiacos’ lone defeat came against a Spanish team. In their victorious finals, the Greeks downed Italy’s Padova (2015), Russia’s Kirishi (2021) and fellow Greek side Ethnikos (2022). “We’re very proud we can play for this title tomorrow,” Olympiacos head coach Georgios Ntoskas said at the press conference ahead of the final. “We knew we had a perfect season, but this belongs to the past, so we’re here to prove and demonstrate we can repeat those victories in the upcoming season. “We wish to have a great game and celebrate with our fans tomorrow.” Fellow coach Javi Belmonte briefly summed up his expectations: “Olympiacos were the best in the previous season and now we can try to compete with them and win this match.” Catalunya’s Toula Falvey also refused to play the underdog’s role. “We’re really looking forward to the game, as it’s not every year we can play in a Super Cup final. “We’re coming super hungry tomorrow, but we understand Olympiacos are a very good team with many international players. “We’re taking it as an opportunity and will give it our all. We come with an attitude of nothing to lose and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow.” Olympiacos’ Vasiliki Plevritou, who had been part of all three Super Cup wins with the Greek giants, put it straight when asked about Saturday’s final: “Olympiacos were made and born to be a winner, and we’re here for this exact reason to prove that. “Once more, we’re going to fight to repeat our previous success. We hope our fans turn out in large numbers to support us and we plan to provide them with a very good game.” European Aquatics Vice President Kyriakos Giannopoulos – in the company of Nikos Gemelos, Municipality Councillor for Sports of the City of Piraeus, Olympiacos Secretary General Dimitris Nakos and Governor of Attica Nikos Hardalias – said the women’s Super Cup “is a prestigious European event that brings together the winners of the European club competitions, providing a fitting stage for the very best of women’s water polo to meet and compete for another European title.” Watch all the Super Cup action live on European Aquatics TV Follow all the stats and live scoring by clicking here Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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Super Cup Men: CNAB hold off Marseille to add Super Cup to Champions League trophy

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Zodiac CNAB maintained the Champions League winners’ stronghold on the Super Cup after winning a hard-fought battle against Marseille 10-8 in Barcelona on Wednesday evening. The Spaniards seemed to have the match under control as they led 8-4 at halftime, but the French staged a great comeback and had a man-up to make it 9-8 before a late penalty by Bernat Sanahuja sealed the win for CNAB. Champions League winners are now 23-1 up in the Super Cup finals since the final became a one-off encounter in 2002. 2026 European Aquatics Super Cup Men’s finalWednesday 30 September, Barcelona Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 10-8 CN Marseille (FRA) (5-2, 3-2, 0-2, 2-2) For full game stats, CLICK HERE It was pain and joy for Vince Vigvari in Malta at the Final 4 – he couldn’t play because of his fractured hand, so he had to watch his team-mates from the stands as they fought relentlessly and, in the end, brought the Champions League trophy back to Barceloneta after 12 years. The Hungarian quickly made up for his absence, scoring the first three goals for CNAB against Marseille, as the hosts got off to a great start in the Super Cup final. A fine individual action was followed by two pinpoint finishes in man-ups, while Marseille struggled in front of goal at the beginning before Alexandre Bouet and Andrea De Nardi also converted extras to keep the French in the game at 3-2. Roger Tahull then rifled in from the centre, while Unai Biel’s fierce shot from the perimeter also beat Aussie Nic Porter, who had just joined Marseille after spells at CNAB and Panionios. Marseille’s first-choice goalkeeper Petar Tesanovic started on the bench due to a minor injury. The Spanish giants were 5-2 ahead at the end of the first quarter which didn’t see any saves, with all five of CNAB’s shots finding the net while the French had two misses. Marseille quickly came back into the game early in the second quarter, as Adam Nagy and Thomas Vernoux finished off back-to-back six-on-fives for 5-4, while Porter delivered his first stop between the two blasts. The level of the hosts’ offence dropped a bit as they lost three balls before Bernat Sanahuja buried an extra in the last second of the possession, ending Barceloneta’s almost five-minute-long drought. Vernoux waited too long in the next man-up and the defenders took the ball from his hand, while Francesco di Fulvio made his mark in his new home with a fine shot from distance. This had even bigger consequences as Alessandro Velotto got a great assist from his fellow Italian in the next six-on-five to make it 8-4. CNAB were millimetres away from expanding the gap to five, but the close-range finish in their last extra was well saved by Porter. Ugo Crousillat needed three shots to score in the third period. It took 3:10 minutes to see the first goal after the restart as Marseille got one closer from a man-up, while the Spaniards missed a man-up and Tesanovic, who came in for the second half, also delivered a fine save. Di Fulvio took the bulk of the shots later in the third, but he was denied three straight times, while Romain Marion-Vernoux came up with a pinpoint shot from a six-on-five after a time-out for 8-6. Tesanovic’s entry had its impact as the shots from the Barceloneta players lacked the same sharpness and confidence as in the first half – in fact, they were unable to score in the entire third quarter. They were also missing the usual wise words from Fran Fernandez, as CNAB’s head coach had fallen victim to the tense endgame in the Champions League final against Recco and his red card in Malta kept him confined to the stands for this clash. As the momentum continued to swing their way, the French climbed back to 8-7 with a blast from Bouet in the opening minute of the fourth, but finally Unai Biel broke CNAB’s silence after exactly 10 minutes. Still, Crousillat replied straight away for 9-8 and kept the tension rising. Soon, Marseille had a disallowed goal, then a man-up to make it even, but couldn’t score the equaliser. CNAB earned a six-on-five with 3:39 to go after a time-out, but the French defence worked well and Tesanovic added two more saves after the rebound and the corner in this minute-long possession. Next came an extra for Marseille with 2:32 on the clock, also after a time-out, but they were unable to take a shot in 18 seconds. Roger Tahull had a kind of match-ball, a clear shot from the centre, but hit the post. However, after a turnover foul, he earned a penalty and Sanahuja buried it. With only 1:11 remaining, it was over at 10-8, especially after Unai Aguirre made a crucial stop in the following man-down. Though CNAB slowed down a bit in the second half and Marseille almost made them pay for it, when it mattered, the Champions League winners stepped up and added a second Super Cup trophy to their cabinet after 2014, while Marseille had to settle for another loss in the final after 2019. Also, this was the Champions League winners’ 23rd win in the last 24 finals. Watch a replay of the Super Cup on European Aquatics TV Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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Super Cup Men: French giants Marseille looking to upset Spanish hosts CNAB once again

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The first big match of the new European Aquatics club water polo season is just hours away – Zodiac CNAB and Marseille will clash for the Men’s Super Cup from 19:30 on Wednesday evening in Barcelona. 2026 European Aquatics Super Cup Men’s finalWednesday 30 September, Barcelona(CET time shown) 19:30: Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v CN Marseille (FRA) Head-to-head record: 7-2 2025-26: 11-12, 12-11. 2024-25: 19-14, 12-9, 19-9 (bronze). 2023-24: 13-12, 9-7. 2012-13: 15-4, 10-11. Marseille and Barceloneta know each other extremely well, having met in the Champions League in each of the previous three seasons. While CNAB won all three meetings convincingly in 2024/25, including a 19-9 hammering in the bronze medal match at the Final Four, the games in 2023/24 and last season were much tighter affairs. In fact, almost exactly a year ago, Marseille managed to beat CNAB here in Barcelona in the second round of the Group Stage. Few would have guessed then that it would prove to be the Spaniards’ only loss of the entire season – and even fewer would have predicted, after that impressive win, that Marseille wouldn’t survive the first phase and would be dropped to the Euro Cup. That’s exactly what happened, though, and Marseille went all the way in the second tier competition, earning the chance to play for the Super Cup trophy. Both sides have played in one Super Cup final so far. Barceloneta added the trophy to their Champions League triumph in 2014 (Gonzalo Echenique was also a part of that show 12 years ago), while Marseille blew a four-goal lead against FTC-Telekom in 2019 and are still waiting to land their first Super Cup title. Neither team has changed significantly since they met last October, although one star arrival could make a real difference for Barceloneta as Pro Recco legend Francesco di Fulvio decided to move to the Catalan capital. At the same time, leftie Gergo Burian, who scored the eventual trophy-winning goal in the Final Four against Recco, joined VK Jug Dubrovnik. Marseille needed some reshaping in the centre-forward position after seasoned veteran Michael Bodegas called it a day and Vladan Spaic moved to Vouliagmeni. One of Montenegro’s most talented players, Vasilje Radovic, is one of the most exciting signings of the summer, while experienced Aussie and former CNAB goalie Nic Porter provides quality back-up for Petar Tesanovic. The French journey to Barcelona couldn’t have been more adventurous, with their flight cancelled in the morning after Catalonia was hit by a heavy storm. They had to take two minibuses and endure a six-hour drive to reach the venue, so they’ll be hoping things can only get better for them on Wednesday night in the pool… Pre-game quotes Alberto Munarriz, CNAB “It’s going to be a really tough game. Marseille played really well last year. We played two absolutely close matches last year, lost at home, just won in Marseille, so we know each other really well. It’s a difficult challenge, but we need to approach the game with good energy and if we can control the pace of the game, we’ll have a good chance to lift the trophy, but it’s clear that Marseille have come with the same goal.” Vince Vigvari, CNAB “We are extremely excited and we can’t wait for this match. Ever since we started our preparations, we have this game in our minds. Of course, we’re aware they beat us almost exactly a year ago here in our pool. And I can tell we expect a similarly close match on Wednesday. We know their strengths, but we also trust in our strengths too. This is going to be the first big match of the season in our pool, I urge everyone to come or to tune in, no one will be disappointed!” Milos Scepanovic, coach, Marseille “It’s a trophy game, so we prepare accordingly. We don’t feel any pressure, we came to play a good game here. Of course, we remember our Champions League game in last October when we could win here. It turned out later that was CNAB’s only defeat in the entire season – but of course, we can also recall our match in Marseille which was a similarly good game where we lost by one goal. We have great respect towards Barceloneta, they have a great team, but if we play according to what we agreed, we can have another great and close match in the Super Cup final.” Thomas Vernoux, Marseille “That game in October is still in our minds, as we came here and played one of the best games of last season. It’s a pleasure to come back and play in this pool against this great team again. If we’re able to play with the same energy once more, it’ll be a really good game.” Watch the Super Cup live on European Aquatics TV Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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Champions League Men: Draw throws up huge Group Stage clashes

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One of the most eagerly awaited draws of the water polo club season has produced a series of tough pools for the Champions League Group Stage, with last season’s finalists Barceloneta and Recco both facing challenging routes through to the next stage. 2026/27 Champions League MenGroup Stage Draw Group A: Olympiacos SFP (GRE), Waspo 98 Hannover EV (GER), VPK Jadran M:Tel Herceg Novi (MNE), Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP) Group B: Pro Recco (ITA), SPD Radnicki (SRB), AN Brescia (ITA), CSM Oradea (ROU) Group C: Zodiac CNAB (ESP), HAVK Mladost (CRO), VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB), VK Jadran Split (CRO) Group D: FTC-Telekom Waterpolo (HUN), CN Marseille (FRA), Panathinaikos AC (GRE), CSA Steaua Bucurest (ROU) If there ever was a case for the label of ‘Group of Death’, it surely belongs to Group B. Eleven-time winners and last season’s runners-up Pro Recco have been drawn alongside Serbia’s powerhouse Radnicki and Italian rivals Brescia. With Oradea completing the group, the battle for the two qualifying places promises to be nothing but fierce. Radnicki fell at the Group Stage last season, but the Serbians have lost none of their strength since then. However, taking on Italy’s top two sides represents a formidable challenge for the Kragujevac team. Title-holders Zodiac CNAB have also been handed a demanding route. Their Tour de Balkans will take them to Croatia twice and Serbia once, including a visit to the April 11 pool in Novi Beograd – the venue every team will want to return to next May for the Final Four. The Spaniards remain the favourites to progress, but the battle for the second qualifying spot could be particularly intense. Croatian rivals Mladost and Jadran are set for a couple of heavyweight encounters, while Novi Beograd will be determined to make the next round and earn the chance to return to their home pool for the finals. Three-time champions and last season’s bronze medallists FTC-Telekom will also have to navigate a tricky path. Euro Cup winners Marseille and Greece’s second-ranked side Panathinaikos will provide serious tests for the Hungarians, with their meetings likely to prove crucial in the race for the Quarter Final Stage. Steaua may be the underdogs, but a trip to their pool will be no straightforward assignment for any visiting side. Among the top seeds, Olympiacos appear to have the clearest route to the top eight, although Sabadell and Herceg Novi showed their quality last season. Then there is Waspo Hannover. In Sabadell, they will remember only too well the cost of underestimating the Germans after Waspo upset both the Spaniards and Marseille last season to claim the group’s second qualifying spot. This season’s highly anticipated action gets under way on 6th October. The format remains unchanged from previous years, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the Quarter Final Stage, while the third- and fourth-placed sides will continue in the Euro Cup Eight Finals. Watch all water polo action live and on-demand on European Aquatics TV Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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Champions League Men: Novi Beograd, Oradea, Brescia and Panathinaikos advance

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Four of the six qualifying spots were booked on Day 2 of the Champions League Qualification Round. Novi Beograd, Oradea, Brescia and Panathinaikos are all through – and while NBG enjoyed a relatively easy ride, the other three had to battle their way past their respective opponents in hard-fought encounters. Champions League Men 2026/27Qualification Round, Day 2Saturday 19 September Group A(Oradea) VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB) 21-14 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) (6-6, 7-3, 5-3, 3-2)Team Strasbourg (FRA) 8-10 CSM Oradea (ROU) (1-3, 2-3, 0-2, 5-2) Standings: 1. Novi Beograd 6, 2. Oradea 5, 3. Spandau 1, 4. Strasbourg 0 Group B(Tbilisi) CN Sabadell (ESP) 20-12 Budva BR (MNE) (7-5, 6-2, 5-2, 2-3)A-Polo Management (GEO) 17-21 AN Brescia (ITA) (5-4, 5-5, 4-4, 3-8) Standings: 1. Brescia 6, 2. Sabadell 3, 3. A-Polo 3, 4. Budva 0 Group C(Split) Panathinaikos AC (GRE) 9-7 Endo Plus Service Honved (HUN) (2-1, 2-1, 3-3, 2-2) Standings: 1. Panathinaikos 6 (2 matches), 2. Jadran 0 (1), 3. Honved 0 (1) Group A(Oradea) VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB) 21-14 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) (6-6, 7-3, 5-3, 3-2)Team Strasbourg (FRA) 8-10 CSM Oradea (ROU) (1-3, 2-3, 0-2, 5-2) Novi Beograd and Oradea both secured their respective berths in the Group Stage. The Serbs downed Spandau, while the Romanians did enough to beat Strasbourg, a day after their great comeback against the Germans. The opening period in the clash between NBG and Spandau was pure entertainment – at least for the spectators, who saw six goals apiece, while the coaches were left wondering if the defences would start clicking at all. Then, after 8-8, the Serbs raised their level at the back while continuing to score at the other end, and a 4-0 rush broke the Germans. Spandau’s problems deepened further in the third as they lost three players with three fouls, while Novi managed the game professionally and stretched the gap to six goals before the final quarter, leading 18-12. From there, they saw out the game with ease and advanced to the next round as expected. That result also laid the red carpet for Oradea to march into the Group Stage with a win over Strasbourg in the following match. The hosts did really well for three periods as they built a comfortable 8-3 lead with some great defending, shutting out the French for 11 minutes. Then, after 9-3, Strasbourg quickly scored three in a span of 1:42, though Levente Vancsik’s action shot restored some calm at 10-6 with 4:31 on the clock. The French could score two more in the remaining time, but the last one arrived with 50 seconds left and never seriously threatened Oradea’s victory, which also sent them through to the Group Stage. Group B(Tbilisi) CN Sabadell (ESP) 20-12 Budva BR (MNE) (7-5, 6-2, 5-2, 2-3)A-Polo Management (GEO) 17-21 AN Brescia (ITA) (5-4, 5-5, 4-4, 3-8) Brescia had to dig deep to come back from three goals down against hosts A-Polo, but in the fourth quarter the Italians’ skill and physical superiority prevailed. They’re through to the Group Stage, while the Georgians now face a do-or-die clash with Sabadell on Sunday. The Spaniards bounced back from their defeat against Brescia by trouncing Budva with some sparkling offensive play. The Montenegrins kept pace in the first period, though Sabadell already led 7-5. Then came the decisive second period, when the Spanish added six more goals while their defence limited Budva to two, opening up a commanding 13-7 lead. The game then turned into an exclusion feast, with 26 exclusions called against Sabadell and six of their players fouled out by the end. Still, their man-down defence stood firm in the second half to keep Budva at arm’s length. Hosts A-Polo Sport Management produced a brilliant performance against Brescia, at least for three periods. They scored three goals in a row after 1-2 to set the tone, somewhat rocking the Italians’ confidence, and the home side’s offence continued to deliver as A-Polo led 10-9 at half-time. Back-to-back centre shots early in the third gave the Georgians a stunning 12-9 lead, and they maintained that advantage until late in the period, leading 14-11 with 1:04 remaining. The game grew more intense by the minute, with review followed by review and red card after red card. The referees called 41 exclusions in total as they tried to keep the game under control, while Mario del Basso’s double brought Brescia back to 14-13. The Italians quickly equalised from a penalty early in the fourth, and the back-and-forth continued until 16-16, with 4:21 left to play. It seemed inevitable that whoever could find a way to kill an attack or two would win this one. After Brescia’s newly arrived scoring machine Oliver Leinweber struck his fifth of the night, the Italian defence finally denied a man-down attack before scoring from their next two possessions as well. A-Polo, stunned, had ran out of heroics, while Leinweber and Stefano Guerrato added further goals to complete a 5-0 run from the favourites, sealing Brescia’s spot in the Group Stage once again. Group C(Split) Panathinaikos AC (GRE) 9-7 Endo Plus Service Honved (2-1, 2-1, 3-3, 2-2) Unlike most of the matches elsewhere, which routinely produced 30+ goals, this was a real water polo battle between two organised teams, with patience and risk-free solutions the order of the day. The Greeks jumped to a 2-0 lead while killing two man-downs before Honved broke the ice and then denied Panathinaikos in back-to-back extras. After 2-1, the game turned into an extreme defensive battle, with no goals for the following 9:40 minutes. Both goalies, American national team netminder Adrian Weinberg and Hungary’s Kristof Csoma, came up with great stops, while the field players also did a splendid job, delivering several blocks. Viktor Vadovics’ one-timer brought Honved back to level with 2:41 to go until the middle break, but Nikolaos Kopeliadis’ fine finish in a man-up gave the lead back to Panathinaikos. Forty-five seconds later, Dimitrios Skoumpakis’ blast doubled their advantage for 4-2. Honved’s lefties, Vadovics

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Champions League Men: Brescia and Panathinaikos roar to crucial victories on day one of qualifiers

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AN Brescia and Panathinaikos AC emerged as the big winners on the opening day of the Champions League Qualification Round on Friday evening. The Italians downed CN Sabadell, while Panathinaikos upset their hosts Jadran in Split. VK Novi Beograd and A-Polo Sport Management also kicked off their respective campaigns with victories, while Oradea came back from four goals down late on to beat Spandau in a thrilling shootout. Champions League Men 2026/27Qualification RoundFriday 18 September Group A(Oradea) VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB) 15-12 Team Strasbourg (FRA) (2-1, 5-4, 5-4, 3-3)CSM Oradea (ROU) 19-17 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) (3-3, 3-5, 3-2, 6-5, 4-2P) Group B(Tbilisi) AN Brescia (ITA) 16-15 CN Sabadell (ESP) (4-3, 5-5, 4-2, 3-5)A-Polo Management (GEO) 19-16 Budva BR (MNE) (4-4, 4-5, 5-3, 6-4) Group C(Split) VK Jadran Split (CRO) 14-15 Panathinaikos AC (GRE) (4-4, 2-3, 3-4, 5-4) Group A(Oradea) VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB) 15-12 Team Strasbourg (FRA) (2-1, 5-4, 5-4, 3-3) Favourites Novi Beograd found it difficult to shake off a resilient Strasbourg in the opening fixture, but the Serbs eventually overpowered their French rivals to build a three-goal gap before the final period and managed to keep that distance until the end. The French put up a good fight, penetrating the NBG defence from time to time, but they couldn’t do much to stop the young sniper of the Serbian giants, Vasilije Martinovic, who hammered in six goals. Strasbourg had some promising moments in the third when they climbed back to 9-8 and 10-9, but the Serbs struck twice in the final 49 seconds to restore their three-goal cushion. Two more fast goals in the fourth put the game to bed. CSM Oradea (ROU) 19-17 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) (3-3, 3-5, 3-2, 6-5, 4-2P) The second encounter ended up a real thriller. Spandau enjoyed a great surge late in the second period, scoring three in a row to go 8-5 up, and were still 10-7 ahead early in the third. However, they couldn’t score in the final 5:35 of the period, while Oradea lifted their game to score twice and trail 10-9 heading into the last quarter. Even if that spell looked promising, the Germans stunned the hosts with a 0-3 rush early in the fourth and seemed to have it at 13-9. The Romanians responded with a double in 43 seconds to halve the deficit, but Arne Hofmann was on fire for Spandau and his third and fourth goal of the night restored the two-goal difference at 15-13 with 1:28 remaining. Petar Velkic pulled one back from a man-up at 1:03 and, despite a time-out from Spandau, the Romanians managed to survive the next German possession, force another extra and Ivan Gusarov converted it with 14 seconds remaining to send the match to a shootout. The hosts buried all four shots they needed, while the Germans had two misses, which gave Oradea two crucial points. Group B(Tbilisi) AN Brescia (ITA) 16-15 CN Sabadell (ESP) (4-3, 5-5, 4-2, 3-5) If the whole season is going to be almost as good as the opening game between Brescia and Sabadell, then we’re in for some great water polo over the coming months. The two favourites produced an epic 31-goal match, with Brescia making the better start and building a three-goal lead in the second period. Sabadell responded with a strong spell before the middle break, cutting their deficit to 9-8. However, the Italians came back even stronger in the third and, with a 3-0 run, appeared to have taken control. Despite a couple of late goals from the Spaniards, Brescia led comfortably at 13-10 heading into the final eight minutes. Their tough defending, though, began to take its toll. In total, 26 exclusions were called against Brescia, with two players fouled out in the third and two more joining them in just three minutes in the fourth, narrowing their rotation to the minimum. Sabadell smelt blood and two fast goals brought them back to life at 13-12. However, when it mattered most, Vlado Popadic and Oliver Leinweber put away back-to-back extras to keep Brescia above water. They missed their next one, though, and Francisco Valera buried a six-on-five for 15-14. Filippo Ferrero managed to net a last-second man-up for 16-14, but Jack Larsen pulled one back once more, from action. In the remaining 2:18, Sabadell had two more extras to equalise but missed both, allowing Brescia to celebrate a big win. A-Polo Management (GEO) 19-16 Budva BR (MNE) (4-4, 4-5, 5-3, 6-4) There were goals galore in the second match, too, as hosts A-Polo and Budva combined for 35, although the Georgians’ strong second-half performance left less drama for the endgame. The first half didn’t look good from the home side’s perspective, with the Montenegrins outplaying them for most of the time and leading 9-8. A-Polo then lost one of their key players, Filip Gardasevic, to a direct red card in the last second before the buzzer – a true sign of their frustration. Still, they had one more Gardasevic, Martin, on board and he equalised deep into the third for 11-11, although Budva had led 11-9 a little earlier, while the Georgians even missed a penalty. A couple of action goals then put A-Polo ahead at 13-12 before the last break. In the fourth, the Montenegrins tried to keep up with their rivals, burying three man-ups to stay close. However, after 16-15, Vuk Draskovic’s double from action delivered a killer blow, with the second coming 1:17 from time to make it 18-15, and the Georgians sailed away with a fine win. Group C(Split) VK Jadran Split (CRO) 14-15 Panathinaikos AC (GRE) (4-4, 2-3, 3-4, 5-4) Panathinaikos stunned the hosts in an incredible encounter that saw two missed penalties apiece and a much more organised Greek side galloping to a four-goal lead in the fourth. Despite Jadran’s late surge, Panathinaikos held on to grab a huge win. Though the Greeks took the lead twice, after Toni Popadic stopped Efsthatios Kalogeropoulos’ penalty, the Croats soon went ahead at

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