Croatian and Serbian clubs donβt play in the joint regional league this season. However, there will be encounters between the top Serbian and Croatian teams on the European stage. Two such matches are scheduled for this week in the second round of the Champions League, both taking place in Croatia.
Mladost will host Radnicki in Group A on Wednesday. Tomorrow,Β Jadran will face Novi Beograd in Split in Group B.
These matches are the highlights of the week, along with the Group D derby between Barceloneta and Marseille.
After two days of Champions League action, the 2nd-round Euro Cup matches will take place on Thursday.
2026 Champions League, Round 2
GROUP A
Tuesday, October 28: Vasas β Olympiacos (20:30), Wednesday, October 29: Mladost β Radnicki (20:30).
Mladost and Radnicki both have significantly strengthened and reshaped their rosters since June 2024. In the last season, Mladost didnβt win a trophy. Radnicki clinched the Serbian and the Regional League title and the Euro Cup silver medal. This time, Mladost welcomes Radnicki in an attempt to collect some debts.
The two teams met five times in the 2024/25 season, with Radnicki winning four of those matches. The series started in the Champions League Qualifications. The Kragujevac-based team edged out the Croats in a crucial match for qualification to the group stage. Then, Radnicki beat Mladost twice in the Regional League. The last two encounters in the previous season came in the Euro Cup semifinals. Mladost finally managed to defeat the rival at home in the 1st leg (13:10), but Radnicki overcame that deficit in the return match (15:8).
The Champions League is in its early stages, but every point in a very balanced Group A is crucial, and each home loss can be costly. Therefore, Mladost faces greater pressure as the host. Mladost has had a relatively easy schedule since the season began. Its only significant challenge was the match against Olympiacos. Radnicki has already suffered two losses, which served as valuable lessons for the Kragujevac team. The Serbs had opportunities to see what they needed to improve. Mladost played very well in the CHL Qualifications. The game, featuring many top players and great champions, promises to be exciting.
Considering that Vasas doesnβt have many super aces on its roster, unlike Olympiacos, Radnicki, and Mladost, the Budapest-based team is viewed as an underdog in this tough group. But two weeks ago, Β Vasas caused trouble for Radnicki in Kragujevac. The Hungarian team can be especially dangerous to its opponents in front of a home crowd.
Standings: 1. Olympiacos 3, 2. Radnicki 3, 3. Vasas 0, 4. Mladost 0.
GROUP B
Tuesday, October 28: Pro Recco β Jadran HN (20:30), Jadran S β Novi Beograd (20:30).
Pro Recco will host Jadran Herceg Novi in the indoor pool in Genova. The Italian giant has prepared a special welcome for Aleksandar Ivovic, Jadranβs new sports director, who left a strong mark during his 13 years at Recco (serving as a captain for six seasons). Before the game, a special ceremony in Ivovicβs honor will take place. But the Italians wonβt show mercy to Jadran in the pool. However, Jadran, encouraged by a series of wins, has the right to dream of a surprise.
Pro Recco is a heavy favorite for the top spot, while Novi Beograd and two Jadrans are in a three-horse race for the second quarterfinal berth. Therefore, the match in Split attracts more attention than the one in Genova.
Jadran and Novi Beograd have met 13 times in official matches, with the Serbian team recording 12 wins. Jadranβs only victory dates back to the season 2023/24 β the Split-based club defeated Novi Beograd in the Regional League match, 14:12, scoring two late goals. But, a few weeks later, Novi Beograd beat Jadran in Split and won the Regional League.
Last season, the two teams faced each other four times. The games in the Regional League were close contests, and Novi Beograd won twice in penalty shootouts. The Serbs outplayed Jadran in both Champions League matches more easily than expected (17:8 and 15:7).
During the summer, Novi Beograd additionally rejuvenated the team, while Jadran made slight changes to its roster and entered the season even stronger. Jadran is seeking its first home win against Novi Beograd, which has shown its high potential this season despite three losses.
Neither coach can count on their best players. Jadranβs captain, Jerko Marinic Kragic, is still recovering. As for Novi Beograd, three key players missed the match against Jadran Herceg Novi a few days ago (Cuk, Lukic, Radovic), but the Serbs won a point. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to help the team in Split. Two newcomers (Vasic and Sulc) wonβt be on the roster, as they won’t gain the right to play in the Champions League until the second half of the season.
Standings: 1. Pro Recco 3, 2. Jadran HN 3, 3. Jadran S 0, 4. Novi Beograd 0.
I Visit Total Waterpolo Arena for live results and the statistics of the 2025/26 Champions League
GROUP C
Tuesday, October 28: Oradea β Primorac (20:30), Wednesday, October 29: Brescia β Ferencvaros (20:30).
Two teams that won their opening Champions League matches will meet in Brescia. The Italians made a significant step towards the Top 8 stage with a victory over Primorac in Kotor. The battles between Brescia and Ferencvaros in the last several years have been very interesting. A young Brescia team will certainly do its best to offer strong resistance to the Hungarians, who have suffered only two losses across all competitions in the last two seasons and aim to extend their long winning streak. Brescia hasn’t defeated Ferencvaros since an 8:4 victory almost three years ago.
Primorac needs points in Oradea to make up for the home defeat to Brescia. After a convincing loss to Ferencvaros, the match against the Montenegrins is the first opportunity for Oradea to show if it is capable of entering the race for the Quarter Final Stage.
Standings: 1. Ferencvaros 3, 2. Brescia 3, 3. Primorac 0, 4. Oradea 0.
GROUP D
Wednesday, October 29: Waspo Hannover β Sabadell (18:30), Barceloneta β Marseille (20:30).
Barceloneta and Marseille are the contenders for the top spot in Group D. Therefore, their encounter on Wednesday is one of the crucial matches in this group. The semifinalists of the 2025 Champions League met in the bronze-medal match in Malta in June. Barceloneta demolished the French, 19:9, but the results didnβt mirror the real quality of the teams.
Both Barceloneta and Marseille entered the season with younger teams but plenty of excellent players on their rosters. The tradition and the fact that the game will take place in Barcelona indicate that the Spanish team is the favorite. Marseille has defeated Barceloneta only once β in the 2012/13 Champions League. Still, that season, Barceloneta reached the semifinals for the first time and won a bronze medal. In the following years, Barceloneta defeated the French team five times, although most of those matches were closely contested, so something similar can happen on Wednesday.
Hannover has been seeking its first victory in European competitions since November 2023. According to predictions, the home match against Sabadell offers Hannover the best chance to end this winless streak already in the 2026 CHL Group Stage. However, the two teams’ performances in the first round, where the Germans were overwhelmed by Marseille while Sabadell played well against Barceloneta, weren’t promising for Hannover.
Standings: 1. Marseille 3, 2. Barceloneta 3, 3. Sabadell 0, 4. Waspo 98 Hannover 0.
I Visit Total Waterpolo Arena for live results and the statistics of the 2025/26 Champions League
2026 Euro Cup, Round 2
The games Szolnok – Trieste, BVSC – Panathinaikos, and Savona – Sabac are the derbies of the 2nd round of the Euro Cup, scheduled for Thursday, October 30.
Group A: ASC Duisburg – Jug, Terrassa – Solaris (20:30).
Standings: 1. Solaris 3, 2.Jug 3, 3. Terrassa 0, 4. ASC Duisburg 0.
Group B: Barcelona – Dinamo Bucharest, Szolnok – Trieste (18:00).
Standings: 1. Trieste 3, 2.Szolnok 3, 3. Dinamo 0, 4. Barcelona 0.
Group C: BVSC – Panathinaikos, Buducnost – Vouliagmeni (18:00).
Standings: 1. Panathinaikos 3, 2. Vouliagmeni 2, 3. BVSC 1, 4. Buducnost 0.
Group D: Savona – Sabac (19:00), Steaua – Spandau 04.
Standings: 1. Sabac 3 2. Savona 3, 3. Spandau 0, 4. Steaua 0.
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