An exhilarating Super Cup clash in Budapest last week served as the perfect overture to the 63rd edition of the Champions League.
The first-round matches will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, kicking off what promises to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent years.
The 2026 Champions League features a wider circle of title contenders than last year. Several clubs that were not in the spotlight—or didn’t even participate in the 2025 edition—have significantly strengthened their squads.
There are many favorites, but the main contender remains unchanged: Ferencvaros begins its new Champions League campaign determined to become only the third club in history to win three consecutive European crowns, a feat previously achieved only by Pro Recco and Mladost. However, “Fradi” faces a tougher challenge this time around.
Pro Recco returns to Europe’s top competition eager to improve its record and claim a remarkable 12th Champions League title.
Olympiacos, Radnicki, Mladost, Barceloneta, and Marselle are all capable of reaching the semifinals, while both Jadrans, Novi Beograd, and some other teams also dream of making it to the Final Four. And once a club reaches the semifinals, anything is possible.
All in all, the stage is set for a thrilling new Champions League season. The list of Final Four contenders will begin to narrow early on, as most of these powerhouse teams were drawn into Groups A and B, which appear considerably stronger than the other two groups.
2025/26 Champions League Preview
Group A
Olympiacos
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Quarter Final Stage (3rd place in Group A); 2024: the bronze medal; 2023: 5th place; 2022: 5th place in Group A; 2021: 7th place.
Best results: 2x winner (2002 and 2018), 3x runner-up (2001, 2016, 2019). Other European trophies: LEN Super Cup winner (2002).
Head coach: Elvis Fatovic.
Key players: Gergo Zalanki, Konstantinos Genidounias, Ioannis Fountoulis, Konstantinos Kakaris, Emmanouil Zerdevas, Daniel Angyal…
KVK Radnicki
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Group Stage (3rd place in Group A) and the Euro Cup finalist; 2024: Qualification Round and the Euro Cup Qualifications, 2023: Group Stage (6th place in Group A), 2022: Group Stage (6th place in Group A), 2021: Qualifications and the quarterfinalist of the LEN Euro Cup.
Best result: runner-up in 2014. Other European trophies: 1x LEN Euro Cup winner (as VK Radnicki).
Head coach: Uros Stevanovic
Key players: Andrija Prlainovic, Nikola Jaksic, Dusko Pijetlovic, Strahinja Rasovic, Angelos Vlachopoulos, Sava Randjelovic…
Vasas
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Group Stage (4th place in Group A) and the Euro Cup quarterfinalist; 2024: didn’t play and the Euro Cup eighth finalist; 2023: Qualifications and the Euro Cup winner; 2022: didn’t play and the Euro Cup qualifications; 2021: didn’t play.
Best results: 2x winner (1980 and 1984). Other European trophies: 3 x Cup Winners’ Cup, 1x Super Cup and 1x Euro Cup.
Head coach: Slobodan Nikic.
Key players: Bence Batori, Kristof Varnai, Bogdan Djurdjic, Tamas Gyarfas, Marton Miszei…
Mladost
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Qualifications and the Euro Cup semifinalist; 2024: didn’t play and the Euro Cup qualifications; 2023: Qualifications and the Euro Cup qualifications; 2022: Qualifications and the Euro Cup quarterfinalist; 2021: Qualifications and the Euro Cup quarterfinalist
Best results: 7x winner (1968, 1969, 1970, 1972,1990, 1991, 1996). Other European trophies: 3x Super Cup, 2x Cup Winners’ Cup, 1 x Euro Cup (LEN Trophy).
Head coach: Zoran Bajic
Key players: Luka Loncar, Luka Bukic, Josip Vrlic, Konstantin Kharkov, Ante Vukicevic, Ivan Marcelic…
Group A is undoubtedly the most balanced group in this phase of the Champions League, with three teams—Olympiacos, Radnicki, and Mladost—contending for the top spot.
Olympiacos had a very disappointing 2025 season, failing to reach the Final Four after suffering four consecutive losses in the Quarter Final Stage. During the transfer window, the Greeks made minimal changes to their roster. Croatian veterans Buslje and Loncar departed, while Hungarian Danial Angyal arrived to join his fellow countryman Gergo Zalanki. However, there is a new head coach. Olympiacos will try to achieve its goals (which include the battle for the Champions League title) guided by an experienced Croat, Elvis Fatovic.
Gergo Zalanki. Photo: Orange Pictures.
The summer of 2024 was a milestone for both Radnicki and Mladost, as their budgets increased significantly, allowing them to reshape their teams by signing many excellent players. Radnicki enjoyed great success, winning the Serbian championship, the Regional League, and earning silver in the Euro Cup. Mladost, on the other hand, had a trophyless season, losing several crucial matches against Radnicki on the European stage and in the Regional League. This summer, both teams continued to reinforce their squads with additional experienced players.
Nikola Jaksic (Radnicki) Photo: KVK RadnickiBoth teams have the highest ambitions in all competitions. Mladost, returning to the Champions League after a five-year absence, aims to make up for missed opportunities in previous seasons. The Croats have started the season strongly, showcasing dominant performances in the Champions League qualifications.
Radnicki didn’t begin the season as expected, managing only one point in their first significant challenge, a VRL League match against Jadran HN. However, this loss could serve as a wake-up call for a team filled with champions, including seven reigning Olympic champions.
Konstantin Kharkov (Mladost) Photo: HAVK Mladost
Vasas, a club with a rich tradition, enters the season with a rejuvenated team alongside several experienced players. The Hungarians are not to be underestimated, as Vasas could contend for a spot in the Quarterfinals if it performs to the best of their abilities.
Round 1: Radnicki – Vasas (October 14 at 20:30), Olympiacos – Mladost (October 14 at 18:00)
Group B
Pro Recco
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: didn’t play (the Euro Cup winner), 2024: 2nd place; 2023: winner, 2022: winner, 2021: winner.
Best results: 11x winner (1965, 1984, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023). Other European trophies: 9x Super Cup, 1x Euro Cup.
Head coach: Sandro Sukno
Key players: Alvaro Granados, Francesco Di Fulvio, Max Irving, Giacomo Cannella, Gianmarco Nicosia, Rino Buric…
Jadran Split
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Quarter Final Stage (4th place in Group A); 2024: Quarter Final Stage (4th place in Group A); 2023: Group Stage (5th place in Group A); 2022: Group Stage (7th place in Group A); 2021: Qualifications and the Euro Cup Qualifications.
Best results: 2x winner (1992 and 1993). Other European trophies: -.
Head coach: Jure Marelja.
Key players: Loren Fatovic, Jerko Marinic Kragic, Marko Bijac,Dusan Matkovic, Zvonimit Butic…
Jadran Herceg Novi
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Group Stage (3rd place in Group C) and the Euro Cup quarterfinalist; 2024: Group Stage (4th place in Group A) and the Euro Cup eighth finalist, 2023: Qualification Round 2 and the Euro Cup qualifications, 2022: Qualifications, 2021: Group Stage (6th place in Group B)
Best result: runner-up (2004). Other European trophies: –
Head coach: Vladimir Gojkovic.
Key players: Dmitri Kholod, Djordje Lazic, Fran Valera, Daniil Merkulov, Vasilije Radovic, Strahinja Gojkovic…
Novi Beograd
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: runner-up, 2024: 4th place, 2023: 2nd place, 2022: 2nd place, 2021: didn’t play (eighth-finalists of the LEN Euro Cup).
Best result: 3x runner-up (2022, 2023, and 2025). Other European trophies: -.
Head coach: Petar Radanovic.
Key players: Milos Cuk, Vasilije Martinovic, Djuro Radovic, Nikola Lukic, Miroslav Perkovic, Milan Glusac…
After winning their first Euro Cup, Pro Recco has assembled a mighty team and is returning to the Champions League with the goal of winning its 12th European title. It is clear that the Italians are heavy favorites for first place in their group.
Francesco Di Fulvio (Pro Recco) Photo by Laszlo Balogh
Meanwhile, the competition for second place is anticipated to be a three-horse race.
Novi Beograd is the only team that reached the Champions League semifinals in all four seasons from 2022 to 2025. The Serbian club won the silver medal four months ago in Malta, which was somewhat surprising given the significant rejuvenation of the team in 2024. This season, the team is even younger, but their ambitions remain high. Some of the younger players who were in the shadow of great aces in the past seasons have matured and improved themselves. While Novi Beograd is not a big favorite anymore, it still has the potential to play an important role in European competitions.
Vasilije Martinovic Photo by VK Novi Beograd
Based on many opinions, the national champions, Jadran Split and Jadran Herceg Novi, have similar chances of advancing to the Quarter Final Stage as Novi Beograd. The Croatian champions are entering the season with nearly the same lineup that played in the 2024/25 season, but they have extended their roster with a few excellent reinforcements. However, head coach Marelja will be without Jerko Marinic Kragic for a while yet, as the captain is still recovering from surgery. The Montenegrins also signed a few excellent additions, including the world champion, Fran Valera.
A significant boost for the Montenegrin champions is their victory over Radnicki in Kragujevac last week. Jadran Split has yet to face a strong opponent this season. The match between the two Jadrans tomorrow will serve as the first real test for the Croatian champions and is also one of the key clashes in the three-horse race mentioned.
Round 1: Jadran HN – Jadran S (October 14 at 18:30), Novi Beograd – Pro Recco (October 15 at 20.30).
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Group C
Ferencvaros
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: winner, 2024: winner, 2023: 6th place, 2022: 3rd place; 2021: runner-up.
Best results: winner (2019, 2024, 2025). Other European trophies: 4x winner of the Cup Winners’ Cup, 2x Euro Cup winner, 6 x Super Cup winner.
Head coach: Baalzs Nyeki.
Key players: Dusan Mandic, Soma Vogel, Krisztian Manhercz, Stylianos Argyropoulos, Marton Vamos, Szilard Jansik, Edoardo Di Somma…
Oradea
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Quarter Final Stage (4th place in Group A); 2024: Qualifications and the Euro Cup Qualifications; 2023: Qualification Round 3 and the Euro Cup quarterfinalist; 2022: Qualifications; 2021: Qualifications and Euro Cup Qualifications.
Best result: Quarter Final Stage (2025). Other European trophies: –
Head coach: Petar Kovacevic.
Key players: Filip Gardasevic, Lazar Dobozanov, David Belenyesi, Levante Vancsik, Sebastian Oltean…
Primorac
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Group Stage (4th place in Group D) and the Euro Cup quarterfinalist; 2024: Qualifications and the Euro Cup Group Stage; 2023: Qualifications and the Euro Cup eighth-finalist; 2022: Qualifications; 2021: Qualifications and Euro Cup eighth-finalist.
Best result: winner (2009). Other European trophies: 1x Super Cup.
Head coach: Athanasios Kechagias.
Key players: Darko Brguljan, Nemanja Vico, Savo Cetkovic, Yusuke Inaba, Dimitrije Risticevic…
Brescia
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Qualifications and the Euro Cup quarterfinalist; 2024: Quarter Final Stage (4th place in Group B), 2023: 8th place; 2022: 4th place; 2021: 3rd place.
Best Champions League results: 3rd place (2021). Other European trophies: 4x Euro Cup winner.
Head coach: Alessandro Bovo.
Key players: Jacopo Alesiani, Vincenzo Dolce, Tommaso Gianazza, Vlado Popadic, Tommaso Baggi Necchi, Mario Del Basso.
Ferencvaros has already won two big trophies this season (the Hungarian Cup and the European Super Cup). There is no special need to note their chances and ambitions. It will be a huge surprise if the reigning champion doesn’t win 1st place in Group C. A great encouragement for Ferencvaros’s fans is that goalkeeper Soma Vogel recovered and played his first match after a long break last week in the Super Cup.
Dusan Mandic Photo by Laszlo Balogh
Just like in Group B, the competition for second place is set to be interesting.
Primorac has the most experienced team among the three contenders for second place and may have a slightly better chance of advancing to the Quarter Final Stage compared to the Italians and the Romanians. The Montenegrins secured their spot in the group stage by winning first place in their qualification group in Belgrade, finishing ahead of Novi Beograd.
Yusuke Inaba Photo by Marcel ter Bals/MTB-Photo
Brescia has a relatively young team that did not perform well in the qualifications, suffering an 8:18 defeat to Mladost. However, they advanced thanks to a previous victory over Vouliagmeni. Despite their struggles, Brescia can still be (at least) a competitive opponent against Primorac and Oradea.
Oradea achieved its greatest success in the Champions League last season by reaching the Quarter Final Stage. This season, the Romanians face tougher challenges as they will compete in a more demanding group during the first phase compared to last year. Nevertheless, they might still surprise, as their roster has not changed significantly since last season, allowing the teammates to maintain their chemistry.
Round 1: Ferencvaros – Oradea (October 15 at 18.30), Primorac – Brescia (October 15 at 20.30)
Group D
Barceloneta
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: the bronze medal; 2024: Quarter Final Stage (3rd place in Group B); 2023: the bronze medal; 2022: 5th place; 2021: 4th place.
Best results: winner (2014), 3rd place (2013, 2015, 2018, 2023). Other European trophies: 1 x Super Cup.
Head coach: Fran Fernandez
Key players: Unai Aguirre, Alberto Munariz, Bernat Sanahuja, Roger Tahull, Vince Vigvari…
Marseille
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: 4th place; 2024: Quarter Final Stage (3rd place in Group A); 2023: Group Stage (7th place in a group); 2022: 7th place; 2021: 8th place.
Best result: 4th place (2025). Other European trophies: 1x Euro Cup (LEN Trophy)
Head coach: Milos Scepanovic.
Key players: Thomas Vernoux, Ugo Crousillat, Petar Tesanovic, Michael Bodegas, Radomir Drasovic…
Sabadell
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Group Stage (3rd place in Group D) and the Euro Cup semifinalist, 2024: Group Stage (3rd place in Group A) and the bronze medal in the Euro Cup, 2023: Group Stage (5th in Group B); 2022: didn’t play/ the Euro Cup winner; 2021: didn’t play /LEN Euro Cup quarterfinals.
Best result: Group Stage. Other European trophies: 1 x Euro Cup.
Head coach: Quim Collet
Key players: Sergi Cabanas, Edoardo Lorrio, Martin Famera, Kanstantin Averka, Alberto Barroso…
Waspo 98 Hannover
Last five Champions League seasons – 2025: Group Stage (4th place in Group A) and the Euro Cup eighth-finalist; 2024: Qualifications and the Euro Cup Group Stage; 2023: Group Stage (8th place in Group A); 2022: 6th place; 2021: 6th place.
Best result: 6th place (2022 and 2021). Other European trophies: –
Head coach: Aleksandar Radovic
Key players: Marko Macan, Denis Strelezkij, Zoran Bozic, Lukas Kueppers, Niclas Schipper…
In June, Barceloneta defeated Marseille 19:9 in the bronze medal match at the Final Four in Malta. However, the 10-goal margin did not accurately reflect the actual difference in quality between the two teams.
The Spaniards and the French are the frontrunners in Group D. Still, Barceloneta is the favorite, while Marseille will pose the biggest danger to the 2014 European champion in Group D.
Unai Aguirre Photo by Laszlo Balogh
Since the 2025 Final Four, both teams have changed. Even though Barceloneta begins a new chapter without Felipe Perrone and Alvaro Granados and with a new head coach, Fran Fernandez, the Spaniards have an excellent team, with ten finalists of the World Championships (eight Spaniards and two Hungarians). Marseille has the right to dream big, as it has assembled a very good team after the departures of stars like Prlainovic, Angyal, and Velotto.
Thomas Vernoux Photo by Philippe Fretault/ WP inside
Sabadell didn’t have a promising start to the season, suffering two consecutive defeats to Barceloneta in the past two weeks (10:17 in the Copa Catalunya and 6:16 in the Spanish Super Cup). But the season has just started. The second-best Spanish team is yet to show its best. Sabadell will have a new chance to prove its capabilities against Barceloneta already on Wednesday in the first round of Group B.
Waspo Hannover has been waiting for a win on the European stage for almost two years (since November 2023 and the Euro Cup Group Stage). The German champion is, on paper, an underdog in this group. Waspo has an experienced team, but with no big stars. We’ll find out if the experience will be enough to end a winless streak.
Round 1: Marseille – Hannover (October 14 at 20:30), Sabadell – Barceloneta (October 15 at 20.30).
I Visit Total Waterpolo Arena for live results and the statistics of the 2025/26 Champions League
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