NBG, Recco, FTC, CNAB push to keep pole position
Playing at home, Novi Beograd, Recco, Ferencvaros, and Barceloneta are all well-positioned to further strengthen their pole positions in their respective groups by winning in the previous two rounds.
The current leaders of these groups are well-prepared to maintain their lead as the group stage reaches its halfway mark on Tuesday and Wednesday. This is not surprising, considering that three of the four sides were medalists from last season: Recco, Novi Beograd, and Barceloneta, along with Ferencvaros, which secured medals in three consecutive editions before finishing 6th last May.
In Group A, the runner-up, Novi Beograd, secured a crucial victory in Brescia and now faces Sabadell at home – a seemingly easier task, although the Spanish team also had an excellent run so far. Meanwhile, Brescia is faced with a must-win match in Bucharest, as they only managed a shootout victory in the first
Title-holder Recco was more than convincing in Dubrovnik and now they can complete their ‘first-half’ run by beating Olympiacos. That’s going to be their toughest challenge so far, but they are the favourites when playing at home, even against the strong Greek team. To retain some hope of making the cut, Jug should beat Dinamo in Tbilisi, which should not be a problem for the Croatians, as the Georgians suffered heavy defeats against Recco and Olympiacos.
Another big match of the round is the clash of the Hungarian and Croatian champions. Both Ferencvaros and Jadran Split claimed two wins so far in Group C. Three more points would more-or-less secure a quarter-final berth for the triumphant side on Wednesday. After a pair of losses, Jadran Herceg Novi and Crvena Zvezda meet in a crucial encounter where the winner will gain some advantage in the race for third place and keeps slim hope to make the quarters.
Another win for Barceloneta in Group D would mean a clear path to the quarter-finals, especially after Marseille’s shocking loss in Berlin. The French should go for an upset in Barcelona but based on their poor defensive performance in the German capital, they would need a miraculous improvement to have a shot at a positive result against last season’s bronze medallists. On the contrary, Spandau can go for another big victory. Vouliagmeni shall be a really tough opponent as the Greeks played two extremely close matches, though lost both narrowly. If Vouliagmeni, a surprise semi-finalist last May, could land a win, it would really cause a big stir in this group.
Champions League, Group State, Round 3
(all times are CET)
Group A (Tuesday)
17.30 Steaua Bucharest (ROU) v AN Brescia (ITA)
19.45 Novi Beograd (SRB) v Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP)
Group B (Tuesday)
17.00 Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
19.00 Pro Recco (ITA) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
Group C (Wednesday)
19.00 Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE) v Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
20.45 FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v Jadran Split (CRO)
Group D (Wednesday)
19.30 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v Vouliagmeni NC (GRE)
20.00 Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v CN Marseille (FRA)
Champions League, Group State, Round 3
(all times are CET)
Group A (Tuesday)
Steaua Bucharest (ROU) v AN Brescia (ITA)
First two rounds:
STE: 7-19 v Novi Beograd (away), 8-11 v Sabadell (home)
BRE: 10-9 (pen) v Sabadell (a), 8-13 v NBG (h)
Head-to-head: 0-2
2018-19: 5-8, 9-13
Novi Beograd (SRB) v Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP)
First two rounds:
NBG: 19-7 v Steaua (h), 13-8 v Brescia (a)
SAB: 9-10 (pen) v Brescia (h), 11-8 v Steaua (a)
Head-to-head: 2-0
2022-23: 16-11, 8-6
Group B (Tuesday)
Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
First two rounds:
DIN: 6-15 v Recco (a), 6-19 v Olympiacos (h)
JUG: 15-16 (pen) v Olympiacos (a), 7-14 v Recco (h)
Head-to-head:
Never met in CL
Pro Recco (ITA) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
First two rounds:
REC: 15-6 v Dinamo (h), 14-7 v Jug (a)
OLY: 16-15 (pen) v Jug (h), 19-6 v Dinamo (a)
Head-to-head: 5-3
2022-23: 10-9, 7-9. 2020-21: 14-8, 13-6. 2018-19, semi-final: 11-12. 2017-18, final: 7-8. 2014-15: 12-8, 17-12
Group C (Wednesday)
Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE) v Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
First two rounds:
JHN: 7-9 v FTC (a), 10-11 v Split (h)
CRV: 13-16 v Jadran SP (a), 6-16 v FTC (h)
Head-to-head:
Never met in CL
FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v Jadran Split (CRO)
First two rounds:
FTC: 9-7 v Jadran HN (h), 16-6 v Zvezda (a)
JSP: 16-13 v Crvena Zvezda (h), 11-10 v Herceg Novi (a)
Head-to-head: 1-1
2021-22: 14-8, 7-9
Group D (Wednesday)
Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v Vouliagmeni NC (GRE)
First two rounds:
SPA: 6-16 v Barceloneta (a), 13-10 v Marseille (h)
VOU: 13-15 v Marseille (a), 11-12 v Barceloneta (h)
Head-to-head:
Never met in CL
Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v CN Marseille (FRA)
First two rounds:
BAR: 16-6 v Spandau (h), 12-11 v Vouliagmeni (a)
MAR: 15-13 v Vouliagmeni (h), 10-13 v Spandau (a)
Head-to-head:
Never met in CL
