Novi Beograd recorded its ninth win in the 2025 Champions League, convincingly beating Jadran Split 17:8 in the third round of the Champions League Quarter Final Stage.
The Serbian champion kept the top spot in Group A, while Marseille holds 2nd place now after an excellent performance against Olympiacos at home, winning 12:7.
Both winning teams are progressing toward the Final Four in Malta. However, three rounds remain in the group stage, so the competition is far from over. Nonetheless, Novi Beograd and Marseille have done a great job so far.
2024/25 Champions League, Quarter Final Stage, Day 3, Group A
Novi Beograd – Jadran Split 17:8 (4:3, 5:1, 3:4, 5:0)
Novi Beograd: Cuk 4, Gladovic 3, Vucinic 3, Lukic 3, Martinovic 2, Gbadamassi 1, Skoumpakis 1.
Jadran Split: Butic 3, Marinic-Kragic 2, Cuzzi 1, Zovic 1, Duzevic 1.
Novi Beograd got off to a great start, scoring four goals out of its first five possessions. Within less than five minutes, the hosts led 4:1. Zvonimir Butic of Jadran quickly netted two goals in just 50 seconds, bringing the visitors within one goal by the end of the first quarter (3:4). Many assumed the game would follow the trend of the previous two encounters between these teams, where Novi Beograd emerged victorious in penalty shootouts. However, today’s match produced an utterly different storyline.
The Serbian champions’ defense was nearly flawless in the second period. Goalkeeper Milan Glusac, a key player in their win in Piraeus, made several outstanding saves. Meanwhile, his teammates excelled in the attack, and Novi Beograd went to 8:3. Cuzzi finally broke Jadran’s scoring drought that lasted over eight minutes, making it 4:8, but Milos Cuk quickly responded with a penalty shot, restoring Novi Beograd’s five-goal advantage before halftime.
Luka Gladovic (Novi Beograd) Photo by Dusan Sandic
Jadran narrowed the gap to three in the early stage of the third period (6:9). After a time-out called by the hosts’ coach, Gocic, Novi Beograd held back Jadran’s comeback attempt, scoring two quick goals for 11:6. Still, the third period belonged to the Croats. Novi Beograd had a solid 12:8 advantage before the final eight minutes, but nothing was decided yet. However, Novi Beograd left no chance to Jadran. The hosts ruled the field in the fourth period. The Split-based team, still with no points, enters the second half of the Quarter Final Stage with really slim chances of reaching the Final Four in Malta.
Marseille – Olympiacos 12:7 (2:2,5:3, 2:1, 3:1)
Marseille: Angyal 3, Crousillat 3, Vernoux 3, Bouet 2, Prlainovic 1.
Olympiacos: Dimou 2, Loncar 1, Zalanki 1, Buslje 1, Alafragkis 1, Kakaris 1
Marseille has been a regular participant in the Champions League for years; however, the French team has never qualified for the semifinals. Based on their performance against Olympiacos, this season might mark a milestone for Marseille. The team seems to have matured enough to reach the Top 4 in Europe, as it outperformed Olympiacos in every aspect of the water polo game.
The match began with a series of quick goals. Olympiacos took a one-goal lead twice in the first three minutes, but the French team equalized shortly after each time. Early in the second period, Danial Angyal put the home side in front with an action goal, scoring for 3:2. From that moment onward, Marseille controlled the match. Although Olympiacos managed to tie the game at 3:3 and 4:4, Marseille regained the lead. In the 15th minute, the hosts established a two-goal advantage for the first time when their captain, Ugo Crousillat, converted a man-up opportunity to make it 6:4. Alafragkis then scored from a 6 on 5 at the other end of the pool, but Crousillat responded by closing the first half with a goal from the 5-meter line, so Marseille entered the second half with a 7:5 lead.
The French maintained their momentum after the break and increased their lead to three goals when Bouet scored on a counterattack to make it 8:5. Midway through the quarter, Buslje brought Olympiacos closer at 6:8. The hosts faced some difficulties at the end of the quarter when they lost one of their best players, Danial Angyal, due to personal fouls and missed a penalty shot. Olympiacos failed to capitalize on this situation, and Marseille regained its rhythm. In the final minute of the quarter, Vernoux extended the lead to 9:6. Andrija Prlainovic pushed the margin to four in Marseille’s first possession of the fourth period. The contest was practically over when Bouet scored to make it 11:6 with just 3:20 remaining on the clock, leaving no way back for Olympiacos.
Standings: 1. Novi Beograd 9, 2. Marseille 6, 3. Olympiacos 3, 4. Jadran Split 0.
Group B (March 19)
Standings: 1. Ferencvaros 6, 2. Barceloneta 3, 3. Savona 3, 4. Oradea o.
All matches start at 20.00 CET. Follow the live scores and the statistics on Total Waterpolo Arena
