NBG, Vasas, Brescia and Primorac edge closer to Group Stage after opening-day qualification wins

On the opening day of the Champions League Qualification Round, Vasas downed Spandau in a thrilling match in Sabadell, while Brescia fended off Vouliagmeni’s late surge in Zagreb. These wins might be crucial in the race for the spots in the Group Stage. Elsewhere, Novi Beograd and Primorac Kotor both kicked off their respective campaigns with convincing wins.

2025/26 Champions League Men
Qualification Round
Day 1, Friday 19 September

Group A (Belgrade)

VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 23-10 Pays D’Aix Natation (FRA)
VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 15-12 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)

Group B (Sabadell)

Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) 16-17 Vasa Plaket (HUN)

Group C (Zagreb)

Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) 13-15 AN Brescia (ITA)

Group A, Belgrade

VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 23-10 Pays D’Aix Natation (FRA)

Last season’s runners-up VK Novi Beograd took a flying start against Pays D’Aix Natation in the opening clash of the weekend. The French managed to withstand some early pressure in the first period and kept up until 4-3, but after that the Serbs blew them away.

Two more goals put NBG in control at 6-3 and they then produced a 5-0 blitz in the second quarter, which practically decided the outcome by half-time. With three more goals in the third, NBG staged a 10-0 run, while shutting out their rivals for almost 12 minutes.

NBG stopped at 23, adding six goals per period in the second half, and Vasilije Martinovic led the charge with seven goals.

VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 15-12 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)

In the second match, Primorac also claimed a dominant win. However, it took some time for the Montenegrins to deliver the killer blow to Steaua, as the Romanians only trailed by two midway through the second quarter (6-4).

But then came the knockout sequence. In a devastating three-goal burst, Primorac showed off their full arsenal – lightning counters, a thunderbolt from the centre, and a display of power that sucked the life out of their Romanian rivals. Suddenly it was 9-4 and the game was well and truly slipping away from Steaua.

By the start of the third, Primorac’s lead had grown to five (11-6), and at that point it was hard to imagine a Steaua comeback.

It never came, as the Montenegrins expertly managed the rest of the game in a professional manner. They never let the Romanians inside four goals, apart from at the very end, 44 seconds from time, but by then, the game had long been over.

Group B, Sabadell

Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) 16-17 Vasa Plaket (HUN)

Both teams may have gone through some changes in the summer, but Vasas were still considered the favourites and they played accordingly while storming to a 3-6 lead in the first eight minutes. However, the Germans caught a wave early in the second and hit three goals from as many possessions and that turned the game into a thriller.

The Hungarians were able to regain a two-goal lead from time to time – they led 7-9 at half-time – but Spandau always found a way to catch them up. What’s more, they hammered in another 3-0 rush after 9-11 to take the lead for the first time at 12-11, which they held at the end of the third.

The Magyars hit back with a quick double, though Marek Tkac equalised again for 13-13. After that, Vasas went ahead again and again, but the Germans kept levelling it up every time until 16-16.

Marton Nagy, a Hungarian, was on fire for Spandau, he netted his side’s last two goals (he finished the game with five), but it was Vasas that had the last laugh. Tamas Gyarfas also buried his fifth goal, from a man-up, with 1:19 to go.

Spandau had one last chance, a six on five right at the end with just 11 seconds remaining, but Vasas goalkeeper Marton Mizsei, who came in for the last period, delivered the decisive save to prevent his team from the tensions of a shootout.

In this group of three, this win maybe decisive in the contest for the two qualifying spots.

Group C (Zagreb)

Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) 13-15 AN Brescia (ITA)

After an action-packed first period, that saw Brescia build a 4-6 lead, the Italian side launched the perfect storm in the second quarter.

After Tommaso Gianazza’s early hit from action, a penalty save gave Brescia an even bigger boost, as they added three more before half-time, while the bewildered Greeks were unable to find the net. Beside the penalty, they missed three six on fives, while Brescia established a 4-10 lead at the turnaround.

Gianazza netted another one right after the restart, and they seemed to be in cruise control. However, the Greeks smelled blood, went all-in and with a 0-4 run, they came back to 8-11 with eight minutes remaining.

They had a shot to come even closer, missed it, then Alessandro Balzarini’s fine action goal ended their surge, and even though Vincenzo Dolce’s penalty was well saved, Dolce soon scored from action for 8-13, leaving no way back for Vouliagmeni.

Still, the Greeks fought on and netted the last two goals for 13-15, and they had 67 seconds to produce a miracle. It never happened though, as Brescia landed all three points despite losing the second half 9-5.

For the full fixtures/schedule/tables from the Champions League Qualification Round, click here
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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