After a longer break, filled with
national teams’ action, Champions League resumes with another exciting round,
where many teams face do-or-die matches. At the same time, Barceloneta clash
with Olympiacos and a win would almost secure the top spot for the Spaniards in
Group A.
Group B has already been divided and
this round may end the dreams on the Final 8 for a couple of teams. Spandau,
Marseille and OSC are all up to grab a very last chance to stay on board,
however, each of them face a mission-impossible-like challenge. OSC, winless in
its last four matches, meet group-leader Brescia, while Marseille visit Novi
Beograd, where the Serbs are determined to go after the Italians to clinch the
first place.
Spandau upset Ferencvaros on Day 5,
still, the Germans are definitely the underdogs this time in Budapest.
Bottom-ranked Sabadell have no real hopes to make the cut, still, the Spaniards
can impose a threat on Jug’s ambitions for another F8 ride, though the Croats
had a fine revival in the last round after a rather painful period.
Group A presents even more thrilling
match-ups. The big game is due in Barcelona where the top ranked Spaniards
clash with Olympiacos and a win would almost be a guarantee for Barceloneta to
finish atop. They stunned Recco in Italy at the beginning of the month, though
the Greeks are also eager for a revenge for their home loss on Day 5.
The other grand fight is expected in
Split where Jadran and Vouliagmeni are to stage a showdown for the last
available berth. The Greeks still have a three-point advantage, but a win would
put Jadran in pole position in this race. Though Radnicki, if they don’t fall
in Tbilisi, may still have slight chance to somehow catch a wave which would
bring the Serbs to Belgrade.
Recco may find some easy cure to
their wounds caused by their first home-defeat in the CL since 2020 three weeks
ago (against Barceloneta) – the game against Hannover at home should offer some
easy cruising for the title-holders.
Champions League, Day 10 – Fixtures
Group B (Tuesday)
19.30 Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Jug
Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
19.30 Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN) v AN
Brescia (ITA)
19.45 Novi Beograd (SRB) v CN
Marseille (FRA)
20.45 FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v
Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)
Standings: 1. Brescia 24, 2. Novi
Beograd 22, 3. Ferencvaros 18, 4. Jug 14, 5. Spandau 8, 6. Marseille 7, 7. OSC
6, 8. Sabadell 4
Group A (Wednesday)
19.00 (16.00 CET) Dinamo Tbilisi
(GEO) v Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)
18.30 Pro Recco (ITA) v Waspo 98
Hannover (GER)
19.00 Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v
Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
19.00 Jadran Split (CRO) v NC
Vouliagmeni (GRE)
Standings: 1. Barceloneta 24, 2.
Olympiacos 22, 3. Recco 21, 4. Vouliagmeni 13, 5. Jadran 10, 6. Radnicki 9, 7.
Hannover 3, 8. Dinamo 3
Pre-game quotes
Group B
Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Jug
Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
Quim Colet, coach, Sabadell
“This Tuesday we play against one of
the best teams in the Champions League. We already saw their potential when we
played in their pool. Even so, we are progressing little by little and the team
is getting better and better in this competition. Our dream is to be able to
beat a team like Jug.”
Fran Valera, player, Sabadell
“Our goal until the last day of the
Champions League is to continue competing as we have done so far. This team is
made to compete and try to win games by hard work and effort. For this reason,
we are not going to give up winning any Champions League match although we know
that Jug is an amazing team.”
Vjekoslav Kobescak, coach, Jug
“The match in Sabadell is perhaps the
most important for us in the season, because with a victory we would take a
decisive step towards the final tournament. We are not complete due to
injuries, but we will do our best for these three crucial points.”
Loren Fatovic, player, Jug
“We had some problems against
Sabadell in Dubrovnik in the first game, regardless of what the final result
suggests otherwise, so I expect anything but an easy game on Tuesday. We really
need points to achieve our goal, which is the Final 8 in Belgrade.”
Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN) v AN
Brescia (ITA)
Daniel Varga, coach, OSC
“Tuesday evening, we will face one of
the best water polo teams. Our goal is to play a good game so we could improve
for the rest of the season.”
Marton Levai, goalie, OSC
“After the break in March, we
continue against our group leader, Brescia. They have a good defence and are
ready to leash punishing counter attacks after any mistake the opponents make.
We have to be focused and disciplined to play a close match at home.”
Alessandro Bovo, coach, Brescia
“It’s going to be a difficult match against
an excellent team which play good water polo.
This game is important for us because
we want to win the group, however, after the break for the national team the
return is always a bit complicated.”
Novi Beograd (SRB) v CN Marseille
(FRA)
Zivko Gocic, coach, NBG
“The game against Marseille will be
very difficult because a lot of our players were with national teams and their
physical and mentally condition is not on a proper level because they played a
lot of games in a short period of time. Because of that, we are trying to
prepare physically ourselves in the best possible way, because we know that the
game will be very tough. Marseille has a very good team, even if their position
in group B doesn't tell that. We are expecting a great battle in the pool, and
I just hope that we will not have injured players. We will try to give our best
once more, and if our performance is at a high level we can expect to win in
the end.”
Dusan Mandic, player, NBG
“It is obvious that we are very tired
since many of us played a lot of games for the national teams recently. But we
are aware that we face a very important match against Marseille. I expect a
very good and exciting game, because Marseille has an excellent team. They had
a lot of good players, some of them are former Serbian national team players
like Andrija Prlainovic. We need to be very focused and the key to the game is
the defence, for sure. If we play well in defence and be aggressive and very
motivated like we were in the game against FTC Budapest, I believe that we will
win.”
Milos Scepanovic, coach, Marseille
“Above all, I hope that our players
selected by the respective national teams will come back in good shape and not
injured at the World Cup qualifiers. We are in the same situation as VK Novi
Beograd which has committed players for that competition. This leaves very
little time for either of the teams to prepare for this encounter. A good
result would bring a lot of positive things, but I know it will be very
complicated against the reigning European vice-champions.”
Michael Bodegas, player, Marseille
“Novi Beograd is a team that has been
formed to win the Champions League. But in this match, the important thing is
not the opponent but our team. We will have to be present in all the duels and
bring that extra soul that we missed at the start of the season. We no longer
have to make calculations, only impose our own identity and succeed in
exploiting 100% the potential and qualities of each of us. We hope to play some
great matches till the end of the season, this is what our club deserves.”
FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v Spandau
04 Berlin (GER)
Zsolt Varga, coach, Ferencváros:
“Spandau is a bit underrated team.
They have a lot of foreign players, the club have great traditions and they
play a really good water polo. They proved it against Dubrovnik. We have to
take them seriously and I think the defeat in Berlin still hurts us so we can
gain enough strength from that disappointment to keep the three points at
home.”
Soma Vogel, goalie, Ferencvaros:
“For me, every minute spent in the
water counts, so if I play, I want to seize the opportunity, but the win is the
most important. We want to fight back because of the defeat in Berlin and to
claim all three points is a must for us.”
Athanasios Kechagias, coach, Spandau
“FTC Budapest is the favourite in
this match, even though my team won the first leg in Berlin. We have been able
to achieve some surprises this season, but we have not always been able to
deliver consistent performances in the Champions League. From this point of
view, I am curious to see how my players will present themselves in Budapest.
We have prepared for this game and will try to achieve the best possible
result.”
Luca Marziali, player, Spandau
“Everything is possible. FTC is a
strong team with many internationally experienced players. Spandau has to be
100& ready for this game. I am looking forward to this game. I love big
challenges and work hard to win every match if possible. We want to keep the
possibility to qualify for the Final 8.”
Group A
Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v Radnicki
Kragujevac (SRB)
Dejan Stanojevic, coach, Dinamo
“Our team is in a specific situation.
There are 20 very tiring, demanding days behind us in which we burnt a lot of
energy, both mentally and physically. In
20 days, we travelled through three countries, five cities, and we played 12
matches, official ones and for practice as well. All this required huge consumption and
emptying the reserves. But this is a professional sport and there is no looking
back, only forward, that’s why I ask that from my players. This Wednesday they
have to give their maximum and produce a good and worthy game against a great
and excellent team. Together, as a team, they have to fight for every ball and
to play every defence with maximum effort, every swim on maximum speed. That’s
what I ask, that’s what I demand from them. Just that. We respect the opponent,
a top team with many fantastic players, an excellent coach, but no one can deny
our obligation to give our best and hope for the best.”
Artem Dikhtyarenko, player, Dinamo
“Radnicki is a good team. We lost our
first game by one goal, but now we are playing at home, and we have every
chance to beat them. Our victory in the match against Hannover gave us
confidence and we will continue to go for pleasing our fans.”
Uros Stevanovic, coach, Radnicki
“After the defeat against Jadran, we
significantly reduced our chances of reaching the Final Eight. However, we will
try to win every game until the end of the season, and we will not give up as long
as there is a chance.”
Nemanja Stanojevic, player, Radnicki
“Dinamo is not a team to be
underestimated, as they showed in the last round by winning in Hanover. They
gave us a lot of trouble in our pool in the first game, and we know we have to
give our best to win this away game.”
Pro Recco (ITA) v Waspo 98 Hannover
(GER)
Tommaso Negri, player, Pro Recco
“We’re coming from a period of break,
after the defeat in Milan against Barceloneta we have a great desire for
“revenge”, to return to winning ways to achieve our goal, to take the first
place in the group. We only met today altogether, but I don’t think this
represents a problem: the players returning from the national teams are in
great shape, they’ve played five games, but the coach gave them a few days to
catch their breath and recover the energy spent in the World Cup. Waspo
Hannover is at the bottom of the group, but they have several interesting
players in the roster, and it will be an excellent test for us. Lavagna
swimming pool will give us a big boost, we are really pleased with this
initiative of the travelling Champions because we perceive the enthusiasm of
the youngest who can’t wait to come and support us live, always creating a
splendid atmosphere. We are sure that Lavagna will also respond warmly and with
a sell-out on Wednesday.”
Karsten Seehafer, coach, Hannover
“Playing games against Recco is an
honour and we want to play good water polo, but in reality, we have no chance.
After this gameday we have the German Cup, and the best preparation for that is
to play against Recco.”
Alexander Radovic, player, Hannover
“This week is about to prepare for
the most important weekend of this season. Now we’re playing against Pro Recco,
which we need to use to improve for the cup final against Spandau. Pro Recco is
the best team in the world, but we only think about our game.”
Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v
Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
Elvis Fatovic, coach, Barceloneta
“We meet with a great team with a
great coach. In our last match, the outcome was uncertain until the very end.
We will see which team regenerated better after the natioan teams’ duties.”
Marc Larumbe, player, Barceloneta
“The game against Olympiacos comes in
a difficult moment, for both teams, because of the series of games played in
Podgorica and Zagreb with the national teams. However, I hope we can enjoy a
very good match. We must be grateful for this kind of match we can play at
home.”
Luke Pavillard, player, Barceloneta
“I, and I’m sure everyone on the
team, is really looking forward to the game against Olympiacos. It’s an
opportunity to put us in a great position for the Final 8, but we know it won’t
be easy. Going to their home and coming away with a win was great for us, but
it just means they’ll be out looking for revenge. I’m sure it will be a great
game and I can’t wait for it!”
Igor Milanovic, coach, Olympiacos
“We are going to Spain to take
revenge. Our players are dedicated themselves to win the game. We have some
injury problems, but I think we can have a good game there. I don’t think about
defeat, I believe in the hearts of my players.”
Marko Bijac, goalie, Olympiacos
“It will be one of the most difficult
games for us in the season. Barceloneta play very well in their pool, it’s
difficult for all the teams there. We know they want to win. We didn’t have
much time to prepare for this match. We had a few trainings together, but I
hope we will give our best and continue winning. It’s a crucial time in the
season, it will be a difficult game, but we’re going for the victory.”
Jadran Split (CRO) v NC Vouliagmeni
(GRE)
Jure Marelja, coach, Jadran
“This is a crucial game for the Final
Eight spot. We are optimistic and we hope we shall win. We were really close in
the away game, now we know what to do.”
Mate Anic, goalie, Jadran
“It’s a big game for us. We are in a
good shape, full of wish to go through to the Final Eight. This win would be a
great step forward...”
Vladimir Vujasinovic, coach,
Vouliagmeni
“After two and a half weeks, the
clubs can finally play again. We have a derby in the Greek championship on
Saturday, and then the game in Split on Wednesday, which is a very important
one for both teams. We are very satisfied with what we have done so far in the
group stage, and we are very motivated to continue the same way.”
Nikolaos Papasifakis, player,
Vouliagmeni
“Our next game against Jadran is
important for both sides, as the winning team will most likely reach the final
8. We recognise Jadran’s strengths and abilities. There is great potential in
both teams, and that would surely produce a strong game. Nevertheless, we will
be preparing for a victorious outcome on our end!”
Facts & Figures
Group B
Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Jug
Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
Last five matches:
Sabadell: LWLLL – Jug: WDWLW
Last round:
Sabadell: 6-9 Marseille (a) – Jug:
13-8 OSC (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 5: 10-14
Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN) v AN
Brescia (ITA)
Last five matches:
OSC: LDLLL – Brescia: WWWWW
Last round:
OSC: 8-13 Jug (a) – Brescia: 14-10
Spandau (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 5: 6-14 – 2017-18: 5-9, 6-8
Novi Beograd (SRB) v CN Marseille
(FRA)
Last five matches:
NBG: WLWWW – Marseille: LLLLW
Last round:
NBG: 14-13 FTC (h) – Marseille: 9-6
Sabadell (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 5: 17-13 – 2021-22: 16-10
(quarter-final)
FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v Spandau
04 Berlin (GER)
Last five matches:
FTC: LWWWL – Spandau: WLLWL
Last round:
FTC: 13-14 NBG (a) – Spandau: 10-14
Brescia (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 5: 10-11
Group A
Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v Radnicki
Kragujevac (SRB)
Last five matches:
Dinamo: LLLLW – Radnicki: WDLDL
Last round:
Dinamo: 10-8 Hannover (a) – Radnicki:
11-13 Jadran (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 5: 10-11 – 2021-22: 7-14, 13-17
Pro Recco (ITA) v Waspo 98 Hannover
(GER)
Last five matches:
Recco: WWWWL – Hannover: LWLLL
Last round:
Recco: 8-9 Barceloneta (h) –
Hannover: 8-10 Dinamo (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 5: 11-8 – 2021-22: 18-3, 20-7.
2020-21: 16-9 (quarter-final). 2019-20: 21-13. 2018-19: 14-10 (quarter-final).
2016-17: 10-7, 18-8
Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v
Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
Last five matches:
Barceloneta: WLWWW – Olympiacos:
LWWDW
Last round:
Barceloneta: 9-8 Recco (a) – Olympiacos:
14-6 Vouliagmeni (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 5: 9-7 – 2021-22: 7-3, 4-8.
2020-21: 22-9 (quarter-final). 2019-20: 15-9, 11-11. 2018-19: 10-14, 7-7
(prelims), 4-6 (semi-final)
Jadran Split (CRO) v NC Vouliagmeni
(GRE)
Last five matches:
Jadran: LDLLW – Vouliagmeni: WLWWL
Last round:
Jadran: 13-11 Radnicki (a) –
Vouliagmeni: 6-14 Olympiacos (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 5: 12-13
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