Five teams chase the four available F8 spots in Group A and two more still have mathematical chances so the race is quite exciting. Two of the top four will clash each other in this round, and there is a lot at stake: the winner of the Brescia v Dynamo encounter will take a huge step towards Genoa while the loser might be directed to a pretty rocky road. In Moscow they settled to a 9-9 draw – and a similarly close match is forecasted for Wednesday.
Top ranked Olympiacos (GRE) lost its first game of the season in Dubrovnik (CRO) three weeks ago but still enjoys a three-point advantage. The Greeks are the favourites in Hannover (GER), though the Germans will fight to stay alive, another loss would definitely kill all their chances to qualify for the F8.
The situation is the same for OSC (HUN), under the new coach they managed to break their losing streak at last, reaching a surprising draw in Moscow – now they face 2016 winner and 2017 runner-up Jug. Six points separate the two sides, the 4thplace is further two away – it’s a must-win game for both teams. A loss would push Jug into trouble, while OSC would definitely bow out from the race if they leave their pool empty-handed.
Barceloneta (ESP) enjoys a really fine unbeaten run, three wins followed two draws and now another victory is in sight as they meet bottom ranked Partizan (SRB) at home.
In Group B this day might begin to widen the gap between the top and the lower ranked four sides. Recco (ITA) will probably roll on in Sabadell (ESP) and Eger (HUN) faces a much easier test in Alphen (NED) than the last two games against title-holder Szolnok (HUN) – they collected six points from those matches, this one is an easy cruise against the winless Dutch side.
Szolnok, in the meantime, is going through a really bad spell: after losing twice to Eger they also fell in the national league, losing to Euro Cup winner Ferencvaros at home. They try to use the game against Jadran (MNE) as the first step towards back to the top – any other result than a win would be a huge surprise as well as would leave the star team in a serious situation.
Spandau (GER) has staged a great march so far and a win against Steaua (ROU) would further cement their position in the top half of the ranks. In Bucharest they scored a last-second winner which shows that this upcoming encounter might be just as tight – and the Romanians started to feel the taste of victory against Alphen. For Steaua this is virtually the last chance to stay in visible distance, while Spandau badly needs these three points before the ‘dangerous’ visits in the Hungarian teams’ pools in the following rounds.
Champions League, Day 9
Group A
17.30 Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
19.15 Atletic Barceloneta (ESP) v Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
20.30 AN Brescia (ITA) v Dynamo Moscow (RUS)
20.30 A Hid-OSC Budapest v Jug Croatia Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
Standings: 1.Olympiacos 19, 2. Brescia 16, 3. Barceloneta 15, 4. Dynamo 15, 5. Jug 13, 6. OSC 7, 7. Hannover 6, 8. Partizan 0
Group B
19.00 (Tuesday) Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Pro Recco (ITA)
18.00 Szolnoki Dozsa-Kozgep (HUN) v Jadran Carine Herceg Novi (MNE)
19.30 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
20.30 AZC Alphen (NED) v ZF Eger (HUN)
Standings: 1. Recco 21, 2. Eger 16, 3. Szolnok 15, 4. Spandau 15, 5. Jadran 13, 6. Steaua 9, 7. Sabadell 6, 8. Alphen 0
