In Group A the top match will be staged in Piraeus where the 2016 final is to be
replayed between Olympiacos (GRE) and Jug (CRO). Jug then stunned the Greeks
who were undefeated in the entire season – and once more they are the only side
with a clean sheet in the prelims today. Three Croatian players in the Greek team
will add some special flavour to this contest where the hosts are the favourites.
Three points or more from these two encounters would almost surely cement
Olympiacos atop in the group for all way long.
Brescia (ITA) and Barceloneta (ESP) will go for gaining six points which would be a
tremendous boost for these teams. Brescia posted a couple of big wins (including
one over Jug) and is the absolute favourite against Partizan (SRB) which is yet to
earn a point. Barceloneta, the team of draws – they had three already, two in the last two
rounds – clash with Hannover (GER). The Germans still have a slight chance in this
balanced group but the Spaniards also need two wins to stay in the hunt for the
Final Eight.
The encounters featuring OSC (HUN) and Dynamo (RUS) are the really crucial ones.
The Hungarians’ losing streak now stands at four and this is their very last chance
to keep up with the others. Dynamo is one of the pleasant surprises of the current
season, the newcomer side sits in the second position but now faces another
tough challenge. If the Russians’ balance remains positive after the next two
rounds they would be in a great position before the exciting finish.
The in-house battle of the two Hungarian giants is the highlight in Group B. The
game of title-holder Szolnok and standard Final Six participant Eger promises big
thrills. Szolnok was superior in the previous season, in the current one they met
once so far and Szolnok won 7-4 in the Hungarian Super Cup. A double loss for
Eger would not mean the end of the world but would put them in quite difficult
position – at the same time Szolnok is in a demanding race for the top position
with Pro Recco so the title-holders couldn’t lay back against their domestic arch-
rival.
Recco, in the meantime, is preparing for a showdown against the season’s
sensation Spandau. The Germans won their last five games, including three single-goal victories (two against the two Hungarians) and that keeps them on level with the big boys. Another upset against the record-winning Italian giant would almost surely send them to the Final Eight.
Alphen (NED) is getting ready to earn the first point(s) in the League against fellow
newcomer Steaua (ROU). The Romanians seem the better side, they were really
close against Spandau ten days ago but lost in the dying seconds. Six points against
the Dutch would also give them a slim hope.
Champions League, Day 7
Group A
17.00 Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Jug Croatia Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
18.30 A Hid-OSC Budapest (HUN) v Dynamo Moscow (RUS)
20.30 AN Brescia (ITA) v Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
(Thursday) 19.15 Barceloneta (ESP) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
Standings
1. Olympiacos 16, 2. Dynamo 11, 3. Brescia 10, 4. Jug 10, 5. Barceloneta 9, 6. OSC
6, 7. Hannover 6, 8. Partizan 0
Group B
Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) – Jadran Carine Herceg Novi (MNE) (played tuesday) 8-10
18.30 Szolnoki Dozsa-Kozgep (HUN) v ZF-Eger (HUN)
19.30 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v Pro Recco (ITA)
20.30 AZC Alphen (NED) v Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
Standings
1. Recco 15, 2. Szolnok 15, 3. Spandau 15, 4. Jadran 10, 5. Eger 10, 6. Sabadell 3, 7.
Steaua 3, 8. Alphen 0
For live scoring, stats and play-by- play action visit www.len.eu or download the
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