Penultimate round of CHL Group Stage: All eyes on Kragujevac and Marseille

December 1, 2025

Bernat Sanahuja in a battle with Marseille's defense Photo by Zodiac CNA Barceloneta

The series of international water polo games in 2025 will conclude this week, with the 5th rounds of the Champions League Group Stage and the Euro Cup Group Stage.

The two competitions will continue in February after the European Championships in Belgrade.

Two weeks ago, after the Champions League Round 4, two teams qualified for the Quarter Final Stage – Ferencvaros and Pro Recco, both of which continued their winning streaks. Only two teams lost their last chance to advance among the best eight teams – Vasas and Primorac.

The remaining 12 clubs are still in the competition for the quarterfinals, and most of them have realistic chances to qualify, so there will be several exciting games in the remaining two rounds.

This week, several teams have the opportunity to join Pro Recco and Ferencvaros in the Top 8 stage.

Like in the previous four rounds, one of the highlights of the week will be an encounter in the “group of death”- in Group A. In the fifth round, it is a clash between Radnicki and Mladost in Kragujevac.

The other game attracting great attention is the Group D match, where Marseille hosts Barceloneta.

The games in groups B and C are in the shadows of the other clashes this week, even though a derby between Novi Beograd and Jadran is on the schedule in Group B. Only big surprises in these groups will impact the battle for the Quarter Final Stage berths.

2025/26 Champions League, Round 5, Preview

GROUP A

Wednesday, December 3: Radnicki – Mladost at 20:30, Olympiacos – Vasas at 20:30

After two consecutive losses to Mladost and Olympiacos, Radnicki cannot afford to lose any more points in Group A. But an overture before the game with Mladost wasn’t good. Last weekend, Radnicki was narrowly defeated by Novi Beograd in the Serbian Cup semifinals.

Mladost has gained significant momentum this season. The Zagreb-based team has suffered only one defeat, which was against Olympiacos in Piraeus. On Saturday, Mladost triumphed in the Croatian Cup, securing its first trophy in four and a half years. This success has further boosted the team’s self-confidence ahead of their match in Kragujevac.

Andrija Basic (Mladost) and Viktor Rasovic (Radnicki) Photo by Tom Franic/HAVK Mladost

For the first time this Champions League season, Radnicki will have all its players available for the match, as Serbia’s captain, Nikola Jaksic, has recovered from his injury. However, Radnicki’s performance in the Serbian Cup semifinals was not promising. Nevertheless, the Serbian champions can learn from their mistakes in that match, and with the support of their fans, they hope to keep their chances of reaching the Quarter Final Stage alive.

Olympiacos missed its first opportunity to qualify for the top eight teams by losing to Mladost. This week, the Greeks have a great chance to secure their place in the next phase. They are heavy favorites going into their match against Vasas, a team they defeated by ten goals in Budapest. While Vasas is stuck at the bottom of the table, the Hungarian will likely be motivated to challenge the favorites.

Standings: 1. Olympiacos 9, 2. Mladost 9, 3. Radnicki 6, 4. Vasas 0.

GROUP B

Tuesday, December 2: Novi Beograd – Jadran Split at 20:30, Wednesday, December 3: Jadran Herceg Novi – Pro Recco at 20:30.

The two finalists of the national cups in Serbia and Croatia will face off in the derby in Group B.

Novi Beograd ended a 4-game losing streak by beating Radnicki and Sabac and won the Serbian Cup. Jadran Split convincingly lost to Mladost in the Croatian Cup final. The game in Belgrade is important, but it isn’t crucial.

Supposing that Pro Recco will finish the group stage with a perfect record, beating both Jadrans in the last two matches, the result of the encounter between Novi Beograd,, which restructured its coaching staff, and Jadran Split won’t significantly impact the standings.

A victory over Jadran Split will mean nothing for Novi Beograd unless the Serbs also defeat Jadran Herceg Novi in their away match in the sixth round. Therefore, the game in Trebinje is essential for the Serbs. That won’t change even if the Croatian champion beats them by a small margin. On the other hand, Jadran Split, which suffered a 3-goal loss to Novi Beograd at home, must meet several conditions to advance to the Top 8 round.

Pro Recco’s coaching staff Photo by Federico Schenone

As for Pro Recco, the Euro Cup winners will not maintain their position at the top of the group if they fail to earn any points in their next two games and lose to Jadran Herceg Novi by ten goals or more on Wednesday. This scenario seems very unlikely. Pro Recco will play for pride and aim to extend its winning streak.

Nevertheless, favorites can occasionally have an off day. Only one unexpected outcome could complicate the situation in the group.

Standings: 1. Pro Recco 12, 2. Jadran Herceg Novi 6, 3. Novi Beograd 3, 4. Jadran Split 3.

I Visit Total Waterpolo Arena for live results and the statistics of the 2025/26 Champions League

GROUP C

Tuesday, December 2: Primorac – Oradea at 18:30, Ferencvaros – Brescia at 20:30.

Everything is relatively clear in Group C.

Ferencvaros doesn’t need to beat Brescia tomorrow to cement first place before the last round. The Hungarians only have to avoid a defeat by a margin of four goals to clinch the top spot mathematically. Considering that the reigning champions has improved week by week, it’s hard to believe they will allow themselves to drop any points, especially at home. While Brescia has also performed well, a win for the Italians would be a significant surprise.

Photo by Eleonora Frigerio

Primorac welcomes Oradea, aiming to avenge a 7-goal defeat in Romania. Oradea still has a slim chance to reach the quarterfinals. It will remain in the race if it takes three points in Kotor and Ferencvaros defeats Brescia. If both tomorrow’s results go in the Romanians’ favour, they will still have a challenging task ahead of them, as they will need to beat Brescia in Italy by six goals or more.

Likely, the standings will not change here until the end of the Group Stage.

Standings: 1. Ferencvaros 12, 2. Brescia 9, 3. Oradea 3, 4. Primorac 0.

GROUP D

Tuesday, December 2: Marseille – Barceloneta at 20:30, Wednesday, December 3: Sabadell – Waspo 98 Hannover at 18:30.

Three surprising results – Waspo Hannover’s home wins over Sabadell and Marseille, and Sabadell’s victory in Marseille – made the competition in Group D very interesting. All four teams can qualify for the Top 8 round.

Barceloneta is in a very good position. The other Spanish team, Sabadell, got back into the race for the next phase with the win in Spain.

Even if Barceloneta loses to Marseille in tomorrow’s derby, it will still be very close to advancing to the Quarter Final Stage, as it will host Hannover in Round 6. The Spanish champion is much stronger than the Germans, as demonstrated by a 27:11 victory in Hannover three weeks ago.

Hannover vs. Sabadell Photo by Gianluca Tancerdi

Sabadell enters the final group stage match, encouraged by a victory over Barceloneta in the Spanish League three days ago. Sabadell will play the remaining two games at home – against Hannover and Marseille. If Sabadell takes six points in these two matches (including at least a 3-goal win over Hannover on Wednesday), it will secure 2nd place, regardless of the other results.

After an excellent start to the season, Marseille came to the edge of elimination because of the losses to Hannover and Sabadell. The French will face the two Spanish teams in rounds 5 and 6. A good result in the derby against Barceloneta would be a big step toward the Top 8 round and also a signal that Marseille has started to overcome the crisis.

Standings: 1. Barceloneta 9, 2. Marseille 6, 3. Waspo 98 Hannover 6, 4. Sabadell 3.

I Visit Total Waterpolo Arena for live results and the statistics of the 2025/26 Champions League