The fifth round of the Champions League Quarter Final Stage, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, could be crucial in determining the teams that will advance to the Final Four in Malta.
The situation regarding the top two clubs in each group may become completely clear, but there is also a possibility that the situation, particularly in Group A, could become more complicated.
As usual, after a two-day action in the Champions League, the games in the Euro Cup will be played. The return matches of the semifinals are on Thursday.
2024/25 Champions League, Round 5
Group B (April 22)
In Round 4, Ferencvaros had an opportunity to secure a spot at the Final Four. Instead, the reigning champion suffered its first loss of the season (at the same time, it was the Hungarians’ first defeat after nearly 12 months). Barceloneta beat the Budapest-based team in a penalty shootout. Still, that defeat didn’t significantly diminish Ferencvaros’ chances of qualifying for the Final Four and winning 1st place in the group.
Until the end of the Quarter Final Stage, Ferencvaros will play two home games. Tomorrow, it will welcome Savona. The Italians have a good team, but Ferencvaros’ squad is composed of many superstars. The title holder defeated Savona by eight goals in Italy on Day 2 (17:9). So, it’s hard to expect the Italians to surprise “Fradi” in Budapest and stay in the race for the F4 berths.
Alberto Munarriz (Barceloneta) Photo by VK Novi Beograd/Dj.Kostic
Barceloneta players are buoyed by their victory against Ferencvaros and the recent success with the national team, where seven of them contributed to Spain’s gold medal win at the World Cup. Tomorrow, Barceloneta will visit Oradea. The Romanians have no chance of qualifying for the Final Four. Having previously beaten Oradea 17:4 at home, Barceloneta is a heavy favorite in this matchup.
Standings: 1. Ferencvaros 10, 2. Barceloneta 8, 3. Savona 6, 4. Oradea 0.
All matches start at 20.00 CET. Follow the live scores and the statistics on Total Waterpolo Arena
Group A (April 23)
Predicting the outcomes of the Round 5 matches in Group A is much more challenging than those in Group B.
Although Marseille and Novi Beograd are very close to the Final Four, Olympiacos has slim chances, while Jadran Split cannot qualify, nothing is impossible.
The derby of the week will be played in Belgrade, Novi Beograd – Olympiacos. The Greek champion was the favorite to win 1st place in the group. But, after three consecutive losses, Olympiacos is in big trouble. As a result, the club changed its head coach. Hrvoje Koljanin left Olympiacos and was replaced by Georgios Doskas. The Greek team has to win both games in the remaining two rounds, but it won’t be enough if Jadran doesn’t beat Marseille or Novi Beograd. Additionally, Olympiacos has to improve its goal difference against the Serbs and the French.
Novi Beograd played what might have been its best game of the season in Piraeus, demonstrating strong defense in an 8:5 victory over Olympiacos. Following that match, the Serbs convincingly defeated Jadran in Belgrade but faced a significant setback with a 9:14 loss in Marseille.
As a result, both Olympiacos and Novi Beograd enter the upcoming match a bit shaken, each looking to bounce back. Meanwhile, several players from both teams participated in the World Cup Final Eight, after which the Serbian and Greek champions went on to enjoy straightforward wins in their domestic leagues. Novi Beograd holds several advantages going into this match, including reduced pressure, the benefit of playing at home, and the fact that they only need to secure one point in Wednesday’s game to secure a spot in the Final Four. On the other side, we’ll see if the recent coaching change at Olympiacos will impact its performance.
“A change of a head coach always causes a reaction from the players. We need to be very cautious, as this may result in some tactical changes compared to our previous encounter in Greece and what we typically expect from Olympiacos. However, the tactics won’t be the deciding factor in this duel”, Novi Beograd’s coach Zivko Gocic said
Marseille is heading to Split to face Jadran. After defeating Novi Beograd, Marseille climbed to the top of the group, showcasing its strong form and quality. On the same day, Jadran Split achieved its first win in the Quarter Final Stage, but the two points earned from a shootout against Olympiacos were not enough to keep the Croatian team’s hopes of reaching the F4 alive. In their remaining two games, Jadran will be playing for pride, looking to end at least one of their two losing streaks—Jadran has never defeated either Novi Beograd or Marseille in European competitions. This could be a powerful motivation. Will it be enough to complicate Marseille’s path toward the Final Four?
Standings: 1. Marseille 9, 2. Novi Beograd 9, 3. Olympiacos 4, 4. Jadran S 2.
Head to head: Marseille – Novi Beograd 14:9 and 14:15.
All matches start at 20.00 CET. Follow the live scores and the statistics on Total Waterpolo Arena
On Thursday, we will find out which teams will play in the Euro Cup final. However, only one question hasn’t been answered yet.
Three weeks ago, Recco defeated Sabadell 16:6 at home so that the return leg will be a formality.
Radnicki, the winner of the Regional League, will host Mladost Zagreb. The Croatian team will arrive in Kragujevac with a 3-goal advantage (13:10). It was the fourth encounter between these teams this season and Mladost’s first win. Since the start of the season, Radnicki and Mladost have met twice in Kragujevac. The Serbian club recorded a narrow 9:8 win in the Champions League qualifications and a 17:12 victory in the Regional League. Both teams have the right to hope that they can qualify for the final.
Radnicki – Mladost at 19:00 (first leg 10:13)
Sabadell – Pro Recco at 19:30 (first leg 6:16)
