Group A
The biggest clash of the day is due in Moscow where Dynamo (RUS) faces off
Brescia (ITA). Only one point separates the two sides and both finished last year on
a high: Dynamo earned a pretty valuable point in Barcelona while Brescia managed
to beat last season’s runner-up Jug at home. Three points would definitely boost
either club’s chance to reach the Final Eight in this extremely balanced group.
Group leader Olympiacos is out to maintain its run as the only unbeaten side in the
League. The Greeks barely lose a match at home and they are the favourites
against Hannover too, though on their better days the Germans can cause
headaches to any rivals anywhere.
The encounter in Dubrovnik between Jug (CRO) and OSC (HUN) is also decisive: the
winning side will stay close in the hunt for the top four places while the loser shall
face an uphill battle in the remaining eight rounds to bridge the gap. The Croats
are the favourites, especially at home despite they have some bad tastes as they
had unexpected losses in Moscow and Brescia. Still, the Hungarians had an even
more miserable run losing three straight matches – and two years ago Jug beat
them in both games in the prelims (9-7, 10-7).
Barceloneta (ESP) is about to rise in the ranks after some ups and downs: the
Spaniards already had three ties in the first five matches, any of those games can
be considered six points lost or three earned. Though playing in Belgrade never
promises an easy cruise, Barceloneta ought to get back to the winning track.
Group B
Though at the start of the prelims title-holder Szolnok (HUN), 8-time winner Recco
(ITA) and regular F6 participant Eger (HUN) were regarded the favourites, Spandau
(GER) and Jadran (MNE) caused a couple of upsets already. The Germans perhaps
surprised even themselves by defeating the two Hungarian greats at home which
catapulted them to the top positions. Now comes the hard part for them: to
achieve the seemingly compulsory wins. However, to defeat Steaua in Bucharest is
a real challenge. The Romanians managed to earn their first points by bettering
Sabadell in Spain which gave them a big push – now they are ready to maintain
this rise so this is the game of the day in this group.
Among the above-mentioned favourites Recco shouldn’t have any trouble against Sabadell and Eger is to play its easiest match in the prelims while meeting bottom-ranked Alphen (NED) at home – a good occasion to start to close up the others.
Title-holder Szolnok will have a tricky encounter in Herceg Novi: the young
Montenegrin side showed a fine march in the first four matches, winning three and
tying one (with Eger). However, next came the two giants, first Recco and now
Szolnok. These two belong to a different category, that was mirrored by the game
played shortly before Christmas (Recco won 5-15) and it’s yet to be seen on
Saturday whether the home players could force a tight match or face another
sound beating.
Champions League, Day 6
Group A
18.15 VK Partizan Belgrade (SRB) v CN Atletic Barceloneta (ESP)
18.30 Jug Croatia Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) v A Hid-OSC Budapest (HUN)
19.15 Dynamo Moscow (RUS) v AN Brescia (ITA)
20.30 Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
Standings
1. Olympiacos 13, 2. Dynamo 10, 4. Brescia 9, 3. Jug 7, 5. Barceloneta 6, 6. OSC 6,
7. Hannover 6, 8. Partizan 0
Group B
18.30 Jadran Carine Herceg Novi (MNE) v Szolnoki Dozsa-Kozgep (HUN)
18.30 ZF Eger (HUN) v AZC Alphen (NED)
20.30 Steaua Bucharest (ROU) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)
20.30 Pro Recco (ITA) v Astralpool Sabadell (ESP)
Standings
1. Recco 12, 2. Szolnok 12, 3. Spandau 12, 4. Jadran 10, 5. Eger 7, 6. Sabadell 3, 7.
Steaua 3, 8. Alphen 0
