OSC Budapest did a clean job in Group A, clinching all four matches and the their smallest winning margin was at least four goals, so another successful campaign has been launched – in the previous two years the Hungarians managed to reach the group stage. Here, in Banja Luka, 2015 Euro Cup winner Sintez (RUS) had a tight contest with Terrassa (ESP) for the second qualifying spot but the Russians prevailed 6-4.
Home side Strasbourg did its best to upset the big ones but lost both to Jadran (MNE) and Canottieri (ITA) by a single goal. The French had possessions to save both matches to a tie but couldn’t equalise, the Montenegrins won 7-6, the Italians 9-8 and these victories sent them to the second round.
Something similar happened in Group C where Galatasaray (TUR) challenged Mornar (CRO) and Glyfada (GRE), the Turks were close in the fourth period in both occasions but finally went down by two, 5-7 against the Croats and 6-8 against the Greeks.
The draw for the second round was held before the finals in Malta, site of the European Junior Water Polo Championships. It was conducted by LEN TWPC Chairman Gianni Lonzi and Secretary Dejan Perisic. All four groups promise thrilling battles, since there are at least three candidates for the top two spots in each, so there are plenty of excitements in sight for the last weekend of September.
Champions League, Qualification Round I
Group A (Banja Luka)
- OSC Budapest (HUN) 12, 2. Sintez Kazan (RUS) 9, 3. Terrassa (ESP) 6, 4. Portuense (POR) 3, 4. Banja Luka (BIH) 0
Group B (Strasbourg)
- Jadran Carine Herceg Novi (MNE) 9, 2. Canottieri Napoli (ITA) 6, 3. ASTT Strasbourg (FRA) 3, 4. Enka Istanbul (TUR) 0
Group C (Tel-Aviv)
- Mornar Split (CRO) 9, 2. ANC Glyfada (GRE) 6, 3. Galatasaray Istanbul (TUR) 3, 4. ASA Tel-Aviv (ISR) 0
Draw, Qualification Round II
Group E (Zagreb)
HAVK MLADOST ZAGREB (CRO)
ASC DUISBURG (GER)
Spartak VOLGOGRAD (RUS)
Jadran HERCEG NOVI (MNE)
Group F (Budapest)
ZF EGER (HUN)
CN MARSEILLE (FRA)
OSC BUDAPEST (HUN)
ANC GLYFADA (GRE)
CC NAPOLI (ITA)
Group G (Sabadell)
AN BRESCIA (ITA)
CN SABADELL (ESP)
UZSC UTRECHT (NED)
VK Mornar SPLIT (CRO)
Group H (Oradea)
NC VOULIAGMENI (GRE)
Crvena Zvezda BELGRADE (SRB)
CSM Digi ORADEA (ROU)
Sintez KAZAN (RUS)
The first two (2) classified teams from each group of the Qualification Round II advance to the Round III play-offs.
