Group A
In this group the battle of Jug (CRO) and Barceloneta (ESP), just as the game
between OSC (HUN) and Brescia (ITA) stand out. Jug is on the rise, the Croats came
up with convincing wins against Partizan and in Hannover and they are the
favourites despite the Brazilian scoring machine Felipe Perrone left them in the
summer and returned to his former team, the current opponent Barceloneta.
The Spaniards also did a brilliant job and blew away OSC in the previous round. Last
season the two sides also met, it was as close as possible, Jug won 11-10 in
Dubrovnik and it was a 7-7 draw in Barcelona. For sure, the results from last season will not predict the winner in the case of OSC and Brescia – all three games ended in a tie, 11-11 in the second round of the qualifications then 7-7 and 6-6 in the main round. While Brescia opened with a fine win against Barceloneta, they suffered a painful defeat in Hannover and at home against Olympiacos (GRE) – another loss would weaken their chances to go through. OSC got the best start in the group with two wins but they collapsed in Barcelona. Beating Eger in the local cup semis some days later showed that their game was full of ups and downs – in fact, Szolnok thrashed them in the final on the
next day.
Top ranked Olympiacos can enjoy an easy cruise against the young Partizan (SRB)
side while a much closer battle is envisioned in Moscow. With another win
Dynamo (RUS) would become a strong F8 contender, on the other hand Hannover
(GER) is looking for its first ever away win in the Champions League which would
put them back to the hunt.
Group B
Title-holder Szolnok and all-time best Recco will play the game of the day. The
Italians are the only team in the entire field with three wins – Szolnok could have
been the other one but the Hungarians were stunned in Berlin where Spandau
halted the Hungarians’ 15-game unbeaten run.
However, the title-holder side bounced back by winning the Hungarian Cup in the last weekend and is ready to get back onto the winning track at the international stage too. The biggest stars of water polo play both sides, a handful of Olympic and world champion Hungarian, Serbian, Croatian and Italian players. Two years ago Szolnok won at home 12-11, taking revenge for its 14-11 loss in Recco (where the Hungarians led 0-5 but their rivals hit back). A unique fact: the Hungarians are yet to lose a home game in the Champions League: since the autumn of 2014, from when they have been playing in the prelims, they had 15 wins and one draw (last season, against Olympiacos).
Eger (HUN) faces a key encounter against newcomer Sabadell (HUN). Participants
in the F6 in the last three years, the Hungarians always collected the majority of
their points at home. Now they have to improve in offense as they could score 4
goals in back-to- back matches (at home against Recco, losing 4-6 and in the last
round in Herceg Novi, tying with Jadran 4-4), though their defence worked well.
Sabadell broke the ice with its first win ten days ago over Alphen but it requires a
hell of efforts from the Spaniards to stay close to the hosts this time.
Alphen looked a bit stronger in Sabadell despite losing its third match – now the
Dutch will clash with Spandau. Considering the Germans’ fantastic win over title-
holder Szolnok in the last round, Spandau is the favourite here.
Champions League, Main Round, Day 4
Group A
17.30 Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v VK Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
18.30 Jug Croatia Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) v CNA Barceloneta (ESP)
19.15 Dynamo Moscow (RUS) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
20.30 A Hid-OSC Budapest (HUN) v AN Brescia (ITA)
Standings
1. Olympiacos 7, 2. Jug 6, 3. OSC 6, 4. Dynamo 6, 5. Barceloneta 4, 6. Brescia 3, 7.
Hannover 3, 8. Partizan 0
Group B
18.00 ZF Eger (HUN) v Astralpool Sabadell (ESP)
18.30 Szolnoki Dozsa-Kozgep (HUN) v Pro Recco (ITA)
20.30 AZC Alphen (NED) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)
Standings
1. Jadran 10, 2. Recco 9, 3. Spandau 6, 4. Szolnok 6, 5. Eger 4, 6. Sabadell 3, 7.
Steaua 0, 8. Alphen 0
