Two Croatian versus Serbian duels among the key clashes on day two of men’s Champions League

A couple of Croatian versus Serbian derbies, a tough away game in Brescia for title-holders FTC, and a replay of last season’s F4 bronze medal match between CNAB and Marseille are the highlights of day two in the men’s Champions League.

Group A
(Local times shown)

Tuesday 20.30

Vasas-Plaket (HUN) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE)

Head-to-head:
Never met in CL

Vasas forced a surprisingly close match in Kragujevac against Radnicki on day one, and now they face an even bigger challenge – a clash with Olympiacos.

The Greeks opened their campaign with a fine win over Mladost, and considering the depth and quality of their roster, Olympiacos will start as the overwhelming favourites in Budapest.

Vasas would need another perfect performance, though their stunning win against Sabadell in the qualifications, and their recent encounter with Radnicki, demonstrated how they are likely to stage further upsets.

Wednesday 20.30

Mladost Zagreb (CRO) v Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)

Head-to-head: 0-2 (CL)
2024: 8-9 (QR). 2013: 6-12 (QR)

This round will deliver two huge Croatian versus Serbian classics, one in Zagreb and the other in Split.

With all the summer additions, this match might be considered the ultimate battle between the respective nations’ strongest sides. Though it is also true that both teams need a bit more time to form a really strong bond, as both looked a bit raw in their opening matches.

There will certainly be no shortage of firepower at both ends, so the goalkeepers are likely to be a decisive factor in this game.

Last season, Radnicki ousted Mladost in the Euro Cup semis, and in their recent encounters in the Regional League, the Serbs also took the upper-hand. Mladost got the closest to a win in their January rendezvous, but at the end fell in the shootout.

Since the Croats kicked off their CL campaign with a loss in Piraeus, this is a must-win game in their home pool in order to retain a realistic chance of grabbing one of the two qualifying spots.

Group B
(Local times shown)

Tuesday 20.30

Pro Recco (ITA) v Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE)

Head-to-head: 4-0
2017-18: 10-5, 15-5. 2011-12: 10-8, 14-9

Even during their loss in the Super Cup final, the newly shaped Recco team already seem to have the edge to achieve something big in this new season. Naturally, fine-tuning is ongoing, since half of the team have been changed over the summer, but the outstanding skills of their key players should help them to overcome problems in any match.

After a fine victory in Belgrade, they are ready to deliver their first home win. However, the young but extremely talented side of Jadran m:tel have nothing to lose and this approach might help the Montenegrins to cause some headaches for the Italians – still, the hosts are the favourites here.

Tuesday 20.30

Jadran Split (CRO) v Novi Beograd (SRB)

Head-to-head: 0-6
2024-25: 7-15, 8-17 (QF Round). 2023-24: 10-15, 11-15. 2021-2022: 12-17, 7-14.

In this extremely tough group, this game is already crucial. Both teams lost in the opening round and a second loss would push either of them to the brink of elimination. That would be a bitter pill to swallow, as both were regular participants in the Quarter-Final Stage in the last two years, and NBG finished runners-up last June.

However, after losing a handful of key players, the Serbs were also freed from pressure. They are no longer the big team with big ambitions – still, one should never expect a Serbian team to head into the battlefield with a white flag in hand.

NBG may also rely on the past as they have regularly triumphed over the Croats. In fact, across all competitions, they lead 12-1 against Jadran.

Group C
(Local times shown)

Tuesday 21.30

CSM Oradea (ROU) v Primorac Kotor (MNE)

Head-to-head: 0-1
2021: 6-8 (QR)

Primorac did really well against Brescia in their opening home game, as they were only a shot away from winning the match, but instead they conceded a late goal and left their pool empty-handed.

To stay in contention, they desperately need to make up those lost points in Oradea where the Montenegrins are the favourites.

Still, the Romanians may force a close clash at home – their surprise advancing to the QF Stage was founded by their fine home performances last season.

Wednesday 20.30

AN Brescia (ITA) v FTC-Telekom (HUN)

Head-to-head: 4-7 (2d)
2023-24: 8-9, 9-11 (QF Round). 2022-23: 8-4, 6-10, 8-9 (5-8th). 2021-22: 8-8, 6-8, 12-14 (bronze). 2020-21: 10-7, 9-6, 12-14 (semi-final). 2018-19: 8-8, 10-5

Ever since Fradi returned to the big stage, these two sides have barely avoided each other every year. Indeed, in three consecutive seasons they played three matches, as after the group ties, their roads crossed once more in the Final Eights.

Last time out, Brescia failed to make the Group Stage, but now they are back and ready to sting even the biggest teams, especially at home.

Still, if a team are aware of how tough an away tour can be in Brescia, it is Fradi, as they have lost three times there before finally winning their last encounter in Italy in 2024.

Comparing the teams’ composition, the trends are opposing – while FTC have grown stronger and stronger over the last two years, Brescia have let a series of key players go, and they are now building a new side with mostly talented local guys.

This autumn, Brescia pose the biggest threat to Fradi – still, it’s a nice but almost impossible mission to catch the Hungarians, who were 90-2 in the last two seasons, and they’ve already gone 10-0 this fall (in official competitions).

Group D
(Local times shown)

Wednesday 18.30

Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP)

Head-to-head:
Never met in CL

Sabadell had a couple of promising spells at home against local arch-rivals CNAB in the opening round. If the Spaniards want to have a shot at grabbing the second spot in the group ahead of Marseille, beating Hannover is a must for them.

And the Germans looked a bit weak on Day 1, as they conceded 20 goals, the most a team received on the opening day.

They used to be fearsome opponents in their home pool, now Sabadell’s fast and tactical game might be too much for Waspo to handle.

Wednesday 20.30

Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v CN Marseille (FRA)

Head-to-head: 5-1
2024-25: 19-14, 12-9, 19-9 (bronze). 2023-24: 13-12, 9-7. 2012-13: 15-4, 10-11.

Another big match in this round – it’s also a replay of last season’s bronze medal game in Malta. That was their third clash as they also faced off in the Group Stage, just like now. CNAB prevailed in each, though the group games were a bit tougher than their lopsided contest in the Final Four.

At home, the Spanish champions are the absolute favourites, still, the French also have the ability at both ends to create some havoc.

This is going to be a brilliant game to watch and also a crucial one, as a second win would boost the victor’s chances of reaching the next stage.

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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