Pro Recco secured the expected comfortable win against Hannover to confirm top spot in Group B, settling the only remaining question on the final day of the Champions League Quarterfinals Stage. CNAB also maintained their momentum, defeating Olympiacos in Piraeus to preserve their perfect record in this stage of the competition. Next stop is Malta and the eagerly awaited Final 4.
2025/26 Champions League Men
Quarterfinals Stage, Day 6
Wednesday 20 May
Group A
Olympiacos SFP (GRE) 9-12 Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB) 17-18 AN Brescia (ITA)
Standings: 1. CNAB, 18pts, 2. Olympiacos, 8pts, 3. Brescia, 7pts, 4. NBG, 3pts
Group B
Pro Recco (ITA) 19-9 Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 16-10 HAVK Mladost (CRO)
Standings: 1. Recco, 15pts, 2. FTC, 15pts, 3. Mladost, 3pts, 4. Waspo, 3pts
Group A
Olympiacos SFP (GRE) 9-12 Zodiac CNAB (ESP) (1-3, 3-3, 2-4, 3-2)
Although the Greeks opened the scoring, the Spaniards found their rhythm after five minutes. Vince Vigvari struck twice within just 19 seconds, before Alessandro Velotto added a third from action, while the hosts failed to convert two man-ups.
Olympiacos responded strongly in the second period. Dimitrios Nikolaidis scored neatly from the centre and a powerful 6m effort from Konstantinos Genidounias brought the sides level once more.
However, CNAB surged again in the latter stages of the quarter, scoring twice within 47 seconds.
Gergo Zalanki pulled one back, but Gonzalo Echenique converted a man-up seven seconds before half-time to hand the visitors a 4-6 advantage.
Unlike in the opening two periods, the Spaniards started the third quarter at full speed and moved into a 5-8 lead within three minutes.
Zalanki ended a five-minute scoring drought for the hosts after Genidounias had earlier missed a penalty, but Roger Tahull responded immediately from the centre and Unai Biel beat the buzzer with a fierce strike for 6-10.
CNAB remained firmly in control and the Greeks never looked sharp enough to change the course of the match.
Genidounias produced a pair of fine long-range efforts in the fourth quarter, but the visitors answered both times, with Biel converting a penalty and Velotto finishing off a six-on-five to maintain the gap.
The final goal came from Dimitrious Dimou, whose pinpoint strike arrived 18 seconds from time.
It was another convincing demonstration of CNAB’s outstanding form as the Spaniards completed this stage unbeaten and now head to Malta full of confidence once again.
Group A
VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB) 17-18 AN Brescia (ITA) (6-4, 5-4, 3-5, 3-5)
Pride and prestige might have been the only things at stake in this clash, but both sides went all out and produced a thrilling 35-goal encounter featuring 40 major fouls.
The Serbs made the stronger start and built a 6-4 advantage. While the Italians worked hard to stay within touching distance, NBG still held an 11-8 lead at half-time, with their key shooters finding the target consistently from open play and well-worked six-on-fives.
When Luka Gladovic converted another extra just 55 seconds into the third quarter, NBG appeared firmly in control.
After successfully killing a man-down, the hosts earned a man-up chance to extend the margin to five goals, but failed to convert, and Vlado Popadic responded with a powerful 6m strike at the other end.
That proved the turning point, as Brescia launched a major comeback. Within a minute, the Italians converted back-to-back man-ups, and the momentum continued as the next two possessions also ended in goals.
Brescia produced a stunning 0-5 run in just 2:39 minutes to turn the match around at 12-13.
The Serbs reacted through Marko Dimitrijevic’s man-up goal and, 38 seconds later, Viktor Urosevic restored the lead from action, giving NBG a 14-13 advantage heading into the final eight minutes.
The hosts then squandered two man-up opportunities before Popadic equalised from action.
NBG’s Nikola Lukic then buried a penalty, while the Italians lost their fifth player through three fouls.
Brescia earned a penalty during a man-up – with two Serbian players fouled out within 12 seconds – and Filippo Ferrero calmly converted for 15-15 with 5:12 remaining.
Just 26 seconds later, Ante Viskovic struck again following a steal and an exclusion.
Although two more Italians were excluded for three fouls, leaving Brescia with virtually no substitutes for the final two and a half minutes at 16-16, Mario del Basso blasted home from 6m before Viskovic added another with 1:19 to play to move two clear (16-18).
The home side pulled one back and created another possession, but a crucial save denied them in the closing stages as Brescia claimed three more points to finish their campaign on a high note.
Group B
Pro Recco (ITA) 19-9 Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) (4-3, 3-0, 6-2, 6-4)
Pro Recco made a somewhat sluggish start, but Francesco Di Fulvio’s man-up goal with just two seconds remaining in the opening quarter handed the Italians a 4-3 lead.
They raised their level significantly in the second quarter and produced a 3-0 run after the Germans had missed a penalty.
Andrea Fondelli converted a six-on-four, before Francesco Cassia finished a counterattack and Matteo Iocchi Gratta added another from man-up.
Fondelli then struck twice from action within 38 seconds early in the third quarter, effectively putting the match beyond reach.
Shortly after, Recco added three more quick goals in the space of just 55 seconds, extending their sequence to a 9-0 run after the 3-3 scoreline.
Waspo were kept scoreless for 13:30 minutes before Mark Gansen finally ended the drought.
The fourth quarter featured little defensive resistance, with the sides combining for 10 more goals, six of them from Recco, as the Italians cruised to victory and secured top spot in the group.
Group B
FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 16-10 HAVK Mladost (CRO) (5-3, 3-3, 5-1, 3-3)
Mladost travelled to Budapest without several key players, including Luka Loncar, Ivan Nagaev, Ivan Buljubasic and Marko Radulovic, while Fradi rested Soma Vogel and Edoardo Di Somma ahead of important domestic play-off matches at the weekend.
Nevertheless, the sides delivered an entertaining contest in front of a capacity crowd, as the Fradi supporters turned out in force for their team’s final home Champions League match of the season and were not disappointed.
The hosts moved into a 5-3 lead after an action-packed opening eight minutes, but Mladost showed their quality in the second period by scoring three consecutive goals to level at 6-6 in less than two minutes and even had an opportunity to go ahead.
Fradi, however, responded in style as Marton Vamos and Szilard Jansik struck within 44 seconds to hand the title-holders an 8-6 lead at half-time.
The Croatians began to run out of energy in the third quarter. Despite an early man-up goal, they struggled to match Fradi’s pace.
While the hosts did not rely on classic counterattacks, many possessions still ended either with clear shooting chances or exclusions, allowing Fradi to produce a 5-0 run and open up a 13-7 lead before the final period.
The fourth quarter was more balanced and saw three goals apiece.
Interestingly, 10 different Mladost players found the net once each, while all but one Fradi outfield player scored at least once in another convincing display from the Hungarians.
Watch Champions League action live on European Aquatics TV
For full Champions League fixtures, results, stats and tables, click here
Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram
Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
