The visiting teams were very successful in todayβs four matches of the Champions League Round 3.
Jadran Herceg Novi defeated Novi Beograd 12:11 in Belgrade. It was the Montenegrin championsβ second win over the Champions League runner-up in 18 days after a penalty shootout win in the Regional League at home. However, todayβs triumph is more significant, as it may be crucial in the battle for second place in Group B. The other match in this group lacked excitement. Pro Recco was too strong for Jadran Split, 15:9.
Mladost defeated Vasas 13:10 in Budapest in Group A. Although Mladost maintained the lead for most of the match and finished with a three-goal advantage, it was a hard-fought victory. The teams were tied at 10:10 with just three minutes remaining in the game.
Brescia recorded a comfortable 16:11 victory over Oradea in Romania to keep 2nd place in Group C.
2026 Champions League, Group Stage, Round 3
GROUP A
Vasas – Mladost 10:13 (2:3, 1:2, 3:3, 4:5)
Vasas:Foskolos 2, Gyarfas 2, Dala 2, Gabor 1, Selley-Rauscher 1, Djurdjic 1, Lakaros 1.
Mladost: Kharkov 3, Vrlic 2, Basic 1, Tonicic 1, Buljubasic 1, Bukic 1, Lazic 1, Nagaev 1, Vukicevic 1, Loncar 1.
Mladost conceded 30 goals in their previous two matches (a 17:15 win against Radnicki in the Champions League and a 15:15 draw against Primorje in the Croatian Cup). Today, the Zagreb-based team’s defense performed well for three and a half quarters, but it wasn’t enough for an easy win. Anyway, three points are everything that was important.
Both teams struggled in attack during the opening minutes, with several missed shots and lost possessions at both ends of the pool. Konstantin Kharkov broke the deadlock by converting a penalty shot. Vasas responded with two power-play goals, but Mladost gathered its momentum and ended the first period leading 3:2.
Ivan Buljubasic converted a man-up opportunity to extend the lead to 4:2 early in the second period. Lorinc replied with a goal in a 6-on-5 situation. Mladost regained a two-goal lead after Kharkov made it 5:3 in the 15th minute.
Franko Lazic (MLA) Photo by Laszlo Balogh
Mladost imposed its rhythm and shortly after the middle break built a 7:3 advantage. However, the Croatians did not hold a four-goal lead for long. Vasas cut the deficit to 5:7 midway through the quarter. The teams then exchanged goals for a while, but the rhythm favored Mladost, which maintained a three-goal advantage. In the 26th minute, Ante Vukicevic extended the lead to 10:7.
However, Vasas proved it didn-tarrive in the Champions League by chance. The hosts responded with three quick action goals, leveling the score at 10:10 with 3:27 remaining. Foskolos scored the equalizer, but immediately afterward, the visitors earned a man-up opportunity. Lazic converted this chance to put Mladost back in front. Following that, Vasas had a man-up chance to equalize again, but Mladost’s defense held strongβNagaev blocked a shot from Batori. Basic then doubled Mladost’s lead. Vasas did not surrender, but Mladost’s goalkeeper, Ivan Marcelic, made several crucial saves, and Luka Bukic sealed the victory for Mladost with 40 seconds remaining on the clock.
Standings: 1. Olympiacos 6 (2 games), 2. Mladost 6 (3), 3. Radnicki 3 (2), 4. Vasas 0 (3).
GROUP B
Novi Beograd β Jadran Herceg Novi 11:12 (4:2, 0:3, 4:4, 3:3)
Novi Beograd: Cuk 3, Martinovic 3, Jankovic 1, Urosevic 1, Lukic 1, Milojevic 1, Glusac 1.
Jadran Herceg Novi: V. Radovic 3, Gojkovic 3, Lazic 2, Vujovic 2, Kholod 1, Sladovic 1.
Jadran displayed a well-organized approach, particularly in its offensive play, leading to a well-deserved victory. Although the hosts established their rhythm early in the game, Jadran took control in the second period. This shift was pivotal for the game’s outcome, especially since Jadran managed to keep the hosts scoreless for over 11 minutes, producing a 4:0 rush in that interval.
Novi Beograd opened the match with a 2:0 lead and maintained the difference by the end of the first period. The visitors, who played without first-pick goalkeeper Lazar Andric, halved the distance at 1:2 and 2:3. Lukic made it 4:2 in the 7th minute. The Montenegrins had a nice chance to come close 29 seconds before the first break, when they forced a penalty shot. However, the hostsβ goalkeeper, Milan Glusac, saved a shot from Fran Valera.
But Jadranβs goalkeeper Ilija Radovic displayed his quality and boosted his teamβs self-confidence with several good saves. Novi Beograd began to lose its rhythm in the attack. The Serbs had six man-up possessions in the first half (including two 6-on-4s) and didnβt convert a single one. As usual, a team that misses too many chances pays for it. Jadran scored three unanswered goals in the last three and a half minutes of the first half and went ahead (5:4).
Strahinja Gojkovic displayed his talent Photo by VK Novi Beograd
Jadran kept its momentum after the mid-break. Vasilije Radovic made it 6:4 from a distance. Novi Beograd was without a goal for 11 minutes. It was goalkeeper Milan Glusac who ended that scoring drought. He noticed that Jadranβs goalkeeper, Radovic, was a few meters in front of his goal and lobbed him with a shot over the entire field. The teams traded goals until the end of the third period. In the very last second of the quarter, Vasilije Martinovic scored from a 6 on 5 for 8:9. It was Novi Beogradβs only second power-play goal in the game.
Milos Cuk equalized at 9:9 early in the fourth period. However, Jadran went on a 3:0 run, scoring three goals in three minutes and earning a 3-goal lead for the first time, 12:9. Two minutes before the end, Novi Beograd trailed by two (10:12), but Jadran controlled the match and avoided a thrilling finish. The hosts scored their 11th goal when it was too late β Vasilije Martinovic converted a penalty shot with six seconds to go.
Pro Recco β Jadran Split 15:9 (6:2, 4:2, 3:1, 2:4)
Pro Recco:Cassia 4, Cannella 2, Iocchi Gratta 2, Di Fulvio 1, Granados 1, Fondelli , Presciutti 1, Pavillard 1, Buric 1, Irving 1.
Jadran Split: Butic 3, Matkovic 2, Berehulak 2, Nemet 1, Fatovic 1.
From the beginning of the match, it was clear that beating Pro Recco in Italy would be a mission impossible for Jadran. The Italians defended with a man-down in Jadranβs first possession, and immediately after, they took a 1:0 lead. Shortly after, it stood 2:0. At the first break, Pro Recco was four steps ahead (6:2). Matteo Iocchi Gratta and Giacomo Gannella increased Reccoβs lead to 8:2 (13th minute). For the remainder of the game, the difference was never smaller than five goals. The host’s biggest lead was 13:5, before Jadran narrowed the distance in the last eight minutes.
Max Irving (Pro Recco) and Dusan Matkovic (Jadran) Photo by Federico Schenone
Pro Recco continued rolling, while Jadran Split needs a miracle in the next three rounds to climb to 2nd place and qualify for the Quarter Final Stage.
Standings: 1. Pro Recco 9, 2. Jadran HN 6, 3. Novi Beograd 3, 4. Jadran S 0.
GROUP C
Oradea β Brescia 11:16 (3:6, 1:4, 2:4, 5:2)
Oradea: Gardasevic 6, Oltean 2, Belenyesi 1, Ilsie 1, Gusarov 1.
Brescia: Ferrero 3, Popadic 2, Dolce 2, Gianazza 2, Alesiani 2, Balzarini 2, Viskovic 1, Del Basso 1, Guerrato 1
Brescia has come very close to advancing to the Quarter Final Stage. After defeating Primorac in Kotor, the βLionsβ triumphed over Oradea in Romania. The Italians have secured six points in the games against their direct competitors in the fight for second place, and they will host both of these teams in the second half of the Group Stage.
Two weeks ago, Oradea convincingly defeated Primorac, which was a signal that the Romanians might enter the chase for the Top 8 Round. However, Brescia took the match, played in front of the packed stands, very seriously and silenced the home teamβs fans. Oradea scored the first goal in the game, but Brescia responded with a 4:0 run. Late into the first quarter, Alesiani increased the visitorsβ lead to 6:2.Β Belenyesi converted a man-up in the dying seconds to keep the Romaniansβ hopes alive.
Filip Gardasevic and Stefano Guerrato Photo: CSM Oradea
Β Gardasevic reduced the gap to 4:6 in the 11th minute. Oradea had strong support from the stands, but Brescia didnβt let the Romanians come back into the match. By the end of the first half, Brescia produced another 4:0 run and was 10:4 up at halftime. The Italians didnβt stop after the middle break and continued dictating a pace that Oradea couldnβt follow. At the final break, Brescia had an 8-goal lead (14:6). Del Basso made it 15:6 in Bresciaβs first possession in the fourth quarter. Oradea refused to give up and reduced the gap during the final seven minutes.
The top scorer was Filip Gardasevic from Oradea, who netted six goals, including three in the final quarter. Brescia showcased their strength with nine different scorers and an impressive performance from Tomasso Baggi Necchi, who made 12 saves. The victory was a result of strong teamwork.
Standings: 1. Ferencvaros 6 (2), 2. Brescia 6 (3), 3. Oradea 3 (3), 4. Primorac 0 (3).
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