With two rounds to go, five spots in the Final Six have already been booked: Olympiacos (GRE), Recco (ITA), Szolnok (HUN) and Jug (CRO) have joined host Eger (HUN). Barceloneta (ESP) and Primorje (CRO) are still in the hunt for the last available berth and the top spots are still up for grabs, too.
After nine long years Olympiacos Piraeus is back to the season-ending showcase: the Greek team – winner in 2002 – made the cut in 2007 for the last time, since then they tried everything to return to the big stage but failed on several occasions. Not this time: with a spectacular win in Rijeka, Olympiacos secured its place in the Final Six in Budapest (and they had some fine memories from the Margaret Island as they clinched the title there). Beating Primorje in its pool requires something special – but only fading memories can recall such a demolishing of the home side: Olympiacos thrashed the Croats 4-10.
The other two matches brought back the ‘usual’ draws in Group A (this has been the most balanced sextet in the history of the prelims): Spandau (GER) and Jadran (MNE) both chased their first win but their clash ended up in a tie as the Germans managed to come back from 6-9 down in the last four minutes. Eger also came alive in the last period, after trailing 5-3 in Barcelona they netted three goals in the final eight minutes, the last one came 53 seconds from time and this 6-6 tie eserved them the chance to catch up Olympiacos in the hunt for the top spot. Barceloneta is now one point ahead of Primorje and will visit the two eliminated teams (Jadran, Spandau) in the last two rounds.
In Group B all three F6 berths have been booked, only the final rankings remain open. Recco won 7-2 against OSC (HUN) in an unusually low-scoring encounter which saw some tremendous defending at both ends. The title-holder went a point clear and has a strong chance to remain atop. The contest for the second place produced an outstanding match between Szolnok and Jug. The first half brought as many goals as an ordinary match (8-7), then Szolnok – boosted by the saves of the incoming goalie, Attila Decker and 4 hits by veteran Norbert Madaras – ran through the Croats in the third (12-8) and never looked back. Recco, Szolnok and Jug now all have gone through, they’ll meet the lower ranked sides on the last two days so the current standings might be the same at the end of the prelims. The third match, played on Wednesday by Galatasaray and Partizan, brought a draw which means that all teams earned at least a point in this year’s competition.
Champions League, Day 8
Group A
Primorje Erste Banka Rijeka (CRO) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 4-10
CN Barceloneta (ESP) v ZF-Eger (HUN) 6-6
Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v Jadran Carine Herceg Novi (MNE) 9-9
Classification
1. Olympiacos 18, 2. Eger 15, 3. Barceloneta 12, 4. Primorje 11, 5. Spandau 4, 6. Jadran 3
Group B
Pro Recco (ITA) v A Hid-OSC Budapest (HUN) 7-2
Szolnoki Dozsa-Kozgep (HUN) v Jug Croatia Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) 13-10
Galatasaray Istanbul (TUR) v Partizan Belgrade (SRB) 9-9
Classification
1. Pro Recco 19, 2. Szolnok 18, 3. Jug 16, 4. OSC 9, 5. Partizan 7, 6. Galatasaray 1
