Seven-time winner Mladost Zagreb’s Champions League campaign suffered an abrupt end as the Croats left the scene with three losses in the first Qualification Round. No upsets happened in the other two groups. Though Mladost is no way comparable to the great sides of the past, the Croats’ young team caused some headaches for quality rivals in recent years. However, this season they sunk too early, right in the first round of the qualification process.
In Group A, they fought hard against host Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE) and in the decisive match on Sunday against Montpellier (FRA), but they came up short both times (and were heavily beaten by Russia’s Spartak, 7-15). Against the French the second period did the damage, when Montpellier had a 4-0 rush and led 6-2 in the middle break. Mladost tried to climb back but couldn’t get really close and lost 8-6.
The first place here went to 2014 Euro Cup winner Spartak Volgograd which managed to break Jadran in the third period and despite a late surge from the hosts they sailed away with a fine win (11-13).
Group B and C saw a couple of unexpected results with a handful of ties among them. Both groups had the top two ranked sides finishing undefeated: the respective winners – SM Verona (ITA), Waspo Hannover (GER) – and runners-up – DiGi Oradea (ROU), OSC Budapest (HUN) – all went through without losses. Though the Hungarians, silver medallists in their domestic league last season, caused a kind of surprise by being unable to beat Hannover and Marseille (FRA), what’s more they had to fight hard to save both games to a tie. But OSC’s qualification was never in question and with their key players returning soon, they might be a formidable force in the following round.
The same applies to Italy’s newly emerging team, Verona and Romania’s top side, DiGi Oradea. The latter made the prelims of the Champions League two years ago and with a couple of fine foreign players on board they belong to the strongest challengers in this season. By the way, their clash produced the most thrilling encounter of the weekend, Verona led 10-7 in the fourth period with 5:42 to go, but Oradea bounced back and managed to equalise in the very last second for 11-11.
Now the nine qualified teams await for Qualification Round II where the seven wild card- holders will join them in two-week time. The draw will be made on Tuesday in Nyon, at the LEN Office: four groups of four are created and the top two will make the final phase of the qualifying process – and only those have the chance either to reach the prelims or to continue in the Euro Cup.
Champions League – Qualification Round I
Group A (Herceg Novi)
1. Spartak Volgograd (RUS) 9, 2. Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE) 6, 3. Montpellier (FRA) 3, 4. HAVK Mladost (CRO) 0
Group B (Valletta)
1. SM Verona (ITA) 7, 2. DiGi Oradea (ROU) 5, 3. VK Budva (MNE) 4, 4. Valletta (MLT) 0
Group C (Tbilisi)
1. Waspo Hannover (GER) 7, 2. OSC Budapest (HUN) 5, 3. CN Marseille (FRA) 4, 4.
Lokomotiv Tbilisi (GEO) 0
The first three of each group qualified for Round II.
