Euro Cup Men: Croatian and Greek showdowns await as halfway mark arrives

As the men’s Euro Cup Group Stage reaches the halfway point, the pressure is starting to mount. Several teams are fighting to keep their qualification dreams alive, while others have the chance to take a big step toward the next round. Among this week’s standout clashes are the Croatian derby between VK Jug AO and VK Solaris Sibenik in Dubrovnik, and the all-Greek showdown in Athens between Panathinaikos AC and Vouliagmeni NC.

2025/26 Euro Cup Men
Group Stage, Day 3
Thursday 13 November
(Local times shown)

Group A

18:30: VK Jug AO (CRO) v VK Solaris Sibenik (CRO)
20:30: CN Terrassa (ESP) v ASC Duisburg (GER)

Group B

18:00: Szolnoki Dozsa Praktiker (HUN) v CN Barcelona (ESP)
20:00: Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA) v CS Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU)

Group C

18:00: PVK Buducnost Podgorica (MNE) v BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)
21:30: Panathinaikos AC (GRE) v Vouliagmeni NC (GRE)

Group D

20:00: CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU) v RN Savona (ITA)
20:00: VK Sabac Elixir (SRB) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)

Group A
(Local times shown)

18:30: VK Jug AO (CRO) v VK Solaris Sibenik (CRO)

VK Jug AO sit top of the group with maximum points – after wins against Terrassa at home (16-12) and Duisburg away (9-18) – and will be aiming for a third successive victory when they take on domestic rivals VK Solaris Sibenik this week.

History is on the side of the hosts, as Solaris have failed to beat Jug in any of their previous 12 meetings in all competitions, with their last win coming way back in March 2021 in the Prva Liga.

“Jug are a club that sets high ambitions every season across all competitions,” said VK Solaris Sibenik coach Bruno Sabioni ahead of the eagerly awaited derby. “We are well aware of their strengths, as they have openly stated their goal is not only to win our group, but to go all the way in the competition.

“That alone speaks volumes about the quality of our opponents and the challenge that awaits us on Thursday. We know Jug’s team very well, as well as the philosophy of their trophy-winning coach, Vjekoslav Kobescak.

“Matches against such opponents are always a special experience and a valuable opportunity to prove ourselves,” continued Sabioni. “What I can say is we always look forward to games like this – playing against such a great club and competing with one of the most successful coaches in Croatia is a motivation in itself.

“We approach the match with maximum respect, but also with confidence in our own abilities. We will give our best to play a strong game and enjoy the challenge against such a renowned opponent.”

“We are playing against Jug in Dubrovnik, and they are definitely the favorites to win the match,” added Solaris’ Andrija Vlahovic. “But we are going there to compete, and to make Jug’s job as difficult as possible.”

20:30: CN Terrassa (ESP) v ASC Duisburg (GER)

“Terrassa are a very strong team that plays an attractive and modern style of water polo,” said ASC Duisburg coach Vuk Vuksanovic before flying out with his team to Spain. “We need to analyse them carefully and prepare well if we want to keep the game close. I expect an interesting and intense match.”

The Germans are still searching for their first points in the group after a 15-10 away loss to Solaris on Day 1 and a 9-18 defeat at home to Jug on Day 2.

Terrassa, meanwhile, will be looking to make it two home wins from two after they downed Solaris two weeks ago, 16-12, to move three points behind group leaders Jug.

“Thursday’s match will once again be a tough one, against a team that starts very strong and has great physical potential,“ said CN Terrassa coach Sergi Mora. “Duisburg have very powerful players who will demand our best, and we’ll need to focus on our own game, especially in defence.

“Just like against Solaris, we will have to press hard, make them feel uncomfortable, and look to tire them out so they’re less effective in attack, since they have good shooters and are strong in the centre.

“Everything depends on our defence. We’ll try to break through their defence and also rely on our counterattack to get a good result.”

“We aim to earn points from every game we play at home, both against Duisburg this week and against Jug next week,” added Terrassa’s Ricard Alarcon. “Duisburg are a very different opponent from the ones we’ve faced so far, including in the qualification phase.

“They’re a tough team that had some great moments against Solaris. We need to come out at 100% from the very start to make it clear we’ll be intense. We’re playing at home and we’ll fight hard for every ball.”

Group B
(Local times shown)

18:00: Szolnoki Dozsa Praktiker (HUN) v CN Barcelona (ESP)

“We’ve watched CN Barcelona’s recent matches, both in the Spanish league and in international competitions,” said Szolnoki Dozsa Praktiker coach Zoltan Hangay ahead of their clash with the Spaniards.

“They are a young and fast team, led by an experienced coach. We will need disciplined and brave play if we want to keep all three points at home, and that is definitely our goal.”

A third successive group victory would put the Hungarians in a strong position to qualify, while Barcelona are looking to build on their Day 2 home win against Dinamo (22-11) and improve on their Day 1 performance, when they lost away to Trieste (20-16).

The Hungarians haven’t had it all their own way, though, and were forced to fight hard for both of their narrow wins so far – away to Dinamo (15-16) and at home to Trieste (16-14).

Barcelona’s confidence will also be high after their result last weekend, when they handed Sabadell their first league defeat of the season in a 15-13 victory that moved them above their rivals to second in the Division de Honor.

“We want to play our best game, but it won’t be easy as Barcelona are a really good team,” added Szolnok’s Bendeguz Krasznai. “We will focus on our defence and after that be brave and calm with our attacking plays.

“Our goal is to win this game in front of our home crowd and make it a special night for everybody.”

20:00: Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA) v CS Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU)

CS Dinamo Bucuresti face another tough away challenge this week as they travel to Pallanuoto Trieste.

After losing 22-11 on the road against CN Barcelona on Day 2, they’ll need to perform at the very top of their game if they are to return home with anything from northern Italy.

With the Romanians also losing on Day 1, they desperately need a result from this fixture, as they’re teetering on the brink of elimination with no points so far.

“Trieste are a very strong team,” said Dinamo’s Matei Lutescu. “We want to play better than we did in Barcelona and Dinamo, and we are going to Trieste for the win, we are not just going to play there. We really want to qualify for the next round and we will do our best.”

“We know Trieste are a very tough team and they like to play the Italian style,” added Dinamo’s Charles Negus. “So we have to be ready for this. After a tough game against Barcelona, we know we have to change some things, change how we play. We still believe in our team and know we can get a result”

Trieste will start as the favourites, especially after their first home game in this group ended in a 20-16 victory against the Spaniards.

They also went on to win their next three domestic A1 home games (against Napoli 22-11, Telimar 22-13 and Florentia 17-11) after that opening-day triumph.

“Thursday’s game is a very important match in terms of qualification,” stated Trieste coach Maurizio Mirarchi. “We’ll need a performance built on strong defensive focus.”

Group C
(Local times shown)

18:00: PVK Buducnost Podgorica (MNE) v BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)

After leading for most of the game against Vouliagmeni on Day 1, then losing in the shootout, BVSC bounced back on Day 2 by dismantling Panathinaikos at home (13-10).

PVK Buducnost Podgorica are winless in their last seven games across all competitions, while BVSC are on a roll, having lost just once in their last eight outings – that defeat coming against the Greeks.

The Hungarians are also joint top of the national OB I league, level on maximum points after six rounds with European champions FTC-Telekom, Vasas and Honved.

“We will welcome an extremely strong BVSC team, who are big favourites in this match,” said PVK Buducnost’s Jovan Radulovic. “We probably played our best match of the season against Panathinaikos in Athens, even though we lost by eight goals.

“We will try to produce a similar level of performance against the Hungarians. We will give our best in front of the home crowd, and we hope that the stands will be full.”

21:30: Panathinaikos AC (GRE) v Vouliagmeni NC (GRE)

All eyes are likely to be on this week’s huge Greek derby, which is arguably the biggest game of round three.

Panathinaikos AC’s recent meetings with Vouliagmeni NC have been fiercely contested, with three of the last four being settled by a single goal.

Everything suggests another tight contest is in store, with both sides having taken two wins apiece from their last four head-to-head clashes.

“We are playing against a team that we know, and that knows us, well,” said Panathinaikos coach Dimitris Mazis. “We want to keep improving, compete harder, and make the most of our home advantage.”

“We are facing a strong team in their pool – one of the main favourites to advance to the next stage of the competition,” said Vouliagmeni coach Vladimir Vujasinovic. “We’ve shown this year we can compete with anyone, so we’ll travel with optimism that we can get a positive result.”

“We know it will be a tough game, but we’ve prepared well and believe in our abilities,” added Vouliagmeni’s Nikos Kastrinakis. “We want to show our character and the work we’ve put in. Our goal is victory, and we’ll give everything to achieve it.”

Group D

20:00: CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU) v RN Savona (ITA)

CSA Steaua Bucharest – with zero points – find themselves close to do-or-die territory. A must-win clash with RN Savona awaits – and it could hardly come against tougher opposition.

The Italians are flying high, arriving in Bucharest on the back of two impressive victories, a 15-16 thriller away to Spandau and a 17-12 home win over Sabac. With that form, Savona will fancy their chances of collecting another three points on Thursday night.

It’s been three years since these two sides last met in Europe – a memory Steaua will want to forget after suffering a bruising 5-15 defeat in the 2022/23 Champions League qualifiers.

Savona also travel in fine spirits, having lost just once in their last 10 games across all competitions – a run stretching back to the end of last season.

That sole defeat came 10 days ago at home to Brescia, however, which may offer Steaua some hope that an upset might just be possible.

20:00: VK Sabac Elixir (SRB) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)

VK Sabac Elixir will look to make full use of home advantage when they welcome Spandau 04 Berlin this week.

With both sides locked on three points – three behind leaders Savona – this eagerly awaited clash could prove decisive in the race for second place, particularly if the Italians pick up another win in Romania.

Spandau, joint leaders of Germany’s Pro A league, make the trip brimming with confidence. Two weeks ago they edged past Steaua away (9-11), and have since followed up with emphatic domestic wins over Neukolln (8-31) and Duisburg (23-9).

Sabac, though, pose a difficult challenge. The Serbians have won their last five home matches, including a stunning 12-10 triumph over Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi last week in the Regional League – a result that ended the Montenegrins’ unbeaten streak and lifted Sabac to second in the standings.

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics

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