The qualification campaign will be on soon: all four tournaments will see at least one team which was already part of the show in the main round in the previous editions of the Champions League.
In Group A Galatasaray Istanbul (TUR) had some memorable battles in recent years and caused some head-aches even for the top sides in the preliminary round. Now the Turks, fielding a couple of quality foreign players, face a tough challenge as Digi Oradea (ROU, also reached the main round in the 2013/14 season) and Mornar Split (CRO) also seeks qualification. One of the three sides has to fall as only the top two will go through.
A former winner of the most prestigious trophy (in 1973 and 1979), OSC Budapest will also start its quest. Last season the Hungarians started at this stage, too and successfully reached the prelims. This weekend seems to be a fine warm-up for them as they play at home and have an easier task.
2007 Euro Cup winner and last season’s runner-up Sintez Kazan (RUS) will make another attempt to reach the main round – in Porto they can finish first, though Italian newcomer BPM Verona will have a word or two in that matter.
Montenegro’s Jadran Herceg Novi and Romania’s Steaua Bucuresti are the outstanding favourites in Group D. Jadran tries to go all the way once more, what they achieved last season. Starting in the first round of the qualification, the young Montenegrins managed to make the main round and earned some valuable points there, even against teams later reaching the Final Six.
Champions League, Qualification Round I
Group A – to be played in Oradea (ROU)
VK Mornar SPLIT (CRO)
Galatasaray SK ISTANBUL (TUR)
CSM Digi ORADEA (ROU)
UZSC UTRECHT (NED)
Group B – to be played in Budapest (HUN)
OSC BUDAPEST (HUN)
HANNOVER 1898 (GER)
ZP BARENDRECHT (NED)
Group C – to be played in Porto (POR)
BPM Sport Management VERONA (ITA)
ENKA Sport Club (TUR)
Sintez KAZAN (RUS)
Clube Fluvial PORTUENSE (POR)
Group D – to be played in La Valletta (MLT)
PVK Jadran HERCEG NOVI (MNE)
Steaua BUCHAREST (ROU)
VALLETTA (MLT)
KS Arkonia SZCZECIN (POL)
The first two (2) classified teams from each group qualify to the Qualification Round II, to be played on 14-16 October.
