This weekend, only four of the 18 teams competing in the Champions League Qualification Round will advance, as intense battles unfold across four venues. Over the course of four action-packed days, only the highest-ranked teams will secure their spots in the prestigious Group Stage. Fans can catch the thrilling matches for free on EuroAquaticsTV.com.
With 18 teams competing for just four places, the Champions League season promises fierce clashes over four days in Dubrovnik, Kragujevac, Oradea, and Sabadell. In two of the groups, there are teams that played in last season’s Group Stage, but only one from each group will return to the elite stage this year.
In Group A, host team Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik is expected to dominate against Spain’s CN Barcelona and Montenegro’s Jadran m:tel, both strong competitors. Jadran m:tel, a Champions League participant last year, poses the biggest challenge to Jug, but with home advantage, Jug remains the favorite. However, with only one team advancing, there’s no room for error.
In Group B, Vouliagmeni faces a daunting challenge. The Greek side, slightly weakened compared to their 2023 semi-finalist squad, travels to Kragujevac, where Serbian powerhouse Radnicki—bolstered by Serbia’s Olympic triumph—aims to secure a place in the top 16 once again. Radnicki’s squad includes local stars like the Jaksic brothers, Nikola and Petar, Radomir Drasovic, Strahinja Rasovic, and veteran center-forward Dusko Pijetlovic. But they cannot afford to underestimate 7-time champions HAVK Mladost Zagreb, who have reinforced their team with several national team members. Hungary’s BVSC-Zuglo also brings quality to the table, making Group B one to watch closely.
Group C sees AN Brescia, a powerhouse in recent years, facing a slight decline. Despite featuring fewer national team players, they remain the favorites in Oradea, with their toughest competition likely coming from Spandau 04 Berlin, another regular participant in the Champions League.
In Group D, Sabadell has strengthened its squad with several high-caliber foreign players, making them a serious contender for the Group Stage. However, they will need to overcome challenges from Italy’s Ortigia and Serbia’s VK Sabac to advance.
Water polo fans will enjoy unparalleled access to the action from Thursday through Sunday, with matches streamed for free on the new platform, EuroAquaticsTV.com.
Champions League Qualification Round
- Group A (Dubrovnik): Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO), CN Barcelona (ESP), Jadran m:tel (MNE), Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU), Banja Luka (BIH)
- Group B (Kragujevac): Vouliagmeni NC (GRE), SPO Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB), BVSC-Zuglo (HUN), HAVK Mladost Zagreb (CRO)
- Group C (Oradea): AN Brescia (ITA), Spandau 04 Berlin (GER), CSM Oradea (ROU), Enka Istanbul (TUR), PAOK Saloniki (GRE)
- Group D (Sabadell): Astralpool Sabadell (ESP), Ortigia 1928 (ITA), VK Sabac (SRB), Pays d’Aix Natation (FRA)
For the detailed schedule, live scores, play-by-play coverage, and stats, visit www.championsleague.europeanaquatics.org.