Four teams remained unbeaten after Day 2 of the Champions League Qualification Round 1 tournaments, that are played in Sabac and Barcelona. Sabac, Crvena Zvezda, Barcelona and Pays d’Aix collected 12 points each and secured their spots in the Qualification Round 2, two days before the end of the tournaments

The top four sides from each of the groups will advance to the Qualification Round 2.

Champions League, Qualification Round 1, Day 2 – evening session

Group A (Sabac)

Oradea – Dynamo 8:9 (1:2, 2:2, 2:4, 3:1)

CSM Digi Oradea:Dragomirescu 2, Popoviciu 2, Colodrovschi 2, Szabo 1, R. Georgescu 1.
Dynamo Moscow: Byckhov 3, Usov 1 Balakirev 1, Suckhov 1, Ekomazov 1, Krug 1, Magomaev 1.

Crvena Zvezda – Apollon 11:7 (4:0, 2:4, 4:1, 1:2)

Crvena Zvezda: Vukicevic 3, Kasum 2, Tankosic 1, Ilic 1, M. Jankovic 1, Radjen 1, Gusarov 1, M. Radovic 1.
Apollon: Moskov 5, Karountzos 1, Dermitzakis 1.

Sabac – Galatasaray 14:6 (4:1, 2:3, 3:1, 5:1)

Sabac: Vucinic 6, Erakovic 2, Radulovic 2, Markovic 1, Vasic 1, Gomes da Silva 1, Vasovic a.
Galatasaray: Senemoglu 3, Ozbek 2, Krstic 1.

Crvena Zvezda opened the match against Apollon in style. The Serbs took a flying start for a 5:0 lead. That was crucial in their win. At halftime, the Greeks trailed 4:6, but Crvena Zvezda scored three straight goals in the third period to build a safe 9:4 advantage and Apollon couldn’t come back anymore.

Sabac convincingly defeated Galatasaray. The Turks kept up with the hosts for a while. The difference between the teams was just a goal two minutes before the middle break (Sabac led 5:4). The home side, led by Djordje Vucinic (6 goals) dominated in the second half and celebrated a nice 14:6 win.

Dynamo Moscow made a big step towards the second qualification round, by defeating Oradea in a very close encounter. Early in the third period, the sides were tied (4:4). Dynamo entered the last quarter with a 3-goal advantage (8:5). The Romanians managed to equalise two minutes before the end when Ramiro Georgescu converted a man-up for 8:8. Igor Bychkov netted his third goal 45 seconds from time, for Dynamo’s 9:8 victory.

1 Crvena Zvezda (SRB) 3 – 9
2 Sabac (SRB) 3 – 9
3 Dynamo Moscow (RUS) 3 – 6
4 CSM Digi Oradea (ROM) 3 – 3
5 Apollon Smyrnis (GRE) 3 – 0
6 Galatasaray (TUR) 3 – 0

The top four teams will advance to the Qualification Round 2
Day 3 (Saturday, August 31): Crvena Zvezda – Dynamo, Apollon – Galatasaray, Sabac – Oradea.
Day 4 (Sunday, September 1): Dynamo – Apollon, Galatasaray – Oradea, Sabac – Crvena zvezda.

Group B (Barcelona)

Steaua – Banja Luka 31:1 (7:0, 10:0, 5:0, 9:1)

Steaua: Robu 8, Gheorghe 4, Fulea 4, Vatrai 4, Prioteasaa 3, Antipa 2, Popsecu 2, Kapotsis 1.
Banja Luka: Amidzic 1.

Sintez – Barcelona 9:11 (4:5, 1:3, 2:1, 2:2)

Sintez: Latypov 3, Odintsov 1, Bugaychuk 1, Dereviankin 1, Andrzukov 1, Ryzhov-Alenichev 1, Lisunov 1.
Barcelona: Estrany 4, Delgado 3, Esteller 1, Flores 1, Van den Burg ‚, Trilles 1.

Pays d’Aix – Enka Istanbul 11:8 (4:2, 2:2, 3:0, 2:4)

Pays d’Aix Natation: Monneret 3, Espanol 2, Tkac 2, Khasz 2, De Lera 1, Veron 1.
Enka Istanbul:Yutmaz 4, Buric 1, Acar 1, Alkan 1, Albayrak 1.

Pays d’Aix still keeps the first place in the group. The French beat Enka this evening. It was an even encounter until the middle of the second quarter. Pays d’Aix had a slim 5:4 advantage midway through the second period. Then came the Frenchs’ series of four consecutive goals. Before the last break, they jumped to a 9:4 lead and secured a win.

Host Barcelona booked the ticket for the Qualification Round 2 thanks to a win over Sintez. The teams were in a neck-and-neck race in the first quarter. The score was 4:4 in the 8th minute. Two seconds before the first break, the Spaniards earned a 5:4 lead. They added three goals in the third period for an 8:4 advantage. That 4:0 series proved vital in their win.

Steaua had no problems against Banja Luka.

1 Pays d’Aix Natation (FRA) 3 – 9
2 Barcelona (ESP) 3 – 9
3 Sintez Kazan (RUS) 3 – 6
4 Steaua Bucharest (ROM) 3 – 3
5 Enka Istanbul (TUR) 3 – 0
6 Banja Luka (BIH) 3 – 0

The top four teams will advance to the Qualification Round 2
Day 3 (Saturday, August 31): Sintez – Banja Luka, Steaua – Enka, Pays d’Aix – Barcelona.
Day 4 (Sunday, September 1): Banja Luka – Enka, Pays d’Aix – Sintez, Steaua – Barcelona.