Trieste, Jug, Sabac and Savona among the big winners on day one of men’s Euro Cup

Pallanuoto Trieste made a winning start to their Euro Cup campaign on Thursday night, overpowering CN Barcelona with a commanding home display. Michele Mezzarobba and Vuk Draskovic did most of the damage for the Italians, who looked sharp from the off. Elsewhere, there were eye-catching victories for VK Jug AO, RN Savona and VK Šabac Elixir, who all laid down early markers in the opening round of the Group Stage.

2025/26 Euro Cup Men
Group Stage, Day 1
Thursday 16 October

Group A

VK Jug AO (CRO) 16-12 CN Terrassa (ESP)
VK Solaris Sibenik (CRO) 15-10 ASC Duisburg (GER)

Group B

CS Dinamo Bucresti (ROU) 15-16 Szolnoki Dozsa Praktiker (HUN)
Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA) 20-16 CN Barcelona (ESP)

Group C

Panathinaikos AC (GRE) 16-8 PVK Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)
Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) 11-11 (9-8P) BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)

Group D

Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) 15-16 RN Savona (ITA)
VK Sabac Elixir (SRB) 11-9 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)

Group A

VK Jug AO (CRO) 16-12 CN Terrassa (ESP)
VK Solaris Sibenik (CRO) 15-10 ASC Duisburg (GER)

VK Jug AO got off to a flying start against CN Terrassa, opening up a 4-0 lead in the first quarter – an advantage they never surrendered, despite the best efforts of Ignasi Bargalló, who fired in five goals for the visitors.

The Croatians held a 7-5 advantage at half-time, and although Terrassa cut the deficit to one in the third (8-7), another 4-0 surge ended the Spaniards’ momentum and Jug were able to close the game out to secure all the points.

At the same time, roughly 260km north, Jug’s domestic rivals VK Solaris Šibenik needed a strong second half to extinguish ASC Duisburg’s hopes of a surprise opening-day victory.

Duisburg led 8-7 at half-time, but were completely overpowered in the third, as Solaris hit five unanswered goals to seize full control of the game.

After scoring eight in the first 16 minutes, Duisburg managed only two in the last 16, including a late penalty from Vukašin Simić with just three seconds remaining – but by then, Solaris were home and dry.

Group B

CS Dinamo Bucresti (ROU) 15-16 Szolnoki Dozsa Praktiker (HUN)
Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA) 20-16 CN Barcelona (ESP)

Szolnoki Dozsa Praktiker travelled to Romania with clear intent, determined to head home with all three points. In the end, they got what they came for – but only just, as they were pushed to their limits by their stubborn and spirited opponents.

The Hungarians took the lead in the second minute and were then made to work hard to stay ahead, with the hosts chasing them down at every opportunity.

Dinamo mounted fierce resistance and only trailed by two (8-10) at half-time. The Romanians sensed an opportunity, as Szolnok were far from convincing, and with 3:42 left in the fourth, Andrei Prioteasa converted an extra for 14-15, much to the delight of the home fans.

That was as close as they came, though. Bertold Vamosi struck 32 seconds later to restore the two-goal cushion, and although Matei Ioan Lutescu scored his fifth of the game to move Dinamo within one again (15-16), Szolnok held on through a nervy final two minutes.

Elsewhere in Group B, Michele Mezzarobba and Vuk Draskovic inspired Pallanuoto Trieste to a 20-16 win over CN Barcelona, each scoring five.

The Spaniards levelled twice in the opening quarter, at 4–4 and 5–5, but two 3-0 bursts from the Italians – at the start and end of the second – saw them move six clear by half-time (13-7).

Pol Daura tried to spark a response, finishing with four goals on the night, but it wasn’t enough to trouble Trieste, who kept their opponents at arm’s length throughout the second half.

Group C

Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) 11-11 (9-8P) BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)
Panathinaikos AC (GRE) 16-8 PVK Buducnost Podgorica (MNE)

Vouliagmeni NC and BVSC Manna ABC played out a fiercely-contested clash that turned into something of a shooting duel between the Greeks’ Kas Te Riele and the Hungarians’ Benedek Batizi.

Dutch star Te Riele hit six, scoring more than half of Vouliagmeni’s goals in regular time (11), while BVSC’s Batizi fired in five of their 11.

The visitors enjoyed the brighter spells, racing into a 1–3 lead in the first quarter and staying in front for much of the game. Vouliagmeni, however, never trailed by more than three and even took the lead twice in the third at 7–6 and 8–7.

They weren’t ahead for long – just 45 seconds in total – but kept pegging BVSC back, with late strikes from Semir Spachits (2:31 from time) and Charalampos Troulos (24 seconds remaining) sending the game to a shootout.

Both teams were perfect through eight rounds, but BVSC’s Nika Shushiashvili saw his effort saved in the ninth, and Vouliagmeni’s Nikolaos Kastrinakis held his nerve to score and secure the two points.

It was notably Vouliagmeni’s third successive shootout in as many Euro Cup games, following their win over Trieste on day three of the qualifiers and defeat to Crvena Zvezda on day two.

Later, Panathinaikos AC ensured it was a successful start for both Greek clubs in this group, easing past PVK Budućnost Podgorica 16–8.

The win never looked in doubt, as a 3–0 start set the tone, and the gap had stretched to 8-3 by half-time. Budućnost steadied in the third (drawing that period 4–4), but the respite was short-lived, as Panathinaikos put their foot back on the gas in the fourth to run out comfortable winners.

New summer signing Konstantinos Gkiouvetsis top-scored for the hosts with five goals, while another new arrival, USA goalkeeper Adrian Weinberg, impressed with several sharp saves.

Group D

Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) 15-16 RN Savona (ITA)
VK Sabac Elixir (SRB) 11-9 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)

One of the most exciting games of the opening day was played in Berlin, as Spandau 04 and RN Savona contested a 31-goal thriller.

The Germans edged the first half 6-5, even leading 4-0 in the opening quarter, but the Italians roared back.

In the third, a late 0-4 surge finally saw them move in front for the first time on the night.

Kristijan Culina pulled one back for 10-11 two seconds before the penultimate buzzer, but Pietro Figlioli, Alessandro Gullotta and Davide Occhione crucially struck first at the start of the fourth to take the game away from the hosts.

Both sides kept pushing in the final exchanges, and Matej Caraj fired in for 14-15 with 36 seconds remaining, which could have set up a dramatic conclusion, but Figlioli was on target again, scoring his fourth of the game to seal a memorable victory.

There was still time for a late Marton Nagy consolation strike for Spandau, but with just 0:02 to go, the match was gone.

Serbia’s VK Sabac Elixir also got off to a winning start after a narrow 11-9 victory against Steaua Bucharest.

It was a deserved triumph, as after the Romanians levelled at 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 and 5-5 in the first half, Sabac opened up a slender advantage and some excellent defending allowed them to stay ahead until the final buzzer.

At 9-8 in the fourth, with 2:12 on the clock, Steaua had a great chance to level again after forcing an exclusion, but they missed it, and once Aljosa Macic made it 10-8 at the other end, Sabac were able to hold on.

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics

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