πŸ›’ Shop the best Water Polo Gear now! β†’
πŸ€‘ 10% off on selected briefs & merch πŸ€‘
Support the Total Waterpolo mission!
TW-Brandmark-Whitex2
  • News
  • SINGAPORE 2025
    • Men’s tournament
    • Women’s tournament
  • Results

    National

    • Montenegro
      • Montenegrin League 2024/25
      • Montenegrin Cup 24/25
      • Montenegrin League 23/24
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic League Men 24/25
      • Nordic Trophy Men 2024/25
      • Nordic League Women 2024/25
      • Nordic League 23/24
      • Qualifications
    • Slovenia
      • Slovenian League 24/25
      • Slovenian League 23/24
    • Hong Kong
      • Hong Kong 24/25 – Women
      • Hong Kong 24/25 – Men
    • Austria
      • Austrian League 2025 – Men
      • Austrian League 23/24 – Women
      • Austrian League 23/24 – Men
    • Lithuania
      • Lithuanian League ’24
    • Latvia
      • Latvian Championship 2024
    • France
      • French League 23/24 – Men
    • Spain
      • Spanish League 23/24 – Men
    • Hungary
      • Hungarian League 23/24 – Men
    • Italy
      • Italian League 23/24 – Men

    International

    • SINGAPORE 2025
      • Women
      • Men
    • LEN Champions League
      • Men 24/25
      • Men 23/24
    • World Cup 2025
      • Men
    • AWL
      • Alpe Waterpolo League 2024/25
      • Alpe Waterpolo League 2023/24
      • Alpe Waterpolo League 2022/23
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic League Men 2024/25
      • Nordic Trophy Men 2024/25
      • Nordic League Women 2024/25
      • Nordic League 2023/24
      • Nordic Trophy 2023/24
    • NCAA
      • Men’s Finals 2024
      • Men’s Finals 2023
    • Oympic Games
      • Tokyo 2020
        • Women
        • Men
      • Paris 2024
        • Olympic Tournament – Men
        • Olympic Tournament – Women
    • World Championships
      • Doha 2024
        • Women
        • Men
      • Fukuoka 2023
        • Women
        • Men
      • Budapest 2022
        • Women
        • Men
    • European Championships
      • Eindhoven 2024 – Women
      • Zagreb / Dubrovnik 2024 – Men
      • Split 2022
        • Women
        • Men
      • Budapest 2020

    Amateur & Junior Divisions

    • Summer Cup 2025
    • Nordic League U16 2024/25
    • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U10
    • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U12
    • Masters Cup 2025

    Total Waterpolo Arena livescoring app: Stay in the game with real-time updates and stats for your next tournament.

    Contact Us
    • Champions League
      • Season 24/25
      • Season 23/24
      • Season 22/23
    • International
      • World Cup 2025 Men
      • European Championships
        • Eindhoven 2024 – Women
        • Croatia 2024 – Men
        • Split 2022
          • Women
          • Men
        • Budapest 2020
        • Barcelona 2018
      • World Championships
        • Doha 2024
          • Women
          • Men
        • Fukuoka 2023
          • Women
          • Men
        • Budapest 2022
          • Women
          • Men
      • Olympics
        • Tokyo 2020
          • Women
          • Men
        • Paris 2024
          • Women
          • Men
      • NCAA
        • NCAA Men’s Finals 2024
        • NCAA Men’s Finals 2023
      • Pacific Cup 2024
    • National
      • Montenegro
        • Montenegrin League 2024/25
        • Montenegrin Cup 2024/25
      • Austria
        • Austrian League 2025 – Men
        • Austrian League 2024 – Women
        • Austrian League 2024 – Men
      • Nordic League
        • Nordic League Men 2024/25
        • Nordic League Women 2024/25
        • Nordic League U16 2024/25
        • Nordic Trophy Men 2024/25
        • Nordic League 2023/24
        • Nordic Trophy 2023/24
      • Hong Kong
        • Hong Kong Women’s League 24/25
        • Hong Kong Men’s League 24/25
      • AWL
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2024/25
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2023/24
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2022/23
      • Slovenia
      • Lithuania
      • Latvia
      • Hungarian League 2023 – Men
      • French League 2023 – Men
      • Spanish League 2023 – Men
      • Italian League 2023 – Men
    • Masters
      • Masters Cup 2025
      • VAL League 2024/25
      • Sabac Masters 2024
      • Masters Cup 2024
      • Budva Masters 2024
    • Junior
      • DSV 98 Cup 2025
      • Summer Cup 2025
      • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U12
      • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U10
      • HaBaWaBa Spain Plus 2025
      • Next Generation 2024 – Men
      • Next Generation 2024 -Women
      • HaBaWaBa Easter 2024 (U10)
      • HaBaWaBa Easter 2024 (U12)
      • HabaWaba Spain Plus 2024
      • Plejade
      • Dobri Dupin
  • Transfers
  • Shop

    WearWaterpoloβ„’ Webshop

    • Webshop
    • Men’s Briefs
    • Women’s Suits
    • Apparel
    • Game Balls
    • About

    Partner up with Total Waterpolo, the leading international water polo network worldwide and take your team gear to the next level. Our products are made to endure the harshest conditions from pro leagues around the world to your local squad rivalries. We can't wait to join your team!

    Get Total Waterpolo for your Team
  • Total Player
    • Total Player 2024
    • Total Player 2023
    • Total Player 2022
    • Total Player 2021
    • Total Player 2020
    • Total Player 2019
    • Total Player 2018
    • Total Player 2017
SINGAPORE 2025
Support Us

Another busy weekend on European stage: Brescia, Dubrovnik and Budapest on spotlight

October 5, 2023

Photo by Slobodan Sandic

If you still haven’t realized how this water polo season β€œcrazy” is, the upcoming weekend will make it clear to you.

The season in the LEN competitions started on September 7 with the first matches of the Men’s Champions League qualifications. Only four weeks later, the 2nd round of the Champions League is on the program.

But that isn’t all regarding the international matches. The Group Phase of the Euro Cup is set to start tomorrow (less than two weeks after the qualifications for this competition), and with it, there will be 16 games of the LEN men’s cups in the next three days. Additionally, this week marks the beginning of the women’s Champions League and the Euro Cup.

Several clubs that started the season in the Champions League qualifications and reached the Euro Cup Group Stage have played eight games on the international stage since September 7. But, there is no time for a rest. Until early December, there will be a lot of action all over Europe – five more rounds in the Champions League Main Stage and six in the LEN Euro Cup Group Phase.

2024 LEN Champions League, Day 2, Preview

The 2nd round of the Champions League brings the encounters between the four teams that were in the first pot of the draw (the top 4 in the LEN Clubs’ Ranking List) and four qualifiers.

Those matches are under the spotlight this week because most of the qualifiers are stronger teams than some clubs that entered the Champions League with wild cards.

The big game in Group A is the clash of Brescia and Novi Beograd. Β Brescia hasn’t shined in the past few weeks. Even though it had a terrible shot percentage (5/25), it earned two points in Sabadell ten days ago. Yesterday, it lost to Savona in Serie A1. Novi Beograd has been dominant in all games this season. However, Brescia will be the first demanding task for the Serbian champion this season. These two clubs are the strongest contenders for the top spot in the group.

Brescia and Novi Beograd have played each other five times in the past two seasons. Brescia won the last duel, played in Italy in April. Before that, Novi Beograd won three matches, and one encounter ended in a draw. .

Angelos Vlachopoulos Photo by Slobodan Sandic

Novi Beograd’s ace Angelos Vlachopoulos, who arrived in Belgrade two years ago from Brescia, says:

Brescia is a very good team. We know how they play. They are fast and aggressive and have a great rhythm throughout the game. However, we are fully prepared for everything that awaits us. We have to do our best to take three points, which will be important.

After a 7:19 loss to Novi Beograd in the opening round, Steaua welcomes Sabadell, hoping it can earn the first point(s) this season, but the Spaniards are the favorites.

Find out more about the teams inΒ Group A

Reigning champion’s chance for revenge in Dubrovnik

Pro Recco, the reigning champion, is set to play against Jug in Dubrovnik in Group B, hoping to collect some old debts.

The two teams haven’t faced each other since the 2021-22 season, where Jug emerged victorious in Dubrovnik with an 11:8 win. Pro Recco didn’t have an opportunity to take revenge as Jug couldn’t travel to Italy for the match in the second half of the season due to Covid cases in the team (Pro Recco got the points with a technical 10:0 score).

In the past decade, Pro Recco played four games against Jug in the “Gruz” pool and celebrated only one win (Jug won two matches, and one encounter ended in a draw). That was in the 2016/17 season (11:8). Sandro Sukno, the current coach of Pro Recco, played for the visiting team then. However, Jug stopped Pro Recco in the semifinals a few months after the encounter in Dubrovnik.

Jug has been performing exceptionally well in the last several weeks, but wasted an opportunity to beat Olympiacos in Piraeus due to a few cheap mistakes.

Sandro Sukno, who started his career at Jug, has great respect for the opponent:

It is an important match but, in any case, not decisive. We will play on a β€œwarm pitch”, where Jug gets excited and certainly plays better than when it goes away. It’s a well-organized team. The match will be difficult. Jug has already played ten games, and we have had three this season, and not at a very high level. Anyway, there are no excuses: we have trained well, analyzed them and will go there to win.

Sandro Sukno Photo by Dj.Kostic/VK Novi Beograd

Olympiacos can’t count on injured Marton Vamos in the match against Dinamo in Tbilisi, but the hosts have slim chances in this match.

Find out more about the teams inΒ Group B

Champions League arrives in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The second round in Group C brings an encounter between two former European champions, Crvena Zvezda and Ferencvaros, in Belgrade. The favorite is the Hungarian champion, with plenty of superstars on the team. Crvena Zvezda, which has played very well since the start of the Champions League qualifications, has nothing to lose. That fact and the home field are the Serbs’ advantage.

Two namesakes, Jadran Herceg Novi and Jadran Split, will face off in Trebinje, the city in the Serbian entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Montenegrins can’t play international matches in their town because the indoor pool in Herceg Novi has been closed since 2021 when the roof collapsed. They picked Trebinje, located 40 km from Herceg Novi, as their home field in the Champions League this season. They are expected to have strong support from the stands, like in Herceg Novi. Both teams have realistic chances to win in this game.

Find out more about the teams inΒ Group C

Last but not least, the encounter between the qualifier and the team from the Top 4 in the LEN’s list will be played in Athens in Group D. It will be a replay of the bronze-medal match in the 2023 Final Eight, Vouliagmeni – Barceloneta. The Spaniards won bronze in Belgrade after beating the Greeks in a shootout (14:13). The two teams met twice in the group stage last season, and Barcelona won 6 points in these encounters (11:7 in Athens and 13:6 in Barcelona). The Spanish champion goes to Athens to win three points again. However, a rejuvenated team of Vouliagmeni, without a few players who were the team’s pillars in the last season, has shown it had potential. Barceloneta can’t expect a leisurely cruise.

Marseille, which beat Vouliagmeni on Day 1, will visit Berlin to play against Spandau. If the French take three points in this match, they will make a big step towards the quarterfinal stage.

Find out more about the teams inΒ Group D

SCHEDULE

Group A, October 6
Brescia – Novi Beograd (20:30), Steaua – Sabadell (18:30 – 17:30 CET)

Standings: 1. Novi Beograd 3, 2. Brescia 2, 3. Sabadell 1, 4. Steaua 0.

Group B. October 6:
Jug AO – Pro Recco (19:00), Dinamo Tbilisi – Olympiacos (19:00 – 17:00 CET)

Standings: 1. Pro Recco 3, 2. Olympiacos 2, 3. Jug 1, 4. Dinamo 0.

Group C, October 7
Crvena Zvezda – Ferencvaros (20:00), Jadran Herceg Novi – Jadran Split (19:00)

Standings: 1. Jadran S 3, 2. Ferencvaros 3, 3. Jadran HN 0, 4. Crvena Zvezda 0.

Group D, October 7
Vouliagmeni – Barceloneta (19:00 – 18:00 CET), Spandau 04 – Marseille (19:30)

Standings: 1. Barceloneta 3, 2. Marseille 3, 3. Vouliagmeni 0, 4. Spandau 04 0.

The 2024 Champions League calendar and live scores

LEN Euro Cup Group Phase, Day 1, Preview

The matches of the first round of the Euro Cup Group Phase will be played in three days, starting from tomorrow.

The schedule is composed so that the teams that finished atop the qualification groups will face each other already in the first round.

Almost all encounters will be derbies and unpredictable, but, without any doubt, an all-Hungarian battle is the highlight of the round.

Honved will welcome the title holder, Vasas. This will be the first encounter between the two teams, which have great tradition, this season. They fought fierce battles in the last season.

Vasas and Honved met five times in the 2023 Hungarian Championships. The visiting team won in each of the five games. The last encounter between the two Budapest-based teams in the 2022-23 season was the third match of the 3rd-place playoffs. Honved defeated Vasas in a penalty shootout, won third place, and earned a spot in the Champions League qualifications.

Honved failed to qualify for the Champions League. Playing in the CHL qualifications may have been a burden rather than a benefit for the team coached by Marton Szivos. The team has played 17 matches since the start of the season in Hungary (in mid-August). Vasas has also been busy during the same period but has played three matches fewer.

Marton Levai Photo: VK Primorac/K.Vulovic

After the 2023 LEN Euro Cup victory, Vasas lost some key players, such as goalkeeper Mitrovic, Brguljan, and Nagaev. However, they have managed to form a powerful team with reinforcements like Levai, S.Rasovic, Burian, and Dedovic under the leadership of head coach Slobodan Nikic. Honved, on the other hand, has added left-handed Viktor Vadovics to their team, but the Ekler brothers (Bendeguz and Zsombor) have been their star performers this season, having scored 34 of the team’s 56 goals in the LEN Euro Cup qualifications in Athens.

The other highlights scheduled for Day 1, are the encounters between Sabac and Primorje, Telimar and Barcelona, Primorac and Trieste,. Savona, the finalist in the previous edition of the LEN Euro Cup, travels to Athens to face Apollon, the winner of the first-ever LEN Challenger Cup.

SCHEDULE

October 6

Group C: Sabac – Primorje (20:15), BVSC – Waspo 98 Hannover (19:00)

October 7

Group A: Solaris – Tourcoing (19:00)

Group B:Honved – Vasas (19:00), Apollon Smyrnis – Savona (15:30 – 14:30 CET)

Group D: Ortigia – Panionios (15:00), Primorac – Trieste (18:00).

October 8

Group A: Telimar – Barcelona (11:00)

The full schedule of the LEN Euro Cup – HERE

More articles about the Champions League

More articles about the LEN Euro Cup

Follow us onΒ Facebook,Β TwitterΒ andΒ Instagram.Β For more video content, subscribe to ourΒ Youtube ChannelΒ andΒ Tik Tok account

Ivan Curcic
Ivan Curcic

Related posts

Photo: Nikola Krstic/European Aquatics

July 13, 2025

Italy shines in final of European U16 Championships and wins gold with perfect record


Read more

Photo: Nikola Krstic/European Aquatics

July 12, 2025

Italian and Hungarian cadets to battle for European crown


Read more

Photo: Nikola Krstic/European Aquatics

July 11, 2025

Italy, Hungary, Croatia, and Montenegro reach semifinals in Istanbul


Read more

SUPPORT US ON PATREON

If you share our passion for water polo worldwide, consider becoming a cherished contributor to our cause, with as little as 5$/month.

SUPPORT US


Custom Team Gear

LEARN MORE

Shop Now

Looking for something?

βœ•
  • Italy shines in final of European U16 Championships and wins gold with perfect record
    July 13, 2025
  • Team USA wins clash of champions and advances to quarterfinals, along with Hungary
    July 13, 2025
  • Italian and Hungarian cadets to battle for European crown
    July 12, 2025
  • Home
  • Water Polo News
  • WearWaterpolo Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Project Superstar – TW Camp
  • BIWPA
  • Custom Team Equipment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
Β© 2021 Total Waterpolo. All Rights Reserved.
✕
CroMasters '24
Support Us
  • News
  • SINGAPORE 2025
    • Men’s tournament
    • Women’s tournament
  • Results
    • Champions League
      • Season 24/25
      • Season 23/24
      • Season 22/23
    • International
      • World Cup 2025 Men
      • European Championships
        • Eindhoven 2024 – Women
        • Croatia 2024 – Men
        • Split 2022
          • Women
          • Men
        • Budapest 2020
        • Barcelona 2018
      • World Championships
        • Doha 2024
          • Women
          • Men
        • Fukuoka 2023
          • Women
          • Men
        • Budapest 2022
          • Women
          • Men
      • Olympics
        • Tokyo 2020
          • Women
          • Men
        • Paris 2024
          • Women
          • Men
      • NCAA
        • NCAA Men’s Finals 2024
        • NCAA Men’s Finals 2023
      • Pacific Cup 2024
    • National
      • Montenegro
        • Montenegrin League 2024/25
        • Montenegrin Cup 2024/25
      • Austria
        • Austrian League 2025 – Men
        • Austrian League 2024 – Women
        • Austrian League 2024 – Men
      • Nordic League
        • Nordic League Men 2024/25
        • Nordic League Women 2024/25
        • Nordic League U16 2024/25
        • Nordic Trophy Men 2024/25
        • Nordic League 2023/24
        • Nordic Trophy 2023/24
      • Hong Kong
        • Hong Kong Women’s League 24/25
        • Hong Kong Men’s League 24/25
      • AWL
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2024/25
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2023/24
        • Alpe Waterpolo League 2022/23
      • Slovenia
      • Lithuania
      • Latvia
      • Hungarian League 2023 – Men
      • French League 2023 – Men
      • Spanish League 2023 – Men
      • Italian League 2023 – Men
    • Masters
      • Masters Cup 2025
      • VAL League 2024/25
      • Sabac Masters 2024
      • Masters Cup 2024
      • Budva Masters 2024
    • Junior
      • DSV 98 Cup 2025
      • Summer Cup 2025
      • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U12
      • HaBaWaBa Spain 2025 – U10
      • HaBaWaBa Spain Plus 2025
      • Next Generation 2024 – Men
      • Next Generation 2024 -Women
      • HaBaWaBa Easter 2024 (U10)
      • HaBaWaBa Easter 2024 (U12)
      • HabaWaba Spain Plus 2024
      • Plejade
      • Dobri Dupin
  • Transfers
  • Shop
  • Total Player
    • Total Player 2024
    • Total Player 2023
    • Total Player 2022
    • Total Player 2021
    • Total Player 2020
    • Total Player 2019
    • Total Player 2018
    • Total Player 2017

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalized content. By clicking "Accept All Cookies" or continuing to browse this website, you consent to the use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT