The time for the start of a new season of the European clubs’ competitions has come. From Friday to Sunday, the qualifications for the Champions League Group Stage will take place in three pools.
Since European Aquatics reduced the number of participating teams in the qualifications, only ten teams will play (the runners-up in the top ten national leagues). Six will qualify for the Group Stage (the top two from each qualification group). The remaining four will continue the European season in the Euro Cup qualifications.
More than half of the participating clubs will go through, but it’s challenging to predict the outcome, as there are no clear underdogs.
Champions League Qualifications (September 19 – 21)
GROUP A (Belgrade): Novi Beograd, Primorac Kotor, Steaua Bucharest, Pays d’Aix
The group in Belgrade is the only one with four teams. Interestingly, all four enter the season with new head coaches.
Montenegrin Petar Radanovic will make his debut on Novi Beograd’s bench. Greek Athanasios Kechagias took over Primorac. Steaua is guided by Serb Djordje Filipovic (who was Novi Beograd’s assistant coach for several years). Alexandre Colin, who had been an assistant coach at Pays d’Aix for years, was promoted to head coach this summer. He replaced his namesake Alexandre Donsimoni, who retired after 19 years at the helm of the team.
Steaua and Pays d’Aix have already started the season. Steaua failed to retain the Romanian Cup and lost to Oradea in the national Super Cup. Pays d’Aix defeated Sete in the first round of the French League last weekend.
Novi Beograd and Primorac haven’t played official matches yet, but they met at a tournament in Belgrade two weeks ago. The Serbian team recorded a 14:11 win.
On paper, Novi Beograd, the runner-up in the 2025 Champions League, and Primorac, the 2009 European champion, are the favorites. However, neither team can count on easy victories. Novi Beograd has significantly rejuvenated its roster after securing its third silver medal in the Champions League. Meanwhile, Primorac has signed several experienced players this summer, including Inaba, goalkeeper Risticevic and Vidovic. Still, neither Steaua nor Pays d’Aix is coming to Belgrade just to participate; they are aiming for the Group Stage berths as well.
Friday, September 19: Novi Beograd – Pays d’Aix (18.45), Primorac – Steaua (20.45).
Even six out of 10 clubs that will play in the qualifications enter the season with new head coaches.
Besides the four mentioned in Group A, there are also: a returnee on Mladost’s bench, Zoran Bajic, and Marin Restovic (Spandau 04).
As for the remaining four clubs, Alessandro Bovo will lead Brescia for an impressive 18th consecutive season, and Quim Colet continues his long mission as Sabadell head coach. Former teammates at the Serbian national team, Vladimir Vujasinovic and Slobodan Nikic, continue to guide Vouliagmeni and Vasas, respectively.
GROUP B (Sabadell): Sabadell, Vasas, Spandau 04.
Sabadell, the 2022 Euro Cup winner, will welcome two clubs with rich histories. Both visiting teams have a lot of European trophies in their treasuries. But, Spandau hasn’t played a significant role on the European stage for long, while Vasas won the Euro Cup two years ago.
The Spaniards and the Hungarians said goodbye to several experienced players this summer. Olympic champions Nikola Dedovic and Sava Randjelovic left Vasas, among others. Fran Valera, Javier Bustos, Vincenzo Renzuto, Alex Bowen and some others departed Sabadell. But the second-best Spanish club still has several world champions on its roster, including a returnee, Sergi Cabanas.
The hosts and the Hungarians will likely battle for the top spot, but Spandau isn’t a team to underestimate.
Friday, September 19: Spandau 04 – Vasas at 19.00 (CET). Sabadell bye
GROUP C (Zagreb): Mladost Zagreb, Brescia, Vouliagmeni
The group in Zagreb is the most balanced in the qualification stage. Mladost, a seven-time European champion and the 2025 Euro Cup semifinalist, along with Brescia and Vouliagmeni—both of which have reached the Champions League semifinals in recent years—realistically have a chance to qualify for the Group Stage.
Mladost boasts the most experienced team among the three. Seven players from the Zagreb-based squad were part of Croatia’s roster at the 2025 World Championships, and six of them earned a gold medal at the 2024 World Championships.
Brescia has a younger team compared to last season, notably losing one of their leaders, Max Irving, who has departed from the club. Vouliagmeni also experienced departures of several key players during the latest transfer window. However, they have replaced them mainly with young talent, resulting in a strong team.
Considering the rosters, Mladost appears to be slightly closer to securing 1st place than its rivals, but both the Italians and the Greeks also have high potential to reach the Group Stage.
Day 1, Friday, September 19: Vouliagmeni – Brescia (19.00 CET), Mladost bye.
Group Stage, groups
The Champions League Group Stage will begin on October 14/15.
Group A: Olympiacos (GRE), Radnicki (SRB), Winner of QR Gr. B, Winner of QR Gr.C.
Group B: Pro Recco (ITA), Jadran Split (CRO), Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE), 2nd-placed of QR Gr. A.
Group C: Ferencvaros (HUN), Oradea (ROU), Winner of QR Group A, 2nd-placed of QR Gr. C.
Group D: Barceloneta (ESP), Marseille (FRA), Waspo 98 Hannover (GER), 2nd-placed of QR Gr. B.
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