Primorac Kotor, Vasas, and Mladost all finished at the top of their respective groups in the Champions League Qualifications.
The most thrilling match on the final day of the qualifications took place in Belgrade (Group A), where Primorac defeated the host team, Novi Beograd, in a game marked by numerous twists and turns, which ended only in a penalty shootout. The Kotor-based team recorded an 18:16 victory (with a tie of 13:13 in regular time). This victory means that Primorac will face their biggest challenge in the upcoming group stage against the reigning champions, Ferencvaros, and the remaining two opponents are Oradea and Brescia. Novi Beograd will have more demanding tasks, as its rivals will be Pro Recco, Jadran Split and Jadran Herceg Novi.
In Sabadell, a decisive duel for first place in Group B was full of excitement, but Vasas managed to secure a 12:10 victory over Sabadell without a nail-biting finish.
Mladost confirmed their top position in Group C with a dominant 18:8 win over Brescia in Zagreb.
With today’s matches concluded, the group compositions for the Champions League group stage and the Euro Cup qualifications have been finalized (you can find the group compositions at the end of the article).
2025/26 Champions League Qualifications, Day 3
GROUP A (Belgrade)
Novi Beograd – Primorac 16:18 (4:2, 2:5, 4:3, 3:3, PSO 3:5)
Novi Beograd: Cuk 3, Perkovic 3, Gladovic 2, Martinovic 2, Lukic 1, Grgurevic 1, Milojevic 1.
Primorac: Mrsic 6, Inaba 2, Brkic 2, Vidovic 1, Vuckovic 1,Stanojevic 1..,
Penalty shootout: Lukic, Martinovic, Gladovic for Novi Beograd; Mrsic, Inaba, S.Cetkovic, Vuckovic and Brkic for Primorac.
The beginning of the match belonged to the home side. At the first break, Novi Beograd led 4:2. However, Primorac started taking control of the encounter deep into the second period. Three minutes before the end of the first half, Novi Beograd led 5:4. The Montenegrins then scored three goals in three consecutive attacks to earn a 7:5 advantage.
Yusuke Inaba (Primorac) and Djuro Radovic (NBG) Photo by VK Novi Beograd
At halftime, Novi Beograd trailed 6:7, but Primorac continued dictating the pace and jumped to 9:6 with two goals from Marko Mrsic (one from a 6 on 5 and the other from a penalty shot). The hosts started waking up thanks to their key players, Milos Cuk and Vasilije Martinovic. From the 21st until the 24th minute, Novi Beograd scored four unanswered goals (Cuk netted three and Martinovic added one) and regained a slim advantage (10:9), but just three seconds before the end of the quarter, Brkic leveled, and nobody had an advantage before the final eight minutes.
Martinovic opened the fourth period, but Primorac responded with two goals. Novi Beograd leveled at 12:12 with 04;04 minutes left on the clock. In the next possession, Marko Mrsic scored his 6th goal to put Primorac in front again, 13:12. Following that, there were no goals for a while. But, 50 seconds before the final buzzer, Lukic made it 13:13 and sent the match into a penalty shootout, as nobody found the net in the final two possessions.
The game was decided in the third round of shots. Primorac’s goalkeeper, Dimitrije Risticevic (who played for Novi Beograd a few years ago), saved a shot from Djuro Radovic. None of Primorac’s shooters made mistakes, and the Kotor-based team earned a hard-fought win.
Steaua – Pays d’Aix 21:8 (5:1, 5:2, 4:5, 7:0)
Steaua: Vucinic 4, Georgescu 3, Fulea 3, Neamtu 3, Fenech 3, Iudean 2 Colodrovschi 2, Piriianu 1.
Pays d’Aix: Bachelier 2, Beteille 1, Scorletti 1, Yutmaz 1, Braise Fernandez 1, Lena 1, Cavano 1.
Djordje Vucinic (Steaua) Photo by VK Novi Beograd
Steaua dominated the game from the very beginning. By midway through the second quarter, the Romanians established a 9:1 lead. After a competitive third quarter, Steaua regained its rhythm and completely outplayed the French team. Pays d’Aix was not a contender for the top two spots in the group in Belgrade, but better performances were expected from the second-best team in France. Ultimately, Pays d’Aix finished the qualifications without any points, ending with a goal difference of 26:61.
Final standings: 1. Primorac 8, 2. Novi Beograd 7, 3. Steaua 3, 4. Pays d’Aix 0.
GROUP B (Sabadell)
Sabadell – Vasas 10:12 (3:2, 2:4, 3:6, 2:0)
Sabadell: Cabanas 4, Asensio 2, Panerai 1, Barroso 1, Averka 1, Perez 1.
Vasas: Batori 3, Gyarfas 2, Szalai 2, Dala 2, Lakatos 1, Selley-Rauscher 1, Djurdjic 1.
After two closely contested matches, each decided by a single goal, the tournament in Sabadell concluded with another intriguing game. However, this time, the match did not have an exciting finish. Vasas established a solid lead in the third period and maintained control of the game until the end.
Tamas Gyarfas (Vasas) Photo by Víctor Castillo
Sabadell, with the help of its supporters, dictated the pace in the first half. In the middle of the second quarter, the hosts led 5:3. But then Vasas gained momentum. The Budapest-based side’s goalkeeper, Mizsei, posted one save after another, while his teammates scored three unanswered goals by halftime. Vasas went in front for the first time in the 16th minute, when Szalai made it 6:5. Dala doubled Vasas’ advantage to 7:5 early in the third quarter. Cabanas reduced the gap to 6:7, but that goal didn’t stop the Hungarians, who earned a solid 12:8 advantage before the final period. Sabadell couldn’t come back. It scored two consolation goals in the final 80 seconds.
Final standings: 1. Vasas 6, 2. Sabadell 3, 3. Spandau 04.
GROUP C (Zagreb)
Mladost – Brescia 18:8 (4:2, 3:0, 5:1, 6:5)
Mladost: Basic 4, Nagaev 4, Buljubasic 2, Vrlic 2, Vukicevic 2, Kharkov 2, Bukic 1, Dobric 1.
Brescia: Alesiani 3, Guerrato 2, Gianazza 1, Viskovic 1, Balzarini 1.
After outplaying Vouliagmeni yesterday, Mladost was too strong for Brescia, which has a young team like the Greek team.
The hosts earned an early 2:0 lead. Brescia managed to halve the deficit twice (1:2 and 2:3), but it was the end of an equal contest. Between the 7th and 21st minute, Mladost went on a 6:0 run to jump to 9:2 and kill all Brescia’s hopes of a surprise.
Two captains, Ante Vukicevic (Mladost) and Jacoppo Alesiani (Brescia) Photo by Toni Franic/HAVK Mladost
The Zagreb-based team proved it could go high in Europe this season. Mladost stretched the margin to 11 goals in the fourth period (15:4,17:6, 18:7). Still, Mladost recorded “only” a ten-goal victory, as Ante Viskovic, a former Mladost player, who joined Brescia this year, scored the last goal in the game.
Final standings: 1. Mladost 6, 2. Brescia 3, 3. Vouliagmeni 0.
Champions League Group Stage
The Champions League Group Stage will begin on October 14/15.
Group A: Olympiacos (GRE), Radnicki (SRB), Vasas (HUN), Mladost (CRO).
Group B: Pro Recco (ITA), Jadran Split (CRO), Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE), Novi Beograd (SRB).
Group C: Ferencvaros (HUN), Oradea (ROU), Primorac (MNE), Brescia (ITA).
Group D: Barceloneta (ESP), Marseille (FRA), Waspo 98 Hannover (GER), Sabadell (ESP).
More articles about the Champions League
Euro Cup Qualification Round (October 3 – 5)
Sixteen teams will play in the Euro Cup Qualifications – twelve that entered the competition according to their results in the 2025 season, and the four eliminated teams from the Champions League Qualifications.
Group A (Athens): Spandau Berlin (GER), Apollon Smyrnis (GRE), ZV De Zaan (NED), Sport Management (GEO)
Group B (Montpellier): Vouliagmeni (GRE), Crvena Zvezda (SRB), Trieste (ITA), Montpellier (FRA)
Group C (Sibenik): Steaua (ROU), Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO), Solaris (CRO), Rapid Bucharest (ROU)
Group D (Terrassa): Pays d’Aix (FRA), Szolnok (HUN), Terrassa (ESP), OSC Potsdam (GER).
The four group winners and the three best second-placed clubs will advance to the Euro Cup Group Stage.
More articles about the Euro Cup
