A strong first half from Recco was enough for the Italian giants to sink Novi Beograd in Belgrade in the opening round of the men’s Champions League Group Stage, while Zodiac CNAB finally broke Sabadell’s resistance in the third quarter to claim all the points in a pulsating Spanish derby. Elsewhere, AN Bresica edged past Primorac Kotor with a last-minute winner, and FTC sent out a youthful squad against CSM Oradea, but the result was just the same – a comfortable home victory for the title-holders.

2025/26 Champions League Men
Group Stage, Day 1
Wednesday 15 October 2025

Group B

VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 8-12 Pro Recco (ITA)

Group C

FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 19-11 CSM Oradea (ROU)
VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 13-14 AN Brescia (ITA)

Group D

KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) 12-16 Zodiac CNAB (ESP)

Group B

VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 8-12 Pro Recco (ITA)

Novi Beograd were able to climb back after Recco’s devastating start, but the Italians’ strength prevailed in the end.

Recco didn’t hold back anything, and it was a question of time when the Serbian defence would crash under their tremendous pressure. It happened after three and a half minutes and in 80 seconds two more came.

This had an impact on NBG’s levels, as they missed two more man-ups (after failing to put away the first two soon after the start) and with 1:11 from time, Max Irving buried a penalty for 0-4.

However overwhelming Recco’s performance was, the Serbs managed to settle for the second period, shutting out the Italians for almost five minutes, while they could pull two back to have a fresh start to the game.

Francesco Condemi hit one from action to halt NBG’s comeback and a bit later Irving put away an extra to reset the four-goal gap, so at half-time, Recco led 2-6, despite two of their best shooters, Francesco di Fulvio and Alvaro Granados struggling to outsmart the hosts’ goalie Milan Glusac.

The third quarter began in a similar way to the second, but Recco’s offence didn’t click and this time the Serbs managed to stage a 3-0 run to cut the gap to a single goal.

Still, Recco soon had the answers, after Granados’ attempt was saved, Nicholas Presciutti buried the second shot in a six on five, and Matteo Iocchi Gratta also netted a man-up 1:37 later for 5-8. The Serbs missed their six on fives before the break, and a third one early in the fourth before Vasilje Martinovic pulled one back from an extra.

And NBG had a fifth man-up in a row, but wasted that one too, which was crucial, as Andrea Fondelli hit one from action and added another one from their next possession for 6-10, which closed down the contest.

A further 34 seconds later, Condemi converted an extra and a couple of late goals of NBG were only late boosters for the fans before they headed home.

Group C

FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 19-11 CSM Oradea (ROU)

No Argyropoulos, no Mandic, no Manhercz, no Vogel – no problem. Perhaps FTC-Telekom are the only team as of now that have enough depth to field a side which is still strong enough to down most of their potential rivals in a Champions League match.

At least half of the team were kind of Fradi Jr, though at the beginning, the title-holders also relied on their seasoned greats as the Romanians stunned the locals a bit as they jumped to a 1-3 lead.

What came next was nothing new, a 10-1 blast from the Hungarians. What might have been a bit surprising was that they were able to deliver such a performance without the world class players listed above.

The Romanians were constantly denied in man-ups, as the Hungarians’ defence started clicking, and up front their individual skills also began to dominate. It was also a fine team effort as seven players managed to score in the first half, including 18 year-old Bator Pajan, who hit his first-ever Champions League goal 18 seconds from time, after a really brave move.

So, even with this young line-up, Fradi had already completed their mission by half-time, as they led 11-4. The second half was more balanced, mostly because the level of defending dropped at the home end.

After conceding four in the first half, they let in seven in the second, though they still added eight and stopped at 19 at the end.

In the absence of their scoring machines, an unusual hero led FTC’s charge, as Zsombor Vismeg, who on other days is a tough brick in their defensive wall, hammered in five goals.

Group C

VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) 13-14 AN Brescia (ITA)

Brescia kicked off their campaign by bagging three really important points in Kotor. It was a toe-to-toe battle, where the Italians seemed to get the upper hand after three periods, but they needed some heroic defending before they could score the winner at the end.

Two fine action goals from Brescia opened the match, but Kotor replied with three straight hits, then Mateo Giri put away an extra, so it was even after eight minutes.

The visitors took the lead again in the second, and they went 4-5 up, but Primorac came up with another 3-0 blast and had a six on five to build a three-goal lead, but Japanese Yosuke Inaba’s ball was well blocked and Tomasso Gianazza finished off Brescia’s next attack.

Instead of 8-5, soon it was 7-7, and Alessandro Balzarini wasn’t bothered that his first attempt was saved, as he let the ball fly from the perimeter after the corner to level things up 56 seconds before the half-time buzzer.

Trends didn’t change at the beginning of the third, as the lead was changing hands again, Luka Murisic buried an extra, then Balzarini scored twice in a span of 43 seconds, but Marko Mrsic equalised from a six on five for 9-9.

Midway through this quarter it was still 10-10, then Vlado Popadic buried a penalty, then the Montenegrins had four shots without further damage, and Filippo Ferrero managed to find the back of the net with 0:06 on the clock to double Brescia’s lead at 10-12.

Still, the thriller was back, as the hosts had a stormy start and levelled it up in 63 seconds. Brescia forced a penalty, Ferrero made no mistake, then they killed a man-down, but later Mrsic’s fine wristshot sneaked in with 2:32 to go for 13-13.

An enormous battle ensued to score the winner, with both sides having some chances – the Montenegrins also a six on five – but Tomasso Baggi Necchi came up with back-to-back saves.

With just 44 seconds remaining, Popadic took the ball on the 6m line and blasted it in – indeed, it was a Montenegrin who shattered his fellow compatriots’ dreams, as this proved to be the winning shot.

Group D

KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) 12-16 Zodiac CNAB (ESP)

After back-to-back thrashings of their local arch-rivals in the season-opening domestic finals, CNAB found the going a lot harder in the Champions League, as they struggled to fend off Sabadell’s early surges. However, a monstrous 0-7 rush by Barceloneta decided the outcome.

Though the hosts took the lead and CNAB needed almost four minutes to open their account, the favourites quickly added two more from their next two possession to set the tone. But the game didn’t take the same path as their recent two encounters.

Instead, Sabadell came up with a 3-0 run and with their crowd behind them, it became clear this clash would be different.

Though Vince Vigvari and Alessandro Velotto hit two in 41 seconds, Federico Panerai put away an extra and Kanstantin Averka also beat Unai Aguirre for the second time.

CNAB were struggling, though a nicely played man-up, finished off by Gergely Burian, brought them back at least to even by half-time at 7-7.

And their suffering continued as Martin Famera hit one from the perimeter 28 seconds into the third and a bit later Sergi Cabanas added another from action for 9-7.

Coach Joaquin Colet felt his players were losing their composure, but his time-out call didn’t help much.

CNAB lifted their game, especially in defence, as Aguirre started delivering saves, they killed two man-downs, while a couple of precise plays in man-ups put them ahead once more.

And their reward was two more somewhat lucky goals inside the last 21 seconds. First, Roger Tahull swept the ball in from the water which somehow fell in front of him in a dying possession, then Velotto’s 20m shot got a wicked deflection on a block to beat the goalie and the buzzer too. It was a monstrous 0-6 rush which ultimately decided the match.

Sabadell’s fire was extinguished almost completely. They missed a six on four, before conceding the seventh straight goal, by Unai Biel, again from action.

Averka finally converted a penalty to end the home side’s 8:30 minute-long scoreless phase, but Sanahuja also hit one from a man-up and Velotto also replied to Averka’s next hit, so CNAB delivered the expected win, but it came harder perhaps, than expected.

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics