Ferencvaros and Novi Beograd will have their first “match points” in the Champions League Quarter-Final Stage.
If they win this week, they will secure their places in the Final Four in Malta.
However, neither team faces an easy task. Both will play challenging away matches against the second-placed teams in their respective groups.
Tomorrow, Barceloneta will host Ferencvaros in Group B, while on Wednesday, Marseille will take on Novi Beograd in France in a Round 4 clash in Group A.
The week of European games ends on Thursday, with the semifinals of the Euro Cup, where the Regional League derby will be in the spotlight.
2024/25 Champions League, Round 4
Group B (April 1)
Ferencvaros is the only team participating in the 2025 European men’s cups that has not suffered a single loss in any competition. Last weekend, Ferencvaros played its 40th game of the season and achieved the 40th win by defeating Vasas in the 26th round of the Hungarian League.
Barceloneta has been defeated only once this season. It was a painful 10:18 loss to Ferencvaros in Budapest. However, the Spaniards bounced back, beating Oradea at home and Savona in Italy, returning to the right track.
The Spanish and the Hungarian champions have met 10 times in the Champions League. Ferencvaros won six games, Barceloneta recorded three wins, and one match ended in a draw. Barceloneta’s previous home win against Ferencvaros dates back to 2019. That season, the Spaniards beat the Hungarians twice in the group stage. But Ferencvaros overcame Barceloneta in the semifinals in Hannover and eventually won the title.
Last season, Ferencvaros defeated Barceloneta twice, each by two goals, on its path to the 2nd Champions League trophy.
New brothers’ clash: Vince Vigvari (Barceloneta) and Vendel Vigvari (Ferencvaros) Photo by Laszlo BaloghThe tradition is not in favor of Barceloneta.
However, tradition and statistical data don’t play a role in an encounter between excellent teams. Neither team can be considered the favorite in a matchup of great water polo stars from both sides. The Hungarians will have less pressure, as even if they lose by fewer than eight goals, they will still have a realistic chance of finishing at the top of the group.
Savona will host Oradea in the other match. The Romanians suffered three convincing losses in the first half of the Quarter Final Stage, and they are out of the race for the Final Four. The Italians don’t have big chances either, as they enter the remaining three rounds after home defeats to Ferencvaros and Barceloneta.
All matches start at 20.00 CET. Follow the live scores and the statistics on Total Waterpolo Arena
Standings: 1. Ferencvaros 9, 2. Barceloneta 6, 3. Savona 3, 4. Oradea 0.
Group A (April 2)
Like Ferencvaros, Novi Beograd has a perfect 9-0 record in the 2025 Champions League. However, the Serbian champions have suffered three defeats in the Regional League. They arrive in Marseille after failing to defend the Regional League title at the Final Four in Herceg Novi, where they lost to Radnicki in the semifinals.
Marseille also had a disappointing lead-up to this derby, suffering its first domestic defeat of the season. Strasbourg edged Marseille out in a penalty shootout in the 13th round of the French League (15:13) last weekend.
Both teams are eager to get back on track.
Much like the clash between Barceloneta and Ferencvaros, history isn’t the home side’s “ally” in this matchup. Novi Beograd and Marseille have met six times, with the Serbian team winning all six encounters. However, the gap between the two sides has narrowed each season.
Their most recent duel in Belgrade in February was a thriller, with Novi Beograd securing a narrow 15:14 victory.
Since then, both teams have improved significantly in the Champions League. Novi Beograd claimed an excellent away win against Olympiacos (8:5) and trashed Jadran Split (17:8). Meanwhile, Marseille capitalized on home-field advantage, defeating Jadran (11:9) and Olympiacos (12:7).
Marseille’s goalkeeper Tesanovic and Lukic (Novi Beograd) Photo: VK Novi Beograd
Marseille fields an older squad, with several veterans such as Prlainovic, Crousillat, and Bodegas—players capable of making a difference in crucial moments. Novi Beograd’s strength is a well-balanced mix of experienced stars and young talents.
Recent results prove that securing points in Marseille is no easy feat. The home crowd will be Marseille’s “extra player,” but given both teams’ current form, this matchup is expected to be a closely contested battle with no clear favorite.
Olympiacos and Jadran Split will meet in Piraeus.
The Greek champion signed several great players last summer, aiming to qualify for the Final Four and, more importantly, win the trophy. However, the Greeks are in big trouble after two consecutive five-goal defeats. So, the encounter with Jadran is a must-win match for Olympiacos.
Jadran Split goes to Greece after two exhausting matches at the Regional League Final Four, where the Croats displayed an excellent performance against host Jadran Herceg Novi in the semifinals but lost to Radnicki in the final. Jadran still has no points. A nine-goal loss in Belgrade significantly minimized its chances of reaching the F4. The time for Jadran to end an 8-game losing streak to Olympiacos in the last 20 years may not come yet. But, the Croats are a very good team. They will play with no pressure, which might be their advantage.
Standings: 1. Novi Beograd 9, 2. Marseille 6, 3. Olympiacos 3, 4. Jadran Split 0.
More articles about the Champions League
LEN Euro Cup semifinals, Leg 1 (April 3)
Several days after winning the 2025 edition of the Regional League, Radnicki Kragujevac will play another regional derby.
Mladost Zagreb will host the Kragujevac-based side in the first leg of the LEN Euro Cup semifinals. It will be the fourth encounter between Mladost and Radnicki this season. The first one was a nail-biter in the Champions League Qualifications in Kragujevac. Radnicki recorded a 9:8 win. It should be mentioned that Mladost played without one of its most experienced players, Josip Vrlic, in that match, because of an administrative error made by the Croatian club. Then, Radnicki beat Mladost 17:12 at home in the Regional League. Two months ago, Radnicki defeated Mladost in Zagreb in a penalty shootout (23:22). After that loss, Mladost practically lost all chances to qualify for the RL Final Four.
Radnicki’s centre Pijetlovic in front of Mladost’s goalkeeper Marcelic Photo by HAVK Mladost
Both teams were reinforced by excellent players last summer. They needed some time to reach the desired shape. Mladost decided to change the head coach and bring Igor Milanovic to the bench. Both teams have played better and better from week to week. They know each other very well. Radnicki’s and Serbia’s head coach, Uros Stevanovic, was Milanovic’s assistant at Partizan when the Belgrade team won its 7th Champions League in 2011 and caught up with Mladost in the number of European titles.
Both participants in the Regional League derby have similar chances of reaching the final. In contrast, there is a clear favorite in the other semifinal. Sabadell, the LEN Euro Cup winner in 2022 and bronze medalist in 2024, is a strong team. However, it will be surprising if the Spaniards defeat Pro Recco and advance to the final. Pro Recco has only suffered one loss this season, which came against BVSC in September during the Euro Cup Qualifications (16:11). While BVSC ended its European campaign in the eighth finals, Recco is still on track for their first-ever trophy in the Euro Cup. The first match, set to take place on Thursday in Genoa, could be crucial for final outcome.
Mladost Zagreb – Radnicki at 19.30 CET
Pro Recco – Sabadell at 21.00 CET
The return matches will be played on April 24.
