Champions League semi-final pairings set to be decided

The Final Four spots may have been booked in the penultimate round of the men’s Champions League, but the semi-final line-up will be determined in the last round on Wednesday night, as all four teams can still finish top of their respective groups.

Group A

Wednesday 14 May 2025
(CET times shown)

Standings: 1. Marseille 12, 1. NBG 12, 3. Olympiacos 4, 4. Jadran 2

20.00 Olympiacos SFP (GRE) v CN Marseille (FRA)

Previous results:
MAR: LWWWW
OLY: WLLLL
Head-to-head: 2-2
Day 3: 7-12. 2020-21: 8-9, 11-7, 13-12 (F8, 7-8th place)

A win for Marseille would keep them in first position, which would be a fitting ending to the French side’s outstanding run this season. However, their trip to Greece is going to be a tough challenge, provided Olympiacos are looking for some consolation points after a series of disappointing performances in front of their fans.

In the Champions League, the Greeks have played five home matches so far and won only one (against Sabadell, in the Group Stage). This is anything but worthy of a team which had set their eyes on the grand prize at the beginning of the season – only to lose four matches in a row in the quarters and the chance to make the finals.

It’s also a sharp contrast to Marseille’s impressive march, which included a 12-7 blast on Day 3, which kind of pushed Olympiacos off the cliff.

Ultimately, to finish as group winners, Marseille just need to match Novi Beograd’s performance in Split, as their results against the Serbs favour the French team (14-15, 14-9). Still, Olympiacos have the quality to deliver a knockout blow and they can play with no pressure at all.

20.00 VK Jadran Split (CRO) v VK Novi Beograd (SRB)

Previous results:
JAD: LLLWL
NBG: WWWLW
Head-to-head (CL): 0-5
Day 3: 7-18. 2023-24, QF: 11-15, 10-15. 2021-22: 12-17, 7-14

Jadran are in the middle of tough domestic series at home, a big fight with Mladost in the Croatian league final, so those fixtures may have an impact on this upcoming encounter where Jadran’s fate is already decided.

In view of their last home Champions League game, which ended in an embarrassing rout when Marseille blew them away (6-18), it’s hard to see them putting up a big fight against Novi Beograd.

Furthermore, unlike Jadran, who played their second match with Mladost in Zagreb on Saturday, NBG enjoyed a free weekend. They are also very much part of the Serbian final, but their rivals, Radnicki, had other commitments – the first leg of the Euro Cup final with Recco – so that allowed some extra recovery time for the NBG players.

When you add that Jadran have failed to beat Novi in the Champions League in five matches – that suggests another Serbian win. As stated earlier, NBG’s final ranking also depends on how Marseille’s visit to Piraeus unfolds.

Group B

Wednesday 14 May 2025
(CET times shown)

Standings: 1. FTC 13, 2. CNAB 11, 3. Savona 6, 3. Oradea 0

20.00 FTC-Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v CSM Oradea (ROU)

Previous results:
FTC: WWWLW
ORA: LLLLL
Head-to-head: 1-0
Day 3: 18-7

Mathematically, FTC could lose their grip on first place, but that would require the biggest upset of the year – a regular time win by Oradea in Budapest.

The title-holders are yet to lose a match in regular time this season, as their only defeat happened in the shootout in Barceloneta.

Fradi’s win-loss count stands at 44-1 – and they are currently 2-0 up in the Hungarian league final against Vasas – while Oradea have had five losses in a row and none of their matches were close in the Quarter-final Round. The smallest margin was five goals, but Fradi thrashed them 18-7 in Romania.

The Hungarians are the clear favourites and are likely to arrive in Malta as group winners. A year ago, they faced Novi Beograd in the semis and it’s possible that fixture is going to be repeated.

20.00 Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v RN Savona (ITA)

Previous results:
SAV: WLLWL
CNAB: LWWWW
Head-to-head: 1-0
Day 3: 14-10

Barceloneta needed some great heroics from Unai Aguirre in Savona before they could stage a powerful finish to win that crucial game on Day 3. Their brilliant goalie really delivered, first of all a 28m shot to score a goal, then a penalty save in a really heated moment of the battle.

That victory was instrumental in having a calm final round now. Considering the most likely outcome in Budapest, the Spaniards are most likely not thinking of the top spot.

However, they have other important tasks to focus on, like winning their Spanish final against arch-rivals Sabadell and getting ready for the Final Four, so a good performance is must for them.

In contrast, Savona are the only team in this round that failed to reach their domestic championship final, which may not do much for their motivation in these final days of the season.

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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