Champions League Men: FTC aiming to end Mladost’s unbeaten home record on Day 3 of quarterfinal stage
The clash of the two giants, Barceloneta and Olympiacos is one of the highlights of Day 3 in the Champions League Quarterfinal Stage, while FTC’s visit to Zagreb also offers something big, as Mladost are yet to lose a game at home, while the title-holders are yet to lose one away.
2025/26 Champions League Men
Quarterfinals Stage, Day 3
(Local times shown)
Group A
(Tuesday 31 March)
20.30: Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE)
20:30: AN Brescia (ITA) v VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB)
Group B
(Wednesday 1 April)
20.30: Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Pro Recco (ITA)
20.30: Mladost Zagreb (CRO) v FTC-Telekom (HUN)
Group A
(Tuesday 31 March)
20.30: Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE)
Head-to-head: 7-8 (3d)
2023-24: 13-13, pen: 5-6, 7-10. 2022-23: 9-7, 10-5. 2021-22: 4-8, 9-5. 2020-21: 22-9 (quarter-final). 2019-20: 11-11, 15-9. 2017-18: 7-7, 10-14, 4-6 (semi-final). 2015-16: 7-7, 5-9. 2014-15: 9-7, 12-8. 2013-14: 8-9, 10-11.
It’s the big match of this round, and it comes with some extra flavour as Olympiacos’ head coach Elvis Fatovic had been in charge of Barceloneta for the previous four seasons. Since the Greeks dropped three points on the opening day in Belgrade, they are under some pressure, though their convincing home win against Brescia was a good sign they had bounced back from that loss.
At the same time, Barceloneta have done really well so far, even conceding 16 goals against NBG one week ago on home soil was a somewhat uncharacteristic development – however, a 3-0 run at the end, which secured their second win, erased some of the bad memories.
This round is unique anyway as the teams have only had one week to prepare since their last outing, so it didn’t leave much time for analysis. Both giants will need to focus on their own strengths in the first instance. The outcome is unpredictable – it may be as balanced as their extremely rich history, where Olympiacos hold an 7-8 edge.
“As the competition progresses, every match becomes more and more important” CNAB’s coach Fran Fernandez said. “Securing victories at home is almost an obligation if we want to earn a place in the Final 4.
“We want to make the most of the Sant Sebastià factor and keep adding wins to our record. We know how difficult this match will be.
“On one hand, there is Elvis Fatović, a recent (and very successful) part of our club’s history. He knows our players very well, which will be an added challenge.
“On the other hand, Olympiacos has a great squad – a team built around very strong centre-forwards and top-level shooters, supported by solid, experienced players. It’s a mix of veteran players and new generations that makes them one of the favorites this year.
“Without a doubt, it will be a Champions League classic worth watching – a very balanced match that will likely be decided by small details. I trust in the good moment my team is going through and hope the coin lands on our side.”
Olympiacos’ coach Elvis Fatovic focused on his side when asked for his thoughts on the game, “We are expecting a very tough game against one of the best teams in Europe,” he said.
“This week probably marks the end of a demanding series of matches we’ve played, including Vouliagmeni, but especially against Brescia, and now Barceloneta.
“We are closing this stretch against a team that applies very aggressive pressure and has an excellent counterattack.
“We have to be fully prepared. It’s essential to minimise our mistakes in our attack, because they will punish them very easily.
“Barceloneta have some of the best shooters in the world and a very recognisable style of play. At the same time, we trust in our own quality.
“We believe in our strengths. We know that if we control their counterattack and manage the game well, without unnecessary swimming, we can increase our chances.
“As I said, both teams have great players. I believe it will be an enjoyable game for everyone and I hope we will be the better team tomorrow.”
The players also have high expectations. “Olympiacos are a very complete team, with great players and a coach who knows the team perfectly” CNAB’s Gonzalo Echenique said.
“It will be a very tactical, intense and difficult match, but we are playing at home and we are ready to compete at the highest level and try to make sure the points stay here.”
Nikos Gkillas, meanwhile, believes in Olympiacos’ success. “We are in very good form, we are coming off an important victory against Brescia and we have a good rhythm right now.
“We know a difficult game awaits us, but if we stay focused and control the tempo, we will have a great chance of winning.
“Barceloneta are one of the top teams, with speed, good ball circulation, and a very strong counter-attack. We must limit their transition, play tough defence, and impose our own game.”
Group A
(Tuesday 31 March)
20:30: AN Brescia (ITA) v VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB)
Head-to-head: 1-5 (1d)
2023-24: 8-13, 5-13. 2022-23: 9-11, 12-9. 2021-22: 11-11, 13-16, 13-14 (semi-final).
Brescia, despite fighting bravely both against Barceloneta and Olympiacous, quickly found themselves on the brink of elimination due to those back-to-back defeats.
Perhaps this is their last chance, a home game against Novi Beograd – as since the inauguration of the new format, with groups of four both in the Group and Quarterfinal Stage, no team has managed to make the next phase after starting with three straight defeats.
The Serbs, after stunning Olympiacos, also had their chances in Barceloneta, so it’s the good old Novi Beograd story we’ve been watching in the past couple of seasons – a lot of players may have left the club, but NBG cannot be counted out. An away win in Brescia would definitely keep them on track in the race for Malta.
NBG’s centre-forward Stefan Pjesivac echoed that in his pre-game statement: “Brescia are a very good team and we expect a tough game. We have prepared very well, and I expect to come back home with all three points.
“They play almost similarly to Barceloneta, a typical Italian team with a lot of swimming, they are really good and fast. But I think if we play at our level, that will not be a problem.
“It’s always a tough game against them, as they have a few really good individual players and play well as a team. But, let’s see.”
Group B
(Wednesday 1 April)
20.30: Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Pro Recco (ITA)
Head-to-head: 0-10
2022-23: 8-11, 4-21. 2021-22: 7-20, 3-18. 2020-21: 6-19 (quarter-final). 2019-20: 13-21. 2018-19: 10-14 (quarter-final). 2016-17: 8-18, 7-10. 2014-15: 5-14 (qualifications).
Recco look all set to record their ninth Champions League win this season. Even though Hannover came up with a couple of surprising home wins in the Group Stage, against Marseille and Sabadell, which ultimately landed them in this round, the Germans succumbed to the top sides.
Both Barceloneta (11-27) and FTC Telekom (13-21) trounced them in Hannover and it’s hard to see any different end to this next chapter, when Recco visit Waspo’s pool.
The Italians won all of the 10 clashes the two teams have played in the past, and only two of those saw a three-goal gap, and mostly it was a 10-goal gap or more.
Recco’s Nicholas Presciutti is confident but catious before facing Hannover: “It’s our third game in seven days, but we’re focused. We want to go there, play our game, and come away with the three points.
“It’s going to be a tough match because they’ve made some changes over the past few years. They’re a young team, full of energy, with a young and dynamic coach. So we’ll need to stay very focused and alert.
“At the same time, we always focus on ourselves. We want to keep building on the path we’ve started, stay perfect in the standings, and impose our style of play.
“We’ll definitely have to be careful because teams like this tend to play with more freedom against us, especially when they’re seen as slight underdogs on paper.
“So it’ll be crucial to stay sharp, especially defensively, stick to our system, support our goalkeepers and then be aggressive going forward and see what we can get out of the game.”
Group B
(Wednesday 1 April)
20.30: Mladost Zagreb (CRO) v FTC-Telekom (HUN)
Head-to-head: 0-2
2019-20: 5-14, 6-9
This meeting has become a crucial match for both teams, after Fradi fell to Recco in the opening round. That narrowed the margin of errors for the title-holders, and a defeat in Zagreb would put them into an extremely challenging situation for the remainder of this stage.
And looking at Mladost’s home record so far, 11-1, this is not just a mere possibility. What’s more, in the Champions League, the Croats are 6-0 so far (including two qualifying game), which includes their two heroic efforts against Radnicki (17-15) and Olympiacos (14-13).
The Mladost pool has always been famous for its special atmosphere, which has helped cause some of the biggest teams crash at the end.
The man-up/man-down conversion rate will be crucial, and it’s going to be decisive perhaps if the hosts come up with their first half plays from Recco, when they were 2 for 9, or rather the second half, when they converted 5 out of 5.
Fradi have also a couple of strength they can rely on – as they are still undefeated in away-matches in the entire season across all competitions (both their defeats, against Brescia, then Recco, came in Budapest). And they showed a couple of times that despite those two losses, they can still play great water polo – something they need to offer on Wednesday evening again in order to match Mladost’s home magic.
FTC’s Spanish centre-forward Miguel del Toro is aware of what is at stake: “We really want to take these three points. That would be very, very important for us to qualify for the Final Four.
“We know how difficult it is to win in that pool. Actually, I think nobody could do it this season, at least in the Champions League. We need to be very concentrated.
“We need to use our best skills and not lose the focus. And just go for the game and try to bring the three points home.”
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
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