The series of matches in the Champions League Group B starts on Tuesday. The first of three “bubble” tournaments will be held in Budapest, in the “Duna Arena”. This pool was a venue of this year’s European Championships and the Final Six in 2017.
Reigning European champion Ferencvaros is the home team and the favorite in this group. Besides the only Hungarian club in the 2020/21 Champions League, Brescia (Italy), Jadran Herceg Novi (Montenegro), Barceloneta (Spain), Waspo Hannover (Germany), and Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia) are in this group.
There are only three available tickets for the Final Eight here because Hannover is already qualified for the F8 (June 3 – 5), as a technical host.
2020/21 Champions League, Group B
Two years ago, Ferencvaros returned to the Champions League after almost 20 years of absence. The Budapest-based side played in the 2000/01 Champions League and was eliminated in the 2004/2005 qualifications. Afterward, they couldn’t reach the CHL for years. And the return was great, it couldn’t be better.
Ferencvaros won the 2018/19 Champions League, although it arrived at the Final Eight in Hannover from 4th place in the group. Since then, there haven’t been a lot of changes on the roster. Only three of the players who won the European title in Hannover left the club in the past two years – Slobodan Nikic, Stefan Mitrovic (left in 2019), and Aaron Younger. Meanwhile, Ioannis Fountoulis, Gergo Zalanki, Nicolas Constantin Bicari, and two young players Vendel Vigvari and Gergo Fekete joined “Fradi.”
Ferencvaros, the 2019 European Champion Photo:LEN
Ferencvaros didn’t play in the CHL for years, but the club produced a magnificent series in the past few seasons. In the last three years, Ferencvaros has won ten consecutive trophies – two LEN Euro Cups (2017, 2018), two Hungarian championships (2018 and 2019), Champions League (2019), two LEN Super Cups (2018 and 2019), and three Hungarian Cups (2018, 2019, 2021). In this year’s Hungarian Cup they played without the 2019 Total Player Denes Varga and Gergo Zalanki. The injured players have recovered, and Ferencvaros is awaiting the Champions League with the best team. But, their last matches before the CHL doesn’t promise a lot. Ferencvaros suffered two consecutive losses in the Hungarian derbies(14:15 to Szolnok and 12:16 to OSC). Still, “Fradi “is the favorite for the first position in Group B and the new European crown. The Budapest-based club seeks its 11th and 12th trophy in a row (Hungarian League and Champions League), and won’t leave the throne easily.
The Hungarians’ strongest opponents will be Barceloneta and Brescia.
Barceloneta wasn’t very active in the 2020 transfer market. The Spanish champion kept most of its key players, and led by Felipe Perrone, starts the race for the European title. Barceloneta has missed just one Champions League final tournament since its debut in the semifinals in 2013 (they didn’t qualify in 2017).
Felipe Perrone Photo: Laszlo Balogh/Total Waterpolo
Unlike Ferencvaros and Barceloneta, Brescia did a great job regarding the transfers this summer. One of the most significant transfers in European water polo in 2020 was Maro Jokovic’s move from Olympiacos to Brescia. Besides Croatia’s left-handed goal-getter, several excellent players joined Brescia (Angelos Vlachopoulos, Vincenzo Renzuto, Djordje Lazic, etc). Last season, Brescia didn’t qualify for the Main Round. This season, the Italian club won 1st place in the qualification group in Budapest quite convincingly, playing without Jokovic. Honestly, they had only three matches in the qualifications. Still, Brescia is among the contenders for a high position in the 2021 Champions League.
Maro Jokovic (Brescia) Photo:anbrescia.it
Jadran‘s name often appeared in the articles about water polo transfers this summer. But, not because of the reinforcements. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic affected the Montenegrin champion and several excellent players left the club. Last week, Jadran suffered two defeats in the Montenegrin League. A new, young team of Jadran will have demanding tasks in CHL this season. It’s a great opportunity for young players to gain experience.
Jadran Herceg Novi
The German championship hasn’t started yet, and it won’t start before March, so the lack of official matches will be Waspo Hannover‘s handicap. But, the German champion is already qualified for the F8 as a host, and it will have enough time to get into shape. The experienced team, led by the Montenegrin and Croatian players, might surprise some of the favorites, as it did several times in the past seasons.
Dinamo Tbilisi debuted in the Champions League last season. Before the cancelation of the competition, the Georgian side was 8th in Group B, but Dinamo was able to make problems to the favorites; they even beat Marseille. Dinamo is far from the Final Eight, but it is eager for the challenges. Dinamo accepted the wild card last year, which means that it wants to grow as a team and a club.
Facts and statistics
Ferencvaros Telekom Budapest (Hungary)
Last five completed seasons: 2019: winner; 2015 – 2018 didn’t play in CHL.
2020 (after 9 rounds): 3rd in Group B – 20 pts (114:85)
Best results: Winner (2019), 4x winner of Cup winners’ Cup (1975, 1978, 1980, 1998), 2x Euro Cup winner (2017, 2018).
Transfers, summer 2020
Arrivals: Gergo Fekete (Debrecen), Vendel Vigvari (UVSE).
Departure: Aaron Younger.
Stars to watch: Denes Varga, Ioannis Fountoulis, Nikola Jaksic, Marton Vamos, Gergo Zalanki, Nicolas Constantin-Bicari, Soma Vogel (GK) Mark Kallay,etc.
Head coach: Zsolt Varga.
Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (Spain)
Last five completed seasons: 2019: 4th place; 2018: 3rd; 2017: group stage (4th in Gr. B); 2016: 5th place: 2015: 3rd place (host of F6, 4th place in the group)
2020 (after 10 rounds): 1st in Group A – 25pts (138:100)
Best results: Winner (2014), 3rd (2013, 2015, 2018)
Transfers, summer 2020
Arrivals: Joao Pedro Coimbra (Sant Andreu)
Departures: Miki Linares (retired), Roger Tahull, Pau Linares, Albert Ponferrada.
Stars to watch: Felipe Perrone, Milan Aleksic, Daniel Lopez (GK), Michael Bodegas, Alvaro Granados, Blai Mallarach, Aberto Munarriz, Miguel De Toro, etc.
Head coach: Jesus Martin.
Jadran Herceg Novi (Montenegro)
Last five completed seasons: 2019: eliminated in Qualification Round 3 (runner-up in the Euro Cup); 2018: group stage (5th in Gr. B); 2017: QR 3; 2016: group stage (6th in Gr.A); 2015: QR 2.
2020 (after 10 rounds): 4th in Group A – 13 pts (106:105)
Best results: runner-up (2004), Euro Cup runner‐up (2019).
Transfers, summer 2020
Arrivals: Jake Muscat (Valetta), Luka Murisic (Vojvodina).
Departures: Vladan Spaic , Vlado Popadic, Petar Mijuskovic, Marino Cagalj, FIlip Gardasevic.
Stars to watch: Marko Petkovic, Djuro Radovic, Konstantin Averka, Petar Tesanovic (GK), Dimitrije Obradovic, Jake Muscat, etc.
Head coach: Petar Radanovic.
Waspo 98 Hannover (Germany)
List five completed seasons – 2019: 8th place (host of F8, 6th in Group B), 2018: group stage (6th in Gr. A); 2017: group stage (6th in Gr. B); 2016: eliminated in Qualification Round 3; 2015: QR 2.
2020 (after 10 rounds): 7th in Group B – 6 pts (114:140)
Best results: 8th place (2019)
Transfers, summer 2020
Arrivals: Marko Macan (Jug AO), assistant coach Predrag Jokic.
Stars to watch: Aleksandar Radovic, Marko Macan, Petar Muslim, Julian Real, Ivan Nagaev, Moritz Schenkel (GK), Darko Brguljan, etc.
Head coach: Karsten Seehafer.
Marko Macan moved from Jug to Hannover
Dinamo Tblisi (Georgia)
Last five completed seasons: didn’t play
2020 (after 10 rounds): 8th in Group B – 3 pts (92:154)
Best result:-
Transfers, summer 2020
Arrivals: Dusan Vasic (Sabac), Jovan Saric (Telimar).
Departures: Damir Crepulja, Fabio Baraldi.
Stars to watch: Boris Vapenski, Marko Jelaca, Dusan Vasic, Jovan Saric, Andria Bitadze, Irakli Razmadze (GK), etc.
Head coach: Zurab Rurua.
AN Brescia (Italy)
Last five completed seasons – 2019: 6th place; 2018: 7th place; 2017: 5th place; 2016: eliminated in Qualification Round 3; 2015: group stage (6th place in Gr. A)
2020: eliminated in Qualification Round 3, semi-finalist in Euro Cup (won first leg 6:3 over Eger, before the season was canceled)
Best result: 5th place (2017), 4x Euro Cup/LEN Trophy winner (2002, 2003, 2006, 2016).
Transfers, summer 2020
Arrivals: Vincenzo Dolce (Sport Management), Angelos Vlachopoulos (Eger), Edoardo Di Somma (Pro Recco), Djordje Lazic (Szolnok), Maro Jokovic (Olympiacos),Niccolo Gitto (Metanopoli), Vincenczo Renzuto Iodice (Pro Recco).
Departures: Alessandro Nora, Nicolo Figari, Nicholas Presciutti, Antonio Buha, Zeno Bertoli.
Stars to watch: Maro Jokovic, Marco Del Luongo (GK), Angelos Vlachopoulos, Vincenzo Renzuto, Christian Presciutti, Edoardo Di Somma, Djordje Lazic, etc.
Head coach: Alessandro Bovo.
Schedule of „bubble“ tournament in Budapest
Day 1 (15 Dec)
14.00: Dinamo – Brescia (recent encounters: not met in CHL)
16.30: Jadran HN – Ferencvaros (Recent encounters: not met in CHL, 2017 Euro Cup semifinal: Jadran – FTC 12:11 and 4:6)
19.00: Hannover – Barceloneta (Recent encounters – 2017/18: Hannover – Barceloneta 7:13 and 12:13; 2017/17: 9:9 and 10:12)
Day 2 (Dec 16)
14.00 Barceloneta – Dinamo (Recent encounters: not met in CHL)
16.30 Ferencvaros – Brescia (Recent encounters – 2018/19: FTC – Brescia 8:8 and 5:10)
19.00: Jadran – Hannover (Recent encounters – 2016/17, Qualification Round 2: Jadran-Hannover 6:8)
Day 3 (Dec 17)
14.00: Dinamo – Jadran (Recent encounters: not met in CHL)
16.30: Hannover – FTC (Recent encounters – 2019/20: Hannover – FTC 12:15)
19.00: Brescia – Barceloneta (Recent encounters – 2018/19: Brescia-Barceloneta 8:8 and 14:8; 2017/18 – 7:5 and 6:5, 2014/15: 12:4 and 7:7)
Round 2, March 1 – 5, 2021 (host to be determined)
Day 4: Ferencvaros – Barceloneta, Jadran HN – Brescia, Hannover – Dinamo T.
Day 5: Dinamo T – Ferencvaros, Brescia – Hannover, Jadran HN – Barceloneta.
Day 6: Ferencvaros – Dinamo T, Hannover – Brescia, Barceloneta – Jadran HN
Day 7: Barceloneta – Ferencvaros, Brescia – Jadran HN, Dinamo T – Hannover
Round 3, April 20 – 23, 2021 (host TBD)
Day 8: Barceloneta – Brescia, Ferencvaros – Hannover, Jadran HN – Dinamo T.
Day 9: Brescia – Ferencvaros, Dinamo T – Barceloneta, Hannover – Jadran HN
Day 10: Ferencvaros – Jadran HN, Brescia – Dinamo T, Barceloneta – Hannover
