Novi Beograd is the only participant in the 2025 Final Four in Malta that will play in the Champions League semifinals for the fourth time in a row.
But, unlike the previous three seasons, Novi Beograd didn’t enter the 2025 Champions League as a heavy favorite and a serious contender to win the trophy. Some believed that Novi Beograd, considering significant roster changes, wouldn’t reach the F4. However, the Serbs qualified for the final tournament, winning 11 out of 12 games. This is their first time arriving at the most important tournament for water polo clubs as the group winners.
In the 21st century, only Pro Recco, Jug, and Novi Beograd have qualified for the semifinals for more than three consecutive years.
Penalty shootouts determined NBG’s fate thrice
Founded in 2015, Novi Beograd earned a spot in the Serbian Super League five years later. In the summer of 2021, Novi Beograd’s ambitions took a major leap forward when it was awarded a Champions League wild card as the host of the Final Eight tournaments in 2022 and 2023. This milestone sparked a dramatic transformation of the squad, as plenty of star players arrived at the “11 April” pool, signaling the club’s intent to battle for trophies in all competitions.
As the Final Eight host, Novi Beograd won two silver medals, both times losing to Recco in the final. Last year, it finished 4th in the F4 in Malta.
Penalty shootouts determined Novi Beograd’s fate at each of the previous three appearances at the final tournaments. Fortune was the Serbian club’s ally only once.
In 2022, Novi Beograd lost to Pro Recco in the final after a thriller ended with shots from the 5 m-line – 16:17 (13:13 in the regular time). Next year, the Serbs beat Barceloneta in the semifinals after a penalty thriller – 12:10 (8:8). Twelve months ago, Novi Beograd’s dream of a new final and a first Champions League trophy ended after a defeat to eventual champion, Ferencvaros, in a shootout – 17:18 (13:13) in the semifinals.
Head coach Gocic and captain Cuk Photo by Slobodan Sandic
During the seasons 2021/22 and 2022/23, the club faced ups and downs and passed through some turbulent events. There were also several changes on the bench.
Last season, the club was stable in all aspects and won a “triple crown” (the Serbian League and Cup and the Regional League). Fourth place in the Champions League wasn’t a desired result, but neither was it unsuccessful. However, after the 2024 Final Four, Novi Beograd was no longer a “dream team”. Many superstars left the club, including Pijetlovic, Filipovic, Granados, Olympic champions Jaksic, and Drasovic.
New strategy since 2024
Last summer, the club changed its politics. Novi Beograd wasn’t in the transfer market spotlight as it had been in the previous three years, and it didn’t strengthen its roster with some big names. New, young players replaced the champions who departed.
Therefore, Novi Beograd handed over the roles of the big favorites to its rivals. Still, it managed to stay in the circle of the best clubs in all competitions.
Head coach Zivko Gocic composed a team of experienced players and rising talents well. For instance, Vasilije Martinovic, the MVP of the 2022 European U19 Championships, has played for Novi Beograd since 2020. Still, between 2021 and 2024, he didn’t have enough opportunities to prove himself. After a number of departures, he finally received a real opportunity—and he made the most of it, becoming one of the team’s pillars along with Olympic champion, Milos Cuk, then Angelos Vlachopoulos, Dimitrios Skoumpakis… Martinovic is Novi Beograd’s best scorer in the 2025 Champions League (30 goals). Other youngsters who play important roles in Novi Beograd this season are goalkeeper Glusac, Gladovic, Dimitrijevic, etc.
Vasilije Martinovic Photo by Slobodan Sandic
Novi Beograd has played better and better since the start of the season. It didn’t have too demanding opponents in the Preliminary Stage. Still, some performances in the Quarterfinal Stage were remarkable—two wins over Olympiacos and a convincing victory over Jadran Split when the Croats were still in a race for an F4 spot. The only disappointing performance was the loss in Marseille during the period of the crisis in the results.
As for the domestic competitions, Novi Beograd won the Serbian Cup. It was atop the Regional League table for almost the entire season but eventually finished in 4th place at the F4. It didn’t defend the title in Serbia, losing to Radnicki. Tiny details made the difference in the playoff final. Novi Beograd wasn’t far from new trophies in the quality Serbian and Regional leagues.
Once written off at the start of the season by many, the rejuvenated Novi Beograd has defied expectations and kept its place among Europe’s elite. The Serbian side heads into the Final Four neither as a favorite nor an underdog. It is set to face a mighty Barceloneta led by its former star, Alvaro Granados, in the semifinals. Unlike in previous years, Novi Beograd enters the tournament without the burden of overwhelming pressure, which is a factor that could play to its advantage.
Facts and stats
Novi Beograd enters the Final 4 with a well-balanced statistical profile that reflects both offensive firepower and solid team defense. With 155 goals scored, they rank 3rd among all contenders, showing their ability to generate offense consistently. Defensively, they’ve conceded just 114 goals, placing them 2nd, which speaks to their structure and discipline in the back line.
Despite this defensive solidity, their goalkeeping output has been relatively modest — with 99 saves, they rank only 8th, indicating that much of their defensive success may stem from field positioning and good zonal transition rather than standout performances between the posts.
Offensively, the team is efficient in ball movement, registering 103 assists (4th), while also proving disruptive on the other end with 74 steals (3rd) — a sign of their aggressive perimeter defense. They’ve made 30 shot blocks (6th), and their ability to draw exclusions (138 PF drawn, 5th) provides them with ample opportunities in man-up situations.
However, they’ve been less clinical on the power play, converting just 52 goals with an extra man (6th), and fast-break efficiency has been low, with only 7 goals from counterattacks (6th). Additionally, their 109 turnovers (4th) suggest that possession control remains an area for improvement.
Overall, Novi Beograd has shown the capacity to control games through team structure and offensive rhythm, but improvements in transition play and man-up conversion could be decisive in the Final 4.
Roster – Goalkeepers: Milan Glusac, Francesco De Michelis (ITA); Field players: Milos Cuk, Angelos Vlachopoulos (GRE), Dimitrios Skoumpakis (GRE), Nikola Lukic, Djordje Vucinic, Vasilije Martinovic, Bilal Gbadamassi (NED), Luka Gladovic, Dusan Trtovic, Djuro Radovic (MNE), Marko Dimitrijevic, Miroslav Perkovic (MNE), Strahinja Krstic, Viktor Urosevic. Head coach: Zivko Gocic.
Key players: Milos Cuk, Angelos Vlachopoulos, Dimitrios Skoumpakis, Nikola Lukic, Vasilije Martinovic, Djordje Vucinic, Miroslav Perkovic, etc.
Last five Champions League seasons – 2024: 4th place, 2023: 2nd place, 2022: 2nd place, 2020-21: didn’t play (eighth-finalists of 2021 LEN Euro Cup).
Best result: runner-up (2022, 2023).
Trophies in other international competitions: the Regional League winner in 2022 and 2024.
Road to Malta – Preliminary Stage: 1st place in Group A (18 pts, goal difference 75:51), Quarter Final Stage: 1st place in Group A (15 pts, goal difference 80:63).
Results in the other competitions in the season: 2nd place in the Serbian League, the Serbian Cup winner, and 4th place in the Regional League.
Follow the live scores and the statistics of the Champions League Final Four on Total Waterpolo Arena
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