Champions League Men: Big teams face do-or-die matches on Day 5 of Group Stage

The penultimate round of the Group Stage in the men’s Champions League will offer a couple of thrilling contests where there is a lot at stake. Radnicki Kragujevac and CN Marseille, both with star-studded line-ups, are playing for survival, and their tasks are anything but easy as the Serbs clash with Mladost Zagreb while Marseille face off against Barceloneta.

Champions League Men
Group Stage, Day 5
Tuesday/Wednesday 2/3 December
(Local times shown)

Group A
(Wednesday)

20:30: SPD Radnicki (SRB) v HAVK Mladost (CRO)
21:30: Olympiacos SFP (GRE) v Vasas Plaket (HUN)

Group B
(Tuesday)

20:30: VK Novi Beograd (SRB) v VK Jadran Split (CRO)

(Wednesday)

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

Group C
(Tuesday)

20:30: FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v AN Brescia (ITA)
18:30: VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) v CSM Oradea (ROU)

Group D
(Tuesday)

20:30: CN Marseille (FRA) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)

(Wednesday)

18:30: KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)

Group A
(Local times shown)

Wed 20.30 SPD Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) v HAVK Mladost Zagreb (CRO)
Head-to-head: 2-1
Day 2: 15-17.2024: 9-8 (QR). 2013: 12-6 (QR)

This is one of the absolute highlights of the round. From Radnicki’s angle, it’s a do-or-die match, as anything but three points would practically drop them out of the race for the qualifying spots.

They need to overcome some bitter disappointment, as Novi Beograd upset them in the semis of the Serbian Cup, while Mladost cruised to victory in Croatia during the cup weekend.

The Serbs have never been short of scoring goals; however, their defence is still under construction, so the usual question is whether they can outscore their rivals. In the previous four rounds, they hit double digits each time, and that probably won’t change against Mladost either.

Indeed, it may also matter whether they can beat Mladost by at least two, or even three, goals to have the edge in case the two sides finish level on points.

Wed 21.30 Olympiacos Piraues (GRE) v Vasas-Plaket (HUN)
Head-to-head: 1-0
Day 2: 15-5

Goalie Emmanouil Zerdevas and the Olympiacos defence did a tremendous job in the second round when they limited Vasas to five goals.

The Greeks are still cautious, though, and as captain Dinos Genidounias says, the Hungarians can be even more dangerous now, as they have already bowed out and may play with a nothing-to-lose approach.

“The match against Vasas is crucial for us,” he said. “With a win, we’ll move one step closer to qualifying and securing the top spot in the group, which is our target. We have to forget the first game, because this one definitely won’t be the same.

“Vasas is now out of the race, and for this reason, they will be even more dangerous. We must rely on our defence again and, with the support of our fans, take the three points we need.”

“We want to win at home – and we have to,” Olympiacos coach Elvis Fatovic added. “We know a lot about Vasas and, realistically, we are the only team in the group that beat them comfortably. They certainly played very tough games against Radnicki and Mladost, so we need to be careful.

“The most important thing will be our approach. I believe that if we enter the game with the right mentality, we are the better team and we will win.”

Group B
(Local times shown)

Tue 20.30 VK Novi Beograd (SRB) v VK Jadran Split (CRO)
Head-to-head: 7-0
Day 2: 10-7. 2024-25: 15-7, 17-8 (QF Round). 2023-24: 15-10, 15-11. 2021-2022: 17-12, 14-7

The second Serbian v Croatian duel this week also has a lot at stake. While Recco are flying high in this group and have already secured their qualification, the path to the best eight is wide open for the other three teams heading into this round.

It’s hard to see a Recco loss in the other game, which would mean that Herceg Novi will have six points on Wednesday evening – and the winner of this match, if decided in regular time, will also have six before the final round.

That makes this match absolutely crucial, as only one can remain standing. The past favours NBG, as they have won all seven CL matches between the teams in recent years, and playing at home is also a big advantage.

They are also fresh from lifting the Serbian Cup, where they upset Radnicki in the semis. As their goalie Milan Glusac described it, this was a big boost for the team.

“We expect a really hard and tough game, but we believe in ourselves after we won the Serbian Cup on Saturday,” said Glusac. “I hope we’ll get three points in our home pool and can celebrate with our friends.”

Of course, the Croats will also be there, and they showed their real strength against the other Jadran two weeks ago – and that was also a strong message to the Serbs, who are yet to win a match at home this season in the Group Stage.

“We enter this match knowing it can still keep us in the race for the next phase of the Champions League, and we can approach it with only one objective – to win,” Jadran coach Jure Marelja said.

“We are not at full strength and are still dealing with issues carried over from the Croatian Cup played on Saturday, but we will give everything we have to surprise Novi Beograd in their home pool and repay them for the defeat in Split.”

Wed 18.30 Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE) v Pro Recco (ITA)
Head-to-head: 0-5
Day 2: 7-16. 2017-18: 5-10, 5-15. 2011-12: 8-10, 9-14

A miracle would definitely put Herceg Novi into a more-than-comfortable position; still, Recco are not famous for giving an inch to any rival, even in a match with little at stake for them.

A reshaped team is always hungry for more success, and the Italians will definitely gun for their fifth straight win, even though they could lose the top spot only mathematically.

Losing to Jadran by 10 goals and then suffering another loss in the last round in Split would take them down from first place – though in reality, even losing by one to the Montenegrins would be the biggest upset so far.

“We are going to Herceg Novi to play a good game against them,” Recco USA ace Max Irving said. “I think it is a very important step in this group. Technically, we have secured our berth in the quarters, but now we want to clinch that top spot. We have to continue to be aggressive, knowing what awaits us over there.

“It is going to be a completely different game from the one we played here, but we are all up to the task. Herceg Novi have a younger team, but also an experienced team with an experienced coach. They play fast, with a high rhythm, and they are very organised. We are aware that we have to be very attentive to detail, focusing on defence and allowing our quality to shine in attack. If we do that, we will be right where we need to be at the end.”

It doesn’t play in Jadran’s favour either that, even though the Montenegrins lifted the cup at home last weekend, they found themselves in an extraordinary situation that forced them to play two extra periods.

An error by the referees in the semis on Friday led to a decision to replay almost the entire second half on Saturday morning, and then Jadran returned to contest the final in the evening. Definitely an energy-consuming scenario – and not the most ideal way to prepare for a clash with the physically superior Italians.

Group C
(Local times shown)

Tue 18.30 Primorac Kotor (MNE) v CSM Oradea (ROU)
Head-to-head: 1-1
Day 2: 7-14.2021: 8-6 (QR)

This is the only group where the top two sides’ advantage is huge, nine and six points respectively, so practically both FTC and Brescia can prepare for the quarter-final round.

Primorac are already out; only Oradea have an extremely slim chance, but they would need an out-of-this-world performance in Brescia on Day 6 – provided they can beat Kotor on Tuesday at all.

They stunned the Montenegrins in Oradea in the second round, and Primorac should play for restoring some pride after their embarrassing 14-7 defeat.

Both teams are coming off a tough weekend. Primorac were edged out by Jadran Herceg Novi in the Montenegrin Cup final, while Oradea managed to beat arch-rival Steaua in the Romanian league.

“We have one more match left before the end of the first half of the season,” Primorac’s veteran Drasko Brguljan said. “Oradea is a rival that owes us one from the first game – they beat us quite comfortably in Romania, so this is a good opportunity to return the favour.

“They are certainly a good team, not among the very best in Europe, but a very strong and disciplined side. Even before the first match I said they are extremely well organised and have an excellent coach who keeps everything together. He is from here, from Kotor – he knows us very well and will surely prepare his team properly.

“First of all, we have to recover physically after the [National] Cup final to be able to give our maximum. It would be great to finish this part of the season with a victory and go into the break in a good atmosphere.”

The aforementioned coach of Oradea, Petar Kovacevic, knows where they play on Tuesday. “We are coming off an important game in the Romanian league, which we won against our biggest rival. The match with Steaua was a really useful test for the game in Kotor, against Primorac.

“We are facing an extremely difficult opponent in the Champions League. I know that team well, and we know it is very difficult to win in the Kotor pool. But we will try to win to get as much as possible from that match.”

Tue 20.30 FTC-Telekom (HUN) v AN Brescia (ITA)
Head-to-head: 8-4 (2d)
Day 2: 21-17. 2023-24: 9-8, 11-9 (QF Round). 2022-23: 4-8, 10-6, 9-8 (5-8th). 2021-22: 8-8, 8-6, 14-12 (bronze). 2020-21: 7-10, 6-9, 14-12 (semi-final). 2018-19: 8-8, 5-10

Here comes another edition of this classic rivalry, which will decide the top spot. It would take some outstanding water polo from Brescia to threaten Fradi’s first place, let alone their undefeated run.

Getting ahead of the title-holders would require a five-goal away win from the Italians – perhaps not even they consider that a realistic scenario.

Upsetting the Hungarians would be a fine goal, but it’s going to be hard to hold off the Ferencvaros offence. Also, after the Magyars’ matches turned into scoring festivals in Brescia and against Primorac in Budapest, they got back to their usual ‘defence-first’ approach, which brought a spectacular change.

They limited Oradea to five goals two weeks ago and kept their biggest local rivals BVSC to seven goals this past weekend.

“I am very excited; this is the last game of this part of the season, but my first Champions League game this year,” said Dusan Mandic, who managed to recover from his shoulder problems faster than expected.

“I want to feel the thrill of playing the Champions League matches again, and I expect to present ourselves in the best way as we did so far. I expect a tough game.

“Brescia are a very young, talented team who plays very fast and very aggressive water polo. We know the kind of play they are doing; we practiced, we know what we need to do, and I hope we will win.”

Brescia’s legendary coach Alessandro Bovo applies a realistic approach. “We face the strongest team at the moment, who are clearly the favourites in this game.

“We will be without Guerrato, while Balzarini returns to the line-up. We need to raise the quality of our defence, especially in one-on-one situations, and continue the growth path we are building in our backline. A matchup like this can provide important insights on our level and the areas we must improve.”

Group D
(Local times shown)

Tue 20.30 CN Marseille (FRA) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
Head-to-head: 2-5
Day 2: 12-11. 2024-25: 14-19, 9-12, 9-19 (bronze). 2023-24: 12-13, 7-9. 2012-13: 4-15, 11-10.

This is the other highlighted clash in this round. When Marseille beat CNAB at home in Barceloneta, the French seemed to be on track to win the group.

Now, their Quarter Final spot is in serious danger, as they have lost to Sabadell at home on Day 3 and, even more surprisingly, also fell in Hannover two weeks ago.

A third loss in a row would push them to the brink of elimination.

The only good news they might have heard heading into this game is that Barceloneta’s unbeaten run in the Spanish league came to an end last weekend, as Sabadell upset them.

This will also be the ultimate test of how CNAB players respond to that loss – with a Hannover match to follow in the last round, a defeat in Marseille would not mean the end of the world for them.

Still, looking at the current field, finishing first would mean a real advantage in the next round.

“We had two difficult games in the Champions League that threw us off balance, so our focus now has been on rebuilding this balance and the confidence of the players, and to prepare for the game in the best possible way, thinking more about our qualities,” Marseille’s coach Milos Scepanovic said. “I expect the team to play with good energy, good reaction, and that they will do everything to win this game.”

CNAB’s boss Fran Fernandez is also aware of how much is at stake. “The group is very balanced and open; anything can still happen. We have the opportunity to secure qualification and our first place. That’s the goal we’re aiming for.

“The first defeat of the season against them in the first leg was a wake-up call for us. We expect a match full of tension, toughness, and balance.

“Marseille comes into the game after two consecutive losses in the Champions League, which adds even more spice to the match. We are ready and excited to play in the fantastic atmosphere the Marseille crowd always creates.”

Wed 18.30 KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
Head-to-head: 0-1
Day 2: 14-16

Sabadell are still on course to go through despite winning only one match in this group so far. That was in Marseille and that victory is likely to be worth a lot for the Spaniards.

Still, first, they have to take revenge against Hannover for that stunning loss on Day 2, when Waspo came back with a 3-0 run to win the game.

Since they added another win over Marseille, the Germans also have a realistic chance to qualify, though playing their last two matches in the respective homes of their Spanish rivals makes their task rather demanding.

According to Sabadell’s coach Quim Colet, “Our match against Hannover is the most important one of the season right now. A victory would give us a chance to stay alive in the Champions League, and we would have one last chance to grab a win against Marseille on the final day.”

Alberto Barroso recalled their heroics from last weekend. “Our win against Barceloneta at their home on Saturday gave us a big morale boost, and we go into the match with Hannover very motivated. We want to turn around the defeat we suffered at their home, but we’ll need to stay very focused because it won’t be an easy match.”

And Hannover won’t go to the battlefield with a white flag held high. “The next game in the Champions League is very important for us; we have to earn some points which would keep us in the race for a spot in the best eight,” Waspo’s player Mark Gansen said. “We have put in a whole lot of effort over the last few months, so I hope we will get the win and keep our hopes alive.”

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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