Euro Cup: Only four tickets for Group Phase are still available

With just one day remaining in the LEN Euro Cup qualifications, most of the spots for the Group Phase have already been filled.

Twelve teams have qualified: three are from Italy (Savona, Trieste and Ortigia), three from Hungary (Honved, Vasas, BVSC), two from Croatia (Primorje, Solaris), and one each from Serbia (Sabac), France (Tourcoing), Spain (Barcelona), and Greece (Apollon Smyrnis).

One of the remaining questions is which team will secure the 2nd place in Group D in Athens. While Honved has already secured first place there, the battle for second place between host Panionios and OSC Budapest is still on.

Savona qualified from Group F (Duisburg). The second qualifier from this group will be either Partizan or Telimar. In Group H (Kotor), none of the teams has qualified yet, but Primorac is expected to finish first, and Waspo Hannover is likely to finish second if there are no surprises on Sunday.

Even though the crucial games will be played in Athens, Duisburg and Kotor, there will be important games in the other groups. The national derbies (Vasas – BVSC and Primorje – Solaris), will decide which teams will finish atop the groups in Budapest and Rijeka, respectively. The decisive matches for the top spots in Tourcoing and Barcelona are on tomorrow’s schedule.

All those matches will be important because it matters whether a team finishes in 1st or 2nd place in the group. The group winners will be in the first pot, and the 2nd-placed teams in the second batch of the draw.

Only Sabac and Honved will surely finish atop their groups.

One of the favorites, Radnicki Kragujevac, is among those teams that lost all chances to advance to the next stage.

2023/24 LEN Euro Cup, Qualifications, Day 3, evening session

Group A (Sabac), Round 4

Valis – Noisy-le-Sec 11:14 (2:4, 3:1, 4:5, 2:4)
Valis Vega: Radanovic 2, Krstic 2, Kovacevic 2, Brkic 2, Mitrovic 1, Baucalo 1, Rogac 1.
Noisy-le-Sec: Bowen 7, Caumette 2, Saudadier 1, Bjorch 1, Do Carmo 1, Matkovic 1, V.Rasovic 1.

Sabac – Ortigia 11:9 (4:2, 1:3, 4:2, 2:2)
Sabac: Toholj 3, Stojanovic 3, Korac 2, Maras 1, Repanovic 1, Macic 1.
Ortigia: Ferrero 5, Cassia 1, La Rosa 1, Carnesecchi 1, Napolitano 1.

Sabac defeated Ortigia in the derby and cemented 1st place, but the Italians also qualified despite the loss. The Sicilians will finish 2nd, regardless of the results of tomorrow’s matches.

Sabac needed two minutes to earn a 2:0 lead. The home side controlled the match and the results throughout the game. However, it wasn’t an easy win. Ortigia chased the Serbs and leveled the score twice in the second quarter (4:4, 5:5). Sabac opened the second half in the same way as the first – with two goals and went to 7:5. In the last quarter and a half, the teams traded the goals. Ortigia halved the deficit four times, but Sabac responded shortly after each goal and regained a 2-goal advantage.

Noisy-le-Sec defeated Valis, but it was slim consolation for the French, who arrived in Sabac to battle for the top two spots. They practically lost all chances after losses to Sabac and Ortigia.

Standings: 1. Sabac 9 pts (3 games), 2. Ortigia 9 pts (4 games), 3. Noisy 3 (3), 4. Valis 3 (3), 5. Dinamo Bucharest 0 (3).

Group B (Budapest), Round 2

BVSC – Mataro 16:5 (4:2, 4:1, 5:0, 3:2)
BVSC Zuglo: Csapo 4, Tatrai 3, Gyarfas 3, M.Meszaros 2, Bundschuh 2, E.Csacsovszky 1, Gal 1.
Mataro: De Weerd 2, Flaque 1, Negus 1, Castro 1.

Vasas – Ludwigsburg 20:8 (4:1, 5:3, 7:1, 4:3)
A-Hid Vasas Plaket: S.Rasovic 4, Zernivary 3, Burian 3, Batori 2, Batizi 2, Dala 2, Dedovic 1, Randjelovic 1, Lakatos 1, Konarik 1.
Ludwigsburg 08: Bauer 2, Blazevic 2, Bozic 1, Kutchuashvili 1, Ruggeri 1, Prieto Hernandez 1.

The Hungarian clubs proved too strong for the Germans and the Spaniards.

Both today’s games were lopsided contests. BVSC and Vasas cruised to wins and secured the top two spots.

Tomorrow, the clash between the Budapest-based clubs will decide which team will go to the Top 16 from 1st place in the group.

Standings: 1. Vasas 6 (2), 2. BVSC 6 (2), 3. Mataro 0 (2), 4. Ludwigsburg 0 (2).

Group C (Tourcoing), Round 2

Tourcoing – Pays d’Aix 11:10 (5:4, 2:3, 0:2, 4:1)
Tourcoing: Furman 3, Kujacic 3, M.Brguljan 1, Colodrovschi 1, Milicic 1, Canonne 1, Draskovic 1.
Pays d’Aix: Gorria 6, Peisson 3, Lorantos 1.

Trieste – Szolnok 15:11 (3:2, 2:2, 5:4, 5:3)
Trieste: Bini 5, Valentino 3, Mladossich 3, M.Vrlic 1, Dasic 1, Razzi 1, Marziali 1.
Szolnok Dosza Praktiker: Pasztor 3, D.Jansik 3, Schmolcz 2, Vismeg 1, Ionescu 1, Szeghalmi 1.

Tourcoing collected the points in the French derby against Pays d’Aix thanks to a late comeback. The first half saw a few twists and turns. The teams were tied at 7:7 at the middle break. Midway through the third quarter, Javier Gorria netted two goals within 50 seconds to give Pays d’Aix a 9:7 lead. Tourcoing, the favorite in this game, leveled at 9:9, but Aix regained a slim lead 10:9 in the 28th minute and kept it almost until the end. Still, the finish belonged to the hosts, who scored twice in the last 80 minutes and won three valuable points.

Tourcoing players were even happier after the second match of the day. Trieste defeated Szolnok, which meant that both the Italians and the hosts qualified for the Group Phase.

Trieste beat Szolnok quite convincingly – by four goals. Still, the game was an even contest for most of the time. In the middle of the third period, the score was 6:6. The Italians produced a 4:0 rush and jumped to 10:6. But, they hadn’t secured a win yet. Szolnok narrowed the difference to one goal twice in the fourth period (10:11 and 11:12). The Hungarians ran out of gas for the final minutes. Trieste sealed the win with three unanswered goals in the last three minutes.

Standings: 1. Trieste 6 (2), 2. Tourcoing 6 (2), 3. Szolnok 0 (2), 4. Pays d’Aix 0 (2).

Group D (Rijeka), Round 2

Primorje – Oradea 11:8 (4:2, 4:1, 1:2, 2:3)
Primorje EB: Brubnjak 2, Cubranic 2, Te Riele 2, Babic 1, Kadivec 1, Da.Brguljan 1, Babic 1, G.Burburan 1.
CSM Oradea: Gheorghe 3, Szabo 2, Ilisie 2, Vancsik 1.

Radnicki – Solaris 9:10 (2:5, 1:1, 4:2, 2:2)
Radnicki: Vickovic 3, Randjic 2, Stanojevic 1, Jankovic 1, Adeishvili 1, Dadvani 1.
Solaris: Pelicaric 5, N. Burburan 4, R.Akrap 1.

Both Croatian clubs, Primorje and Solaris, advanced to the Group Phase from the tournament in Rijeka.

After two narrow defeats to the Croatian clubs, Radnicki lost all chances to qualify, which has been the biggest surprise of the LEN Euro Cup so far. Even though Radnicki suffered a lot of changes on the roster this summer, it was considered the favorite in Rijeka.

Primorje kept the momentum gained in yesterday’s victory over Radnicki and beat Oradea today. The hosts dominated the first half of the match. Late into the second quarter, they led 8:2, and there was no way back for Oradea.

Solaris, led by Roko Pelicaric and Noa Burburan, stunned Radnicki with a 4:1 start. The Sibenik-based team maintained a 3-goal difference until the end of the first half (6:3). Solaris had a chance to earn a 4-goal lead before the middle break, but Petkovic missed a penalty three seconds before the end of the second period. Radnicki opened the second half excellently and equalized at 6:6. Solaris responded with two goals, went to 8:6, and didn’t let Radnicki level the score again. The Serbs had a chance to equalize in the final minute, but their last attempt ended in failure.

Standings: 1. Primorje 6 (2), 2. Solaris 6 (2), 3. Radnicki 0 (2), 4. Oradea 0 (2).

Group F (Duisburg), Round 4

Partizan – Sete 17:7 (6:3, 5:1, 4:1, 2:2)
Partizan: Dimitrijevic 3, Draskovic 3, Giga 3, Gladovic 3, Trtovic 2, Krstic 1, Tomic 1, Smiljevic 1.
Sete: Sauton 3, Gomes Da Silva 2, Lasseron 1, Chandieu 1.

ASC Duisburg – Savona 12:16 (2:4, 4:1, 1:4, 5:7)
Duisburg: Gusakov 4, Kueppers 3, Seifert 2, Gergelyfi 2, Eidner 1
Savona: Figlioli 3, Campopiano 3, Patchaliev 2, Bruni 2, Guidi 2, Vavic 1, Rizzo 1,Rocchi 1, Djurdjic 1.

Partizan demolished Sete in the first today’s match. In the following encounter, ASC Duisburg fought bravely, but it couldn’t surprise Savona. The Germans led 6:5 at halftime. Savona dominated the second half and collected the points with a 16:12 win.

Savona will play in the group stage and Telimar or Partizan will join the finalists of the 2023 Euro Cup. The matches on the last day are expected to be very interesting. Telimar will try to secure the ticket for the Top 16 with a win in the Italian derby of Savona. Partizan will meet ASC Duisburg.

Standings: 1. Savona 9 pts (3), 2. Telimar 7 (3), 3. Partizan 5 (3), 4. Sete 3 (4), 5. ASC Duisburg 0 (3)

Group E (Athens), Round 4

Honved – Panionios 15:12 (4:1, 3:4, 2:4, 6:3)
Honved: Zs. Ekler 6, B.Ekler 4, Simon 2, Vadovics 1, Gregor 1, Nyiri 1.
Panionios: Gkiouvetsis 5, Gounas 3, Ukropina 2, Kopeliadis 1, Kalaitzis 1.

White Sharks – OSC Budapest 5:17 (1:6, 3:3, 0:4, 1:4)
White Sharks Hannover:Grosse 1, F.Rotermund 1, Stankovic 1, Huelshoff 1, Wiegmann 1.
OSC Budapest: Baksa 3, Szalai 2, Vin.Vigvari 2, Toth 2, Aranyi 2, Varnai 1, Gaszt 1, Ten Broek 1, Salamon 1, Rossi 1, Egressy 1.

Tenerife bye

Honved played the most challenging games within eight hours. After beating OSC in the morning session (10:9), it saved enough energy for another derby – against host Panionios in the evening session. Honved collected six points today to secure the top spot.

Honved rushed to a 5:1 lead in the first nine minutes. However, Panionios managed to get back into the game and leveled at 9:9 before the final quarter. Honved grabbed a 2-goal lead midway through the fourth quarter (12:10 and 13:11). But, a minute before the end, Panionios trailed by a goal (12:13). Zsombor Ekler converted a man-up for 14:12 (it was his sixth goal in the game) with 44 seconds to go. Panionios lost the ball in the next possession. Five seconds before the end, Bendeguz Ekler ended a thrilling contest – 15:12. The Ekler brothers combined 10 goals in this victory.

The winner of tomorrow’s encounter between OSC Budapest and Panionos will decide which team will join Honved in the next phase.

Standings: 1. Honved 9 (3), 2. OSC Budapest 6 (3), 3. Panionios 6 (3), 4. Tenerife 2 (3), 5. White Sharks 1 (4).

Group G (Barcelona), Round 2

OSC Potsdam – Apollon Smyrnis 11:19 (2:5, 3:6, 1:5, 5:3)
OSC Potsdam: Korbel 4, Taubert 2, Arnold 2, Hueppe 1, Zezelj 1, Hofmann 1.
Apollon Smyrnis: Tsachilidis 4, Alamanos 4, Shushiashvili 3, Goniotakis Korderas 2, Troulos 2, Bogdanovic 1, Mokkas 1, Diplaros 1, Gardikas 1.

Barcelona – Mladost 12:11 (3:1, 4:4, 3:1, 2:5)
Barcelona: Valls 3, Ramon 3, Bertran 2, Villamayor 1, Andrade 1, Veich 1.
Mladost: Herceg 5, Gluhaic 2, Penava 2, Mijic 2.

As expected, Apollon Smyrnis and Barcelona qualified from Group G and will play for 1st place tomorrow.

Apollon easily beat OSC Potsdam. The Greeks earned a double-digit lead in the third quarter (15:5) and slowed in the final quarter.

Barcelona defeated Mladost, but the Croats didn’t give the points to Barcelona on a silver platter. The home team led 7:5 and entered the final quarter leading 10:6. Still, Mladost didn’t surrender and put a lot of effort into a comeback. The Zagreb-based side cut the deficit to one (10:11) with 50 seconds to go. But, Pol Daura decided everything with a goal for 12:10 in the next possession. Mladost netted a consolation goal in the dying seconds.

Standings: 1. Barcelona 6 (2), 2. Apollon 6 (2), 3. Mladost 0 (2), 4. OSC Potsdam 0 (2).

Group H (Kotor), Round 4

Primorac – Waspo 98 11:7 (4:3, 3:1, 2:2, 2:1)
Primorac Kotor: Dr.Brguljan 4, Mrsic 3, Markovic 2, Vico 1, P.Cetkovic 1.
Waspo 98 Hannover: Basic 3, Milradovic 2, Macan 1, Schipper 1.

Peristeri – Terrassa 14:13 (4:4, 4:2, 4:4, 2:3)
Peristeri:Chrysospathis 7, Foskolos 4, Karountzos 2, Adzic 1.
Terrassa: Lopez Escribano 4, Alarcon 2, Bargalllo 2, Pericas 1, Cuacos 1, Teclas 1, Rodriguez 1, Chico 1.

Panathinaikos bye

Primorac beat Waspo 98 in the most anticipated match of the tournament in Kotor, and it is just a breath away from the  Group Phase. The Montenegrins and the Germans were in a neck-and-neck race until 3:3. In the 8^th minute, Primorac’s Mrsic made it 4:3. Nikola Markovic added two goals in the second quarter, Primroac stretched the margin to three (6:3) and got on the right track. Drasko Brguljan made it 8:4 on the hosts’ first possession in the third quarter. Primorac controlled the match until the end.

It’s most likely that Primorac and Waspo will advance from this group, but neither of the teams has secured a spot among the top two yet.

Peristeri beat Terrassa and stayed in the race for the ticket to the group stage. The Greeks defeated Terrassa in a very close contest. Peristeri, with unstoppable Chrysovalantis Chrysospathis, led for most of the time, but the game was open until the last buzzer. Early in the fourth quarter, Peristeri earned a 3-goal advantage (13:10). Terrassa managed to cut the deficit to one (12:13 and 13:14). The Spaniards scored their 13th goal with 48 seconds left on the clock. Peristeri saved a minimal advantage and three points in the remaining time.

Primorac needs a point in tomorrow’s match against Peristeri to keep the top spot. Hannover will play against Panathinaikos.

Standings: 1. Primorac 8 (3), 2. Waspo 98 Hannover 6 (3), Peristeri 5 (3), 4. Terrassa 4 (4), 5. Panathinaikos 1 (3)

Day 4 (September 24)

Group A (Sabac): Dinamo Bucharest – Noisy-le-Sec (18:00), Sabac – Valis (20:00)

Group B (Budapest): Mataro – Ludwigsburg (11:30), BVSC – Vasas (13:00)

Group C (Tourcoing): Szolnok – Pays d’Aix (14:45), Tourcoing – Trieste (16:30)

Group D (Rijeka): Solaris – Primorje (10:00), Oradea – Radnicki (11:45)

Group E (Athens): Honved – Tenerife (10:00 – 9:00 CET), Panionios – OSC Budapest (12:00 – 11:00 CET)

Group F (Duisburg): Savona – Telimar (10:00), ASC Duisburg – Partizan (12:00)

Group G (Barcelona): OSC Potsdam – Mladost (11:00), Barcelona – Apollon (13:00)

Group H (Kotor): Panathinaikos – Waspo 98 Hannover (09:00), Primorac – Peristeri (11:00)

More articles about the LEN Euro Cup

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