The highlighted matches of Day 8 may
have an impact on the race for the top spots in both groups. Recco and
Barceloneta are ranked 1-2 with equal points – this duel on Wednesday evening
may decide the first place in Group A. In the other group, Novi Beograd take on
Ferencvaros, only the winner seems to retain the chance to catch up with
group-leader Brescia.
While Brescia may look for another
home win against Spandau – though the Germans showed some strength while
bringing down Jug in Dubrovnik in the last round and the Italians suffered a
shocking defeat from Ortigia in the Italian Cup semi-finals –, Novi Beograd and
Ferencvaros are set to stage a huge fight. Their matches never lack the
offensive sparkle (last season and this January both sides reached double
digits in the three games) – on Day 6 FTC took advantage of NBG’s health
issues, now the Serbs will be close to full strength, so they seem to be the
favourites.
The hunt for the fourth qualifying
spot is heating up too. Jug now have some advantage but another home loss
against a direct rival – after they were beaten by Spandau – may cost a lot for
the Croats. They are not in the best shape, lost twice at home in the Regional
League, and OSC already stunned them in Dubrovnik last season. The encounter
between Marseille and Sabadell offers a kind of last chance for both teams –
the loser will bow out from the F8 race.
Group A pairings are quite similar.
Here the big match between Recco and Barceloneta will most probably decide the
top rank. Since the Spaniards lost 8/8 to Recco in recent years, including
their lop-sided contest in Barceloneta where the title-holders won 11-5 on Day
6, the odds favour Recco to say the least – and they are also fresh from adding
another trophy to their cabinet as they clinched the Italian Cup on Sunday.
After Olympiacos dropped valuable
points due to their second-half collapse in Radnicki, the Greeks need to step
up in the in-house battle against Vouliagmeni – and a win would put them ahead
of the loser of the big match in Recco.
Here the grand clash in the
competition for the 4th qualifying spot is held in Kragujevac. Radnicki face
off Jadran and that will be much more than the traditional Serbian v Croatian
derby. Only the winner can stay alive – if there will be one, since the two
sides’ first meet in Split ended in a draw. Hannover’s dreams on a fourth F8
participation are fading quickly, another win against Dinamo might only slow
down this process…
Day 9, Fixtures
Group B (Tuesday)
19.00 Jug Adriatic Osiguranje
Dubrovnik (CRO) v Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN)
19.45 VK Novi Beograd (SRB) v
FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN)
20.00 CN Marseille (FRA) v Astralpool
Sabadell (ESP)
20.30 AN Brescia (ITA) v Spandau 04
Berlin (GER)
Standings: 1. Brescia 21, 2. Novi
Beograd 19, 3. Ferencvaros 18, 4. Jug 11, 5. Spandau 8, 6. OSC 6, 7. Sabadell
4, 8. Marseille 4
Group A (Wednesday)
19.00 (18.00CET) NC Vouliagmeni (GRE)
v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
19.00 Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v
Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
20.30 Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) v
Jadran Split (CRO)
21.00 Pro Recco (ITA) v Zodiac CNA
Barceloneta (ESP)
Standings: 1. Recco 21, 2.
Barceloneta 21, 3. Olympiacos 19, 4. Vouliagmeni 13, 5. Radnicki 9, 6. Jadran
7, 7. Hannover 3, 8. Dinamo 0
Pre-game quotes
Group B
Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik
(CRO) v Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN)
Vjekoslav Kobescak, coach, Jug
“I have no words to describe our
performances in recent weeks. After the defeat against Spandau, we lost two
games in the Regional League, and it is obvious that we are in a big crisis of
form and results. Tomorrow's game can give us a lot, but also take away a lot,
so I hope we will be able to get up and get out of this black hole.”
Franko Lazic, player, Jug
“We have been playing badly lately,
which is reflected in the results. OSC is a serious opponent with excellent
players, and we will have to be at a much better level if we want to take
points and stay in the race for the Final 8.”
Daniel Varga, coach, OSC
“We will play a decisive game in
Dubrovnik, so our goal is clear: we need the three points.
It is easy to say, but very difficult
to make. We have good memories from last season when we won in Bazen Gruz. I
can see my players everyday that they are very motivated and focused to our
next game against Jug. I am looking forward to this high prestige game.
Kristof Varnai, player, OSC
“It will be a very important game if
we want to maintain our goals to reach the Final Eight. Only with precision
when it comes to defence and a few outstanding performances will offer us a
chance and we will do everything we can to achieve this.”
VK Novi Beograd (SRB) v FTC-Telekom
Budapest (HUN)
Radomir Drasovic, player, NBG
“We are playing in our pool against
the team which we’ve never beaten so far in the Champions League. Because of
that, we have a huge motive to finally win the game against FTC Telekom
Budapest. This match is very important for us because we want to stay in a
position to claim the first place in our group. We have a huge respect for our
opponent, but I hope that we will give 100 percent and that we will take three
points at the end.”
Zivko Gocic, coach, NBG
“With the game against FTC Telekom Budapest on
Tuesday we will close the circle of some very important games for us in the
last month. Also, this is a very important moment in the season, because after
this game in the Champions League we will have a break due to the national team
events, and we would like to finish this part of the season with a win. We know
very well that it will be a very difficult game because we are playing against
the great team of FTC Telekom Budapest. We have a huge respect for them because
we know how they play and what kind of results they had in recent years. It
will be a very hard match, but I believe in my team. The truth is that we had a
very tough tournament in the Regional League last weekend, but we will try to
do our best and I just hope that it will be enough for the win.”
Zsolt Varga, coach, Ferencvaros
“There were many missing players from
our rivals last time and they still played a hard game with us. Now we are
facing a complete Beograd. We have to find out how to play effective against
them. It will be a good test.”
Szilard Jansik, player, Ferencvaros
It was a huge thing that we could win
at home, but do not forget that not everyone played on that match from our
team. It will be a nice test to know how the team play at this stage. In my
opinion we are in a good shape, and I hope we can cause a surprise.”
CN Marseille (FRA) v Astralpool
Sabadell (ESP)
Milos Scepanovic, coach, Marseille
“The match against Astralpool
Sabadell is essential for us. We have to win this game. From the start, we will
have to impose our rhythm against this young and dynamic team.”
Mishka Izdinsky, player, Marseille
“It's a complicated time for us.
Whatever happens, I am convinced that we will do everything to get out of this
situation and get back into the race this season. The game against Sabadell is
very important for us and would be a good opportunity to bounce back before the
international break.”
Quim Colet, coach, Sabadell
“We have another day of action in the
Champions League and a new opportunity to get a victory against a team that we
beat at home and in a very good way. Despite everything, we know that they have
a great team with some extraordinary players, so if we want to win the game, we
will have to do things very well.”
Bernat Sanahuja, player, Marseille
“We go to Marseille very much looking
forward to repeating the victory we achieved in the home game against them. We
know that it is a team with many stars and that it should surely stand higher
in the classification, but the situation is what it is. We are going with a lot
of morale as we are leaders in our league and we hope to compete at the maximum
as we have been doing so far.”
AN Brescia (ITA) v Spandau 04 Berlin
(GER)
Petar Tesanovic, goalie, Brescia
“We are facing a very good team. They
have a lot of great players, and they are playing very well recently. It’s not
a positive moment for us, but we are focused to do our best against Spandau.”
Group A
NC Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Olympiacos
Piraeus (GRE)
Vladimir Vujasinovic, coach,
Vouliagmeni
“We are playing against one of the
main contenders for the final victory in Belgrade, so our goal is to play the
best we can as we did so far.”
Nikolaos Kourouvanis, player,
Vouliagmeni
“It will be a tough match against a
very good team with good players, but we are also a good team and I believe
that if we are psychologically, above all, ready for it, we will be much more
competitive than we were in the match in Piraeus. We will give our 100%, as we
always do, to get the best out of this game as well.”
Igor Milanovic, coach, Olympiacos
“We are playing against Vouliagmeni,
with whom we drew at their home in our last game and I can say that we are
happy that we didn’t lose under strange conditions. I hope that on Wednesday we
will play better. First of all, I want all our players to be able to play,
because we have been facing a lot of injury problems lately. I believe deeply
in my team and in the heart of my players and I believe we will win the game.”
Christodoulos Kolomvos, player,
Olympiacos
“Against Vouliagmeni our only goal is
to win. On the other hand, our opponents have shown that they play good water
polo which can make it difficult for us. We have to show that we are a better
team. We have to avoid situations like the blackout we had in Kraugujevac and
lost points. We need to get back to winning."
Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Dinamo
Tbilisi (GEO)
Karsten Seehafer, coach, Hannover
“Against Tbilisi it’s possible to gain
some points, we won in their home, we want to do it again.”
Mark Gansen, player, Hannover
“In the first leg in Tbilisi we
showed what we could do. If we retrieve that and continue to play with
concentration and, above all, with emotion and heart, then nothing stands in
the way of us keeping next points at home.”
Aleksander Radovic, player, Hannover
“We have to confirm that we are
better than Tbilisi. This is a good chance to add three more points. We can count on that, especially after our
last game in Greece.”
Dejan Stanojevic, coach, Dinamo
“This game is very important for us
and for each of our players individually. In the match with Hannover each of
them must show, in addition to motivation, desire and energy, discipline and
maximum performance of their technical skills. That's the only way we can play
a good game and try to achieve a good result. That's why this game will be very
difficult because every defence and every attack will have to be played with
maximum discipline. We didn't have the
experience of playing tough matches against a quality opponent, and only if we
are concentrated, disciplined at the maximum, and make a small number of
mistakes, can only match such a team.”
Rezi Imnaishvili, player, Dinamo
“After the regrettable defeat against
Hannover in Tbilisi, we put all our energy into preparing for this game. I
think it will be very difficult to beat them at home, but we are ready for it,
and we will do everything.”
Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) v Jadran
Split (CRO)
Uros Stevanovic, coach, Radnicki
“This is the most important game for
us in the season so far. With the qualifiction for the F8 in mind, this match
is “to be, or not to be” for both teams and the losers chances will be
significantly reduced to reach the final tournament.”
Zoran Poznanovic, player, Radnicki
“This match is one of the decisive
ones for the qualification at F8. In Split, we dropped the victory at the end
of the match. We hope to rectify that in the second leg and continue the race
for F8.”
Jure Marelja, coach, Jadran
“We played well against Radnicki in
the Regional League in Split, the score was 15:3 for us. I see Radnicki
struggling also against Mornar, I think we have a good chance to get points
there and stay alive in our Final Eight quest.”
Andelo Setka, player, Jadran
“Our momentum is on a rise, we played
three good matches in the Regional League, had wins against Radnicki, Partizan
and Crvena Zvezda and now we must show that form in our away match. Radnicki is
a good team, they are a bit down now, still, we must be at our best to have a
chance to win.”
Pro Recco (ITA) v Zodiac CNA
Barceloneta (ESP)
Maurizio Felugo, president, Pro Recco
“We are proud to bring a fantastic
international water polo event back to Milan, finally without the limitations
of the pandemic which last year forced us to a reduced capacity in all three
matches played in Bocconi University. An extraordinary pool that enhances water
polo and the event we want to build around the Champions League match, which,
for the athletes present in the game, could undoubtedly be worth an Olympic
final.”
Aleksandar Ivovic, captain, Pro Recco
“We come to this important match
against Barceloneta after the Italian Cup Final 8 – three games in three days
are a formula that takes away a lot of energy and we hope to have some more for
Wednesday. We celebrated for a few hours, and starting this afternoon we focus
on Barceloneta.”
Elvis Fatovic, coach, Barceloneta
“We must change some things from the
first game. I am sure that we can play much better, I expect a tense match.”
Alberto Munarriz, player, Barceloneta
“We will play a very difficult game
against the best team in the Champions League. We know they are the favourites
and that’s why we know how complicated this game will be. We will enter this
match with great desire even though we know it will be difficult, they have the
pressure to win. We made a lot of mistakes in the first game. If we correct
them now and play more aggressively in attack, we can be in the game. That will
be the key of trying to win, we didn’t succeed at home, but I believe we will
have our chances.”
Facts & Figures
Group B
Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik
(CRO) v Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN)
Last five matches:
Jug: LWDWL – OSC: WLDLL
Last round:
Jug: 11-13 v Spandau (h) – OSC: 11-12
v FTC (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 6: 9-9 – 2021-22: 10-11, 15-10.
2017-18: 12-10, 7-4.
VK Novi Beograd (SRB) v FTC-Telekom
Budapest (HUN)
Last five matches:
NBG: WWLWW – FTC: WLWWW
Last round:
NBG: 16-11 v Sabadell (h) – FTC:
12-11 v OSC (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 6: 12-14 – 2021-22: 11-14, 10-11
CN Marseille (FRA) v Astralpool
Sabadell (ESP)
Last five matches:
Marseille: WLLLL – Sabadell: LLWLL
Last round:
Marseille: 13-15 v Brescia (a) –
Sabadell: 11-16 v NBG (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 6: 11-13
AN Brescia (ITA) v Spandau 04 Berlin
(GER)
Last five matches:
Brescia: LWWWW – Spandau: LWLLW
Last round:
Brescia: 15-13 v Marseille (h) –
Spandau: 13-11 v Jug (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 6: 16-10 – 2017-18, for 7-8th:
14-10. 2016-17: 14-10, 9-6.
Group A
NC Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Olympiacos
Piraeus (GRE)
Last five matches:
Vouliagmeni: LWLWW – Olympiacos:
WLWWD
Last round:
Vouliagmeni: 10-9 v Hannover (h) –
Olympiacos: 10-10 v Radnicki (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 6: 6-14 – Greek league finals
(last May): 6-8, 5-8, 12-14
Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Dinamo
Tbilisi (GEO)
Last five matches:
Hannover: LLWLL – Dinamo: LLLLL
Last round:
Hannover: 9-10 v Vouliagmeni (a) –
Dinamo: 5-20 v Recco (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 6: 14-11 – 2020-21: 10-3, 7-6.
2019-20: 11-10, 18-14
Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) v Jadran
Split (CRO)
Last five matches:
Radnicki: LWDLD – Jadran: WLDLL
Last round:
Radnicki: 10-10 v Olympiacos (h) –
Jadran: 6-8 v Barceloneta (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 6: 10-10 – 2021-22: 8-9, 13-10
Pro Recco (ITA) v Zodiac CNA
Barceloneta (ESP)
Last five matches:
Recco: WWWWW – Barceloneta: WWLWW
Last round:
Recco: 20-5 v Dinamo (h) –
Barceloneta: 8-6 v Jadran (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 6: 11-5 – 2021-22, quarter-final:
11-10. 2021, semi-final: 12-10. 2019: bronze medal: 8-7, prelims: 8-3, 15-11.
2016-17, prelims: 8-6, 11-6
