All spots are booked for the Final
Eight, however, there are a couple of open questions in the final rankings. Brescia
and Barceloneta are in pole position to finish atop in the respective groups,
while the big match between Recco and Olympiacos decides the second place in
Group A.
This last round takes place in a
special moment, just days after the teams finished their respective campaigns
in the home league finals. There are happy sides – most of the favourites
retained their titles – and there are disappointed ones who had to settle for
the silver medals.
Brescia couldn’t hold up Recco in the
Italian title bout, so they look for some consolation in the Champions League –
they need at least a draw to secure the first place in Group A. That might not
be a challenge as the face Jug, the devastated side which didn’t win in their
last four CL matches but more painfully lost their title at home to Jadran.
F8 host Novi Beograd, winner in
Serbia, face an easy task against freshly crowned German champion Spandau
(which it out of contest for the F8), but the Serbs will finish runner-up most
probably. Ferencvaros will remain third anyway, their last game against
Sabadell is still special as their head coach Zsolt Varga will lead his players
for the last time in a home match – after the F8 he’ll be full-time head coach
of the Hungarian national team. To prepare the team for the F8, the encounter
will be held outdoors in the Mecca of water polo, on the Margaret Island.
When it mattered most, Barceloneta
came up big against Sabadell in Spain, became champions once more despite
finishing runners-up in the regular season, so they are all set to win Group A
as well. A win against Dinamo should come easily.
The only ‘real’ question of the day
whether Recco or Olympiacos finish second here which they will decide in a
great showdown on Wednesday evening. Novi Beograd and Ferencvaros are highly
interested in the outcome – if Olympiacos stun Recco, then last year’s final
will be replayed right in the quarters, between Novi Beograd and Recco. Any
other outcome would keep the current ranks and pair Recco against Ferencvaros
(that was the semi-final in 2022) while Olympiacos should take on NBG.
Fixtures, Day 14
Group B (Tuesday)
19.30 FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v
Astralpool Sabadell (ESP)
19.30 Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN) v CN
Marseille (FRA)
19.45 Novi Beograd (SRB) v Spandau 04
Berlin (GER)
20.30 AN Brescia (ITA) v Jug Adriatic
Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
Standings: 1. Brescia 31, 2. Novi
Beograd 29, 3. Ferencvaros 25, 4. Jug 16, 5. Marseille 13, 6. Sabadell 13, 7.
Spandau 11, 8. OSC 10
Group A (Wednesday)
19.00 (18.00 CET) NC Vouliagmeni
(GRE) v Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)
19.00 Pro Recco (ITA) v Olympiacos
Piraeus (GRE)
19.00 Jadran Split (CRO) v Waspo98
Hannover (GER)
20.00 Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v
Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
Standings: 1. Barceloneta 36, 2.
Recco 33, 3. Olympiacos 31, 4. Vouliagmeni 17, 5. Jadran 14, 6. Radnicki 12, 7.
Dinamo 6, 8. Hannover 3
Pre-game quotes
Group B
FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v
Astralpool Sabadell (ESP)
Zsolt Varga, coach, Ferencvaros
“After every big final there is a
mental fatigue. I hope that just days after winning the league title, the
players could recharge themselves and manage to get new motivations. We are
training at the Margaret Island in nice weather, so it is a different feeling
to practice and play. The goal is to keep our concentration on a high level
because we have a big mission.”
Erik Molnar, player, Ferencvaros
“We have a Final8, and this is our
last match before that, where we can practice and build the team’s chemistry.
This will be Zsolt Varga’s last match at home, so we need to play on the
highest level to offer a good match.”
Quim Colet, coach, Sabadell
“We play the last game of this great
competition with no chance of qualifying but eager to continue competing with
the best teams in Europe. We will go to Hungary to show that next year we want
to be here again.”
Sergi Cabanas, player, Sabadell
“I really want to play this match as
it will be my last game this season with Sabadell. I believe that this year the
team has taken a step forward and that with this dynamic, in the not too
distant future great things can be achieved.”
Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN) v CN
Marseille (FRA)
Daniel Varga, coach, OSC
“The current squad will play their
last game against Marseille, then many players bid farewell to OSC. That
situation will bring up extra emotions, so we want to win and to make a nice
farewell for our supporters.”
Erik Bundschuh, player, OSC
“This is our last match in this
season, and it will be a home game. We hope that a lot of our fans will attend
to see our team play and we will do everything to thank them their support with
a win.”
Milos Scepanovic, coach, Marseille
“We know this is our last game of the
season in all competitions. It doesn't matter what the result is, but we want
to end the year well and shine with our team spirit and our tactics. We are on
a good dynamic, and we will demonstrate it once again in this match.”
Ugo Crousillat, player, Marseille
“Despite the fact that we cannot
qualify for the final8, we will go to Budapest to win because we want to finish
the season with a victory!”
Novi Beograd (SRB) v Spandau 04
Berlin (GER)
Zivko Gocic, coach, NBG
„We won our first trophy this season
in the national championship, so I think that in the last couple of weeks our
performance is at a higher level and that is very important. Our next opponent
is Spandau 04 Berlin, and we can’t underestimate the German team. We need to
keep a good rhythm before the start of the Final Eight tournament next week.
Because of that, we will use this game to prepare ourselves for all challenges
in the final tournament of the Champions League, to be held in our home pool.”
Nikola Jaksic, player, NBG
“The game against Spandau 04 Berlin
is the last match in the group phase of the Champions League. We will try to
use it as a preparation for the Final Eight tournament where the most important
game is the quarter-final. Spandau 04 Berlin is a good team, so we need to be
focused throughout the whole game if we want to win. I think that we are a
better team and if we do our best, we will have a positive result in the end.”
Athanasios Kechagias, coach,
Wasserfreunde Spandau 04
“Even if the Final 8 is out of reach
for my team, we want to show the best possible performance against Novi
Belgrade. We have shown different faces this season. The chances for the final
were there but could not be realised yet. We want to show in our last game what
quality we have.”
Denis Strelezkij, player, Wasserfreunde Spandau 04
“I would have liked to play with my
team in Belgrade in an important final match for us to reach the final. Our
narrow defeat in the last home game against Sabadell has taken away this
possibility. Nevertheless, we play to win games to achieve the best placement
in the group.”
AN Brescia (ITA) v Jug Adriatic
Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
Niccolo Gitto, player, Brescia
“We are coming from a bad defeat
against Recco, but we are determined to win against Jug and take the first
place in the group. It would be a very good result for the Final Eight in
Belgrade.”
Vjekoslav Kobescak, coach, Jug
“Finally a match without a result
imperative, especially after accumulated fatigue. We are going to Brescia to
show a good game, and it will also be our last preparation before the final
tournament in Belgrade.”
Toni Popadic, goalie, Jug
“Considering that we secured a place
in the Final 8 and we cannot be better or worse than the fourth place, this
match will serve us first of all as a great preparation for Belgrade. This does
not mean that we are coming to Brescia with a white flag in our hands.”
Group A
NC Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Radnicki
Kragujevac (SRB)
Vladimir Vujasinovic, coach,
Vouliagmeni
“We have one more game left before
the final tournament in Belgrade and we want to use it in the best possible way
as preparations for the quarter-finals. This is the first European match we
will play in our pool, and I hope that the fans will enjoy an excellent game.”
Andreas Almyras, player, Vouliagmeni
“Radnicki is a good team, but we are
mentally prepared for this game. We want to beat every opponent and that’s what
we are going to do this time as well. It’s our last game before the Final Eight
and we are try to come up with our best performance against them and against
all other opponents who we will meet in our way.”
Uros Stevanovic, coach, Radnicki
“We broke the losing streak with a
win in Hannover. The last game of the season awaits us, in which we will try to
make a little more impression.”
Zoran Poznanovic, player, Radnicki
“This is our last game of the season,
and we will do our best to play as well as possible. We have improved our form
in the last few games, and we hope we can continue in the same rhythm.”
Pro Recco (ITA) v Olympiacos Piraeus
(GRE)
Aleksandar Ivovic, captain, Pro Recco
“The scudetto victory in Brescia
gives us a big boost also for the match against Olympiacos. We face a very
strong team, we want to take three points not only for the placement in view of
the Final Eight, but also to avenge the defeat in November at their pool. If we
play like against Brescia, we'll have a good chance of taking the win and
getting ready for the finals in Serbia.”
Jadran Split (CRO) v Waspo98 Hannover
(GER)
Karsten Seehafer, coach, Hannover
“This is the last game in this
season, so thanks for all and see you in the next season!”
Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v Dinamo
Tbilisi (GEO)
Elvis Fatovic, coach, Barceloneta
“In the first game against Dinamo, we
had an intense first quarter, which shows us that we must not enter the game
against them lightly. Since then, we have raised the bar. We are coming from
the victory in the final of the Spanish league and we must concentrate on
everything that comes next.”
Luke Pavillard, player, Barceloneta
“I’m looking forward to this match
against Tbilisi, I think everyone is. It’s our last test to secure the top spot
in group A, and also to see how much we have grown from the start of the
season. With the Final 8 around the corner, teams want to be at their best so I
think that’s what we are expecting from ourselves in this game. Any time we get
to play in front of our home crowd, I get really excited, so hopefully we can
put on a good show.”
Dusan Matkovic, player, Barceloneta
“We are excited for the final game of
the group stage of this season’s Champions League. I am sure that this game
will serve us as a good preparation for the Final 8 tournament next week. We’ll
approach the game very seriously and hopefully we’ll triumph without bigger
problems.”
Zuka Rurua, assistant coach, Dinamo
“It's the last round of the Champions
League, and it's very important for us how we finish the season. Of course,
Barceloneta have a strong team and it will be difficult to play in their pool,
but we have to play very disciplined and perform all specific tasks as possible
as we can...”
Giorgi Meskhi, player, Dinamo
“Despite the fact that Barceloneta
are one of the best teams, with dedication, discipline and correct tactics
there is always a chance for success.”
Facts & Figures
Group B
FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v
Astralpool Sabadell (ESP)
Last five matches:FTC: LWDLW –
Sabadell: LWWLW
Last round:
FTC: 10-6 v Brescia (h) – Sabadell:
11-10 v Spandau (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 1: 10-7
Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN) v CN
Marseille (FRA)
Last five matches:
OSC: LDLWL – Marseille: WLLWW
Last round:
OSC: 9-11 v Novi Beograd (h) –
Marseille: 15-11 v Jug (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 1: 10-10. 2021/22: 9-14, 9-13
Novi Beograd (SRB) v Spandau 04
Berlin (GER)
Last five matches:
NBG: WWLDW – Spandau: LLWLL
Last round:
NBG: 11-9 v OSC (a) – Spandau: 10-11
v Sabadell (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 1: 15-6
AN Brescia (ITA) v Jug Adriatic
Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
Last five matches:
Brescia: WDWWL – Jug: WLDDL
Last round:
Brescia: 6-10 v FTC (a) – Jug: 11-15
v Marseille (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 1: 13-8. 2020/21, quarter-final:
12-10. 2018/19, for places 5-6th: 12-13. 2017/18, prelims: 7-10, 9-8.
Group A
NC Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Radnicki
Kragujevac (SRB)
Last five matches:
Vouliagmeni: LDLWL – Radnicki: LLLLW
Last round:
Vouliagmeni: 6-13 v Barceloneta (a) –
Radnicki: 12-7 v Hannover (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 1: 9-9.
Pro Recco (ITA) v Olympiacos Piraeus
(GRE)
Last five matches:
Recco: LWWWW – Olympiacos: WLWWW
Last round:
Recco: 14-7 v Jadran (h) –
Olympiacos: 19-10 v Dinamo (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 1: 7-9. 2020/21: 14-8, 13-6,
2018/19, semi-final: 11-12. 2017/18, final: 7-8. 2014-15: 12-8, 17-12
Jadran Split (CRO) v Waspo98 Hannover
(GER)
Last five matches:
Jadran: WDWLL – Hannover: LLLLL
Last round:
Jadran: 7-14 v Recco (a) – Hannover:
7-12 v Radnicki (h)
Recent encounters:
Day 1: 8-10
Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v Dinamo
Tbilisi (GEO)
Last five matches:
Barceloneta: WWWWW – Dinamo: WWLLL
Last round:
Barceloneta: 13-6 v Vouliagmeni (h)
– Dinamo: 10-19 v Olympiacos (a)
Recent encounters:
Day 1: 14-8. 2021/22: 20-7, 18-4,
2020/21: 17-5, 14-6
No comments:
Post a Comment