Novi Beograd and FTC top Champions League groups

Title-holders Ferencvaros enjoyed an easy cruise against Oradea to finish top of Group B and will face Marseille in the semi-finals of the Final Four in Malta. The French fell in Piraeus to eliminated Olympiacos, as the Greeks restored some much-needed pride by ending Marseille’s four-match winning streak with a fine victory. The result allowed Novi Beograd to regain the top spot in Group A, as the Serbs beat Jadran in Split without any headaches. In the semis, the Serbs will meet Barceloneta, who delivered an expected big win over Savona on the final day of the Quarter Final Stage on Wednesday night.

Champions League Men
Quarter Final Stage
Day Six, Wednesday 15th 2025

Group A

VK Jadran Split (CRO) 7-15 VK Novi Beograd (SRB)
Olympiacos SFP (GRE) 12-8 CN Marseille (FRA)

Standings: 1. Novi Beograd 15pts, 2. Marseille 12pts, 3. Olympiacos 7pts, 4. Jadran Split 2pts

Group B

FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 20-10 CSM Oradea (ROU)
Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 17-10 RN Savona (ITA)

Standings: 1. FTC 16pts, 2. Zodiac CNAB 14pts, 3. Savona 6pts, 4. Oradea 0pts

Champions League Men
Final Four, Semi-Finals
Friday 30th May

FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v CN Marseille (FRA)
Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v VK Novi Beograd (SRB)

Olympiacos ended their Champions League campaign on a high note, with a convincing win against Marseille. However, it was a mere consolation for the Greeks, who had lost their previous four games and consequently were already heading to the exit before this last round.

The result also dropped the French to second place in Group A, so they now have the daunting task of facing the title-holders FTC in the semis in Malta.

Hosts Olympiacos got off to a flying start in their final game, and several fine finishes from man-ups earned them a 4-1 lead after eight minutes.

Though the second period saw one goal apiece, it was still a crucial phase for Olympiacos, as they managed to kill five of Marseille’s six man-ups. The French side were relentless in attack, demonstrating how keen they were to take the top spot, but they couldn’t outplay the Greek’s disciplined defence.

The third period was a sharp contrast to the first half, as both defences could no longer withhold the powerful forward play. It was an eight-goal blast, four apiece, but Olympiacos never lost control of their lead.

At 9-4, they seemed to have it, but the French giants pulled two back with great action goals from Thomas Vernoux and Vladan Spaic, and Vernoux added another one from a six on five for 9-7 early in the fourth.

The French even had a possession to cut the deficit to one, but Emmanouil Zerdevas produced a fine save and Zalanki’s blast ended Marseille’s momentum.

Indeed, it finished the visitors off, as they were unable to score for seven minutes, while Olympiacos netted two more to bag at least a home win in the Quarter Final Stage.

VK Jadran Split fielded a really young team in the final game, as they rested their star players for the Croatian championship final, where they face tough rivals Mladost. In contrast, NBG didn’t risk anything and sent their best side to the battlefield.

The Serbs also benefited from some weekend rest, as their opponents in the Serbian league, Radnicki, played the Euro Cup final on Saturday against Recco.

Jadran’s young guns managed to keep up with the visitors for eight minutes when they trailed 3-4, but next came three Serbian hits in a row, two from fast counters, finished by Luka Gladovic. He also netted one with three seconds remaining on the clock for a 5-9 half-time lead, which put the writing on the wall for the hosts.

NBG took care of business at the back in the second half, conceding only two more goals, while their attack added six more to their total.

The win landed them the top spot in Group A and a thrilling semi-final match-up with Spaniards Barceloneta.

FTC made no mistakes against Oradea and added three more points with ease. They never let the Romanians think they might have the tiniest chance, as a robust 5-1 start set the tone.

Their rivals fought hard in the second period and trailed 9-5 with 1:39 to go until half-time, but the class of Fradi was demonstrated once more as they took just 36 seconds to add two more – with a penalty save between the two hits – to lead 11-5.

The visitors, coming from a tough semi-final in their league, started running out of steam in the third as Fradi netted four more to stage a 6-0 run in total.

FTC’s defence was less tight in the fourth, as Oradea netted four more – just like they had in the second period – but they couldn’t prevent Fradi from setting a new single-game scoring record in the Quarter Final Stage.

The pressure on the Romanian defence was tremendous, with the number of shots on goal being 30-13, so it was Oradea’s goalies’ 10 stops that saved their team from an even heavier defeat.

Also, the 20 goals Fradi scored equalled Barceloneta’s top effort in the Group Stage – a fine tuning for their Final Four appearance, which is due at the end of May.

Barceloneta weren’t really hoping to reach the first place, as miracles rarely happen in water polo – but the Spaniards still played at full throttle, as they’re preparing for their domestic final and for the Final Four.

Early in the second quarter, Savona managed to pull one goal back for 4-2, but the next phase of the match saw a 6-0 rush from CNAB, and after 10-2 only the winning margin was in question.

It took 11 minutes for the Italians to score again, while Barceloneta led 12-5 after three periods.

The Spaniards’ defence eased up in the fourth, letting Savona double the number of their goals, but it was still a powerful victory for CNAB, with just two of their outfield players failing to make the scoresheet.

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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