After winning the first leg 19-16, it’s advantage CN Marseille as they arrive in Croatia for the decisive second leg on Saturday. However, the French giants will know the gap could have been bigger, as a late rally from VK Jadran Split saw their seven-goal lead cut to just three. Those late goals – including three from captain Zvonimir Butic – keep Jure Marelja’s side firmly in contention, and this weekend’s hosts will be aiming to pick up where they left off two weeks ago in the south of France.
2025/26 Euro Cup Men
Final, 2nd Leg
Saturday 6 June
(Local time shown)
20:15: VK Jadran Split (CRO) v CN Marseille (FRA)
(1st Leg: 16-19)
Marseille – inspired by their usual passionate full home crowd – looked to be cruising to a huge win at home against Jadran in the first leg of the Euro Cup final two weeks ago.
After Loren Fatovic’s four-minute exclusion at the end of the third quarter, the French giants took full advantage, moving seven goals clear early in the fourth quarter, 18-11, and the Croatians were in serious trouble.
Marseille captain Ugo Crousillat and Thomas Vernoux were causing most of the damage and ended the night with four goals each, but Jadran started to hit back once they returned to full strength.
A late flurry of goals, including three from captain Zvonimir Butic – who also finished with a four-goal haul – keeps the Croatians’ hopes of lifting the trophy in front of their fans this weekend alive.
Jadran coach Jure Marelja is confident his team can complete the fightback in their home pool, and wants his players to not rush their play as they look to overturn the deficit.
“We don’t need to recover three goals in the first quarter,” he said. “What matters is that we play freely, with energy, emotion and belief in what we’re doing.
“The match is long. The deficit can be erased at any stage of the game. The most important thing is to bring energy into the pool from the first minute and keep pushing until the very end.”
Missing Fatovic – who is suspended for two games after his red card in Marseille – is a huge blow to their chances, but Marelja firmly believes his squad still has the quality to triumph.
“With all due respect to everything Loren has given this club and all the success we’ve achieved together, I don’t believe his absence will be a decisive factor.
“The most important thing is that all 14 players in our squad believe what I believe – that we can win this match.”
Jadran’s Dusan Matkovic is equally confident it will be his team celebrating after the final buzzer on Saturday.
“We’ve invested enormous effort and hard work throughout the season, and now we’re approaching the moment we’ve all been working for,” he said.
“I’m optimistic about the end of the season and I believe we can achieve what we’re aiming for.”
“The most important thing is to play possession by possession, defence by defence, attack by attack,” added Jadran’s Ivan Zovic, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg.
“We need to put Marseille under pressure from the very beginning.
“We’re playing at home and we have to use that to our advantage. I believe our greatest strengths are our defence and transition game, and that’s how we should try to break them down.”
In the French camp, captain Crousillat has called on his players to finish the job in Split and lift the trophy on Saturday night, but his words also came with a warning.
“I’m confident because we have all the qualities needed to win this trophy,” he said. “I’m also determined, as winning a European cup with my club is something I deeply aspire to achieve.
“At the same time, I remain cautious because Jadran are a very strong team, and we know the atmosphere there will be unique and challenging. We will need to be mentally prepared to face that challenge.”
“We have one more game to give everything we’ve got and fight for this European title,” added Marseille coach Milos Scepanovic.
“We will be ready, determined and fully committed to meeting this challenge until the very end.”
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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
