Barceloneta have already secured their Final 4 berth, and title-holders FTC-Telekom and 11-time champions Pro Recco are all set to join them on Day 5 of the Champions League Quarter-final Stage. However, the race for the last spot between Olympiacos, Brescia and Novi Beograd is just heating up.
2025/26 Champions League Men
Quarterfinals Stage, Day 5
(Local times shown)
Group A
(Wednesday 13 May)
20:30: AN Brescia (ITA) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE)
20:30: VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
Group B
(Tuesday 12 May)
20.30: FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
20.30: HAVK Mladost (CRO) v Pro Recco (ITA)
Group B
(Tuesday 12 May)
20.30: FTC-Telekom (HUN) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
Head-to-head: 4-0
Day 2: 21-13. 2020-21: 19-6, 13-9. 2019-2020: 15-12
Fradi needs just one point to advance to the Final 4, but it’s hard to see them not taking all three at home against Waspo.
In Hannover, they were superior right from the beginning as the team bounced back from the opening day’s home defeat to Pro Recco.
That match on Day 2 put Fradi back on the winning track, and they went on to add significant victories in Zagreb and, most recently, in Recco.
The title-holders may need some time at the beginning to get back into rhythm, as they haven’t played a match since 2 May, but this unusual break also offered them a chance to refuel before the most important phase of the season – and they will also have Dusan Mandic back on board.
Perhaps this is not the best piece of news for Waspo, although the Germans have already shown some quality at this stage by bringing down Mladost in the previous round.
According to goalkeeper Mark Spittank, they are aware of the realities in Hannover. “FTC will go into the game as the favourites, but we still want to make things difficult for them and keep the match close for as long as possible.
“For us, this also serves as excellent preparation for the upcoming final series in the Bundesliga.”
FTC’s Zsombor Vismeg also believes they cannot take anything for granted in the Komjadi Pool. “For sure, it’s gonna be a tough game,” he said. “We are preparing very hard for this match.
“In Hannover, the beginning was very difficult, but after that we managed to build a comfortable lead and win by a good margin.
“Waspo have four or five very good players we need to focus on. If they do not score that many goals, then I think we can turn the game in our favour.”
Group B
(Tuesday 12 May)
20.30: Mladost Zagreb (CRO) v Pro Recco (ITA)
Head-to-head: 0-6 (1d)
Day 2: 10-13. 2019-20: 11-11. 2014-15: 9-13, 5-9. 2013-2014: 2-16 (qualifications). 2010-11: 8-11, 5-9.
Euro Cup, 2024-25: 13-16, 4-7
Mladost’s slim chances of making the finals were practically burnt to ashes in Hannover, when a 3-0 run from the Germans at the end left the Croats with three points after four rounds.
For clarity’s sake, it is worth describing the mathematical path to advancement: their first task would be beating Recco by four goals, plus hoping for the Italian giants to lose to Hannover at home on the last day (or for Fradi to lose to Waspo on Tuesday and Mladost to secure a six-goal win in Budapest on Day 6).
It is probably fair to say that not even the Mladost camp believes in either scenario.
This match should serve as preparation for the endgame in their domestic league, while Recco may also view it as a serious battleground where they can regain their composure after their heavy loss to Fradi.
That game highlighted the problems they have in defence, which seems to have weakened after the World Cup break in mid-April, and this issue must be addressed with one month to go until the Final 4.
“Reaching the Champions League Final 4 in Malta is one of our main goals,” said Recco goalie Gianmarco Nicosia. “That’s why we’ll go to Zagreb determined to come away with important points.
“We know we’re facing a very tough team at their home pool, and it’s definitely going to be an intense match.
“They’ve already beaten top-level teams like Olympiacos and Radnicki in front of their fans, so it will be an even more difficult challenge for us compared to the first game in our group, where we managed to impose our style of play from the very beginning.
“I think our defensive approach will make the biggest difference. They have outstanding offensive quality on both sides of the pool, with top-class shooters.
“We’ll pay special attention to players like Kharkov, their left-hander, while on the other side we’ll also need to contain the Croatian players, as well as Radulovic, who’s young but extremely strong.”
Group A
(Wednesday 13 May)
20.30: AN Brescia (ITA) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
Head-to-head: 4-8 (1d)
Day 2: 11-14. 2023-24:12-17, 12-13. 2021-22: 8-5, 8-7. 2018-19: 7-8 (quarterfinal). 2017-18: 6-13, 6-7. 2016-17: 4-8, 13-10, 8-5 (5-6th places). 2014-15: 9-9, 6-8.
Beating Novi Beograd in Piraeus threw Olympiacos a lifeline, but their job is far from finished.
The Greeks’ next trip takes them to Brescia, the pool where anything is possible.
Here, the Italians managed to upset NBG, which kept them in the race. However, their last game in Barceloneta was anything but promising.
Brescia have barely been thrashed by 11 goals in any game, still, that heavy defeat would not matter if the Italians could recover and come up with another strong performance at home.
At the same time, an away win might secure Olympiacos’ Final 4 berth, provided Novi don’t take all three points against Barceloneta.
There is a good chance that this encounter turns into the standout clash of the round, a hotly contested battle where the decision comes down to the final possessions.
“Olympiacos are a very strong team with great centre-forwards and great shooting ability,” Brescia coach Alessandro Bovo told European Aquatics.
“They’ve built a Final 4 team with the dream of winning it. We expect a very tough match, and we’re ready to get into the pool and fight as a real team. We want to make up for the poor performance against Barceloneta.”
Mario Del Basso echoed his coach’s words. “We rewatched the last match against them, and we definitely conceded too many goals, just like against Barceloneta.
“We’re really hungry to get back to winning ways, but we know we’ll have to play perfectly from the first minute to the last.
“We’re very focused on the final stretch of the season. They’re all great games to play, but they’re also tough. We need to show grit and determination right from the start.”
Group A
(Wednesday 13 May)
20.30: Novi Beograd Technomanija (SRB) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
Head-to-head: 3-1 (1d)
Day 2: 16-19. 2024-25: 10-10, pen: 5-4 (semi-final). 2022-23: 8-8, pen: 4-2 (semi-final). 2021-22: 12-12, 11-9
After downing Olympiacos on the opening day, Novi Beograd seemed to have stepped onto the path again that leads to the Final 4.
Then came three away matches in a row in which the team played well, but not well enough to prevail by the end of each contest.
They came close to grabbing points in Barceloneta, Brescia and Piraeus as well, but left the pool empty-handed after all three clashes.
However, not everything is lost. NBG can still make it, but they need two home wins, but neither will come easy.
Facing CNAB in a game where the Spaniards have nothing to lose is a tricky set-up.
Barceloneta have already reached safe waters. Only Olympiacos may overtake them for first place, but the Greeks would need an eight-goal win at home on the last day – besides beating Brescia in the other pool this Wednesday – which is not a realistic scenario.
A team playing without any pressure can be dangerous, as they may simply go out and enjoy their water polo, or they can become easy prey with a less intense inner fire.
CNAB head coach Fran Fernandez shared some wise thoughts heading into the game.
“We arrived in Belgrade having already achieved our first goal – securing a spot in the Final 4.
“Our next objective is to mathematically secure first place in the group.
“What really matters, however, is continuing to play with the same hunger for victory, with joy and the desire to play good water polo, to keep growing as a team, and to maintain a high level of confidence.
“As an added incentive, we have the opportunity to beat NBG in their own pool – something our club has never achieved before.
“It’s a tough venue and we face a team that must win to keep their qualification hopes alive, and we know exactly what that means.
“We need to be mentally prepared. I just hope that, with the quality of players in the water, water polo and fair play will prevail – and that the match doesn’t turn into a festival of exclusions like in the first leg.”
Barceloneta’s Italian ace Alessandro Velotto added: “For sure, Novi are a good team. We have the last two games to prepare for the Final 4, so they will be important for us, and also important for our championship final.
“We are ready to fight because it will not be easy, for sure. They need the points to reach the finals, so it will be a battle, but we are ready, we are in good shape, and we will go there to show our best water polo.”
This is something NBG’s players do not want to see, and they are ready to stop CNAB’s offence from sparkling, according to Miroslav Perkovic.
“We were defeated in that first match in Barcelona and now we are highly motivated to take revenge. CNAB are extremely demanding opponents, and a very tough game awaits.
“They have outstanding individual players, with a roster made up mostly of Spanish national team players and several top-class Hungarian internationals.
“For years, they have nurtured their recognisable style of play with a very high tempo. They are extremely mobile both in defence and offence.
“They are truly an excellent team, but in that first match we showed we can compete with them. It certainly won’t be easy, but we definitely have a chance.
“We must do everything we can to stop their best attackers. If we are solid in defence, that will give us additional confidence in attack. I believe in a positive result, especially since we are playing in our own pool.”
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
