Euro Cup Men: Marseille looking for revenge against Sabadell as quarterfinals begin

As the men’s Euro Cup quarterfinals get underway this week, four huge clashes await. Panathinaikos AC and BVSC Manna ABC are the only survivors from the Euro Cup Group Stage and both face tough tasks this week against VK Jadran Split and CSM Oradea respectively. Elsewhere, CN Marseille are aiming for revenge against CN Sabadell after the Spaniards beat them twice in this season’s Champions League, while last season’s Euro Cup runners-up SPD Radnicki face VPK Primorac Kotor.

2025/26 Euro Cup Men
Quarterfinals, First-Legs
Wednesday 18 March
(Local times shown)

18:00: VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) v SPD Radnicki (SRB)
19:00: CN Marseille (FRA) v CN Sabadell (ESP)
18:00: BVSC Manna ABC (HUN) v CSM Oradea (ROU)
19:00: *Panathinaikos AC (GRE) v VK Jadran Split (CRO)
*To be played on Thursday 19 March

Quarterfinals, First-Leg
Wednesday 18 March
(Local times shown)

18:00: VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE) v SPD Radnicki (SRB)

VPK Primorac Kotor and SPD Radnicki have met several times in recent history, and with the Serbians having won their last four encounters in the Regional League, they’ll start as favourites to win this quarter-final.

“I expect a win as well,” said Radnicki’s Boris Vapenski. “We came out on top in both meetings this season, so I believe we can achieve the same result again.

“Primorac will certainly be more aggressive this time, especially playing at home with strong support from the stands, but I believe it’s up to us – just like in the previous two matches – and that we need to impose our rhythm from the very start.”

Primorac lost their last two games in the Regional League against Radnicki by six goals (15-9 away in February and 13-7 at home in November), so they’ll need to improve on those performances if they want to keep the tie alive ahead of the second leg in Serbia.

In the Eight Finals, Primorac edged past VK Jug 28-25 on aggregate after two closely contested legs (14-13 at home and 12-14 away), while Radnicki beat CN Barcelona 32-25 over their two legs (10-15 away and 17-15 at home).

Quarterfinals, First-Leg
Wednesday 18 March
(Local times shown)

19:00: CN Marseille (FRA) v CN Sabadell (ESP)

“We are really looking forward to this match against Marseille,” Sabadell’s Rafa Real Vergara told European Aquatics. “They’re a team we know very well, as we have played against them many times this season.

“Like any knockout game, we know we can’t afford to make many mistakes, otherwise we will be out. So we are preparing really hard, and I’m sure it is going to be two great games.”

Marseille will feel they are due a win against Sabadell after losing to the Spaniards twice in the Champions League this season (11-12 at home and 16-13 away), with those defeats helping to deny them a coveted place in the Quarter Final Stage of the continent’s top-tier tournament.

“This is a great opportunity for us to take revenge against Sabadell,” said Marseille coach Milos Scepanovic. “Now it’s up to us to show that we have worked hard to improve. We need to impose our rhythm to win these two games and progress to the last four.”

“This match is extremely important for us, as a place in the semi-finals is at stake,” added Marseille’s Ugo Crousillat. “We’ll give everything we have to win these two games. We know the Sabadell team well, as they have often put us under pressure. It’s up to us now to show we are capable of taking revenge.”

In the Eight Finals, the French side had to dig deep to scrape past RN Savona 25-24 on aggregate (11-12 away and 13-13 at home), while the Spaniards eased past VK Sabac Elixir, as after dominating the home tie 11-3, a 9-6 away loss didn’t trouble the overall score.

Quarterfinals, First-Leg
Wednesday 18 March
(Local times shown)

18:00: BVSC Manna ABC (HUN) v CSM Oradea (ROU)

“This will be a very tough game, as Oradea are a very good team,” BVSC’s Matyas Meszaros told European Aquatics. “Our goal is simple – we need to fight for every ball, and also to win this first leg in Budapest.

“We need to show this is our home, and how we can play here in our pool. In the last match against Vasas – who also dropped down from the Champions League – we fully showed what we can do, and we are ready to demonstrate that again.”

“Playing in the quarterfinals of the Euro Cup means such a lot to my players and to the club,” added BVSC coach Daniel Varga. “This is a good chance for us to achieve something even bigger.

“Oradea have played some very good games this season and they have really good players in each position, with an excellent coach.

“We are preparing for them, but more for ourselves, to be able to produce and show our potential. I’m optimistic and I hope we can give 100 per cent throughout.”

Despite facing a team that failed to qualify for this season’s Champions League, CSM Oradea coach Petar Kovacevic is taking nothing for granted and expects a tough battle against the Hungarians.

“BVSC are a strong team with very experienced players,” he said. “We will have to avoid making mistakes, play strongly in defence, and make sure we do not concede too many goals.

“BVSC represent Hungarian polo now in this competition. We will have to be very focused and determined in these two matches.

“All of our players must perform at a very high level in order to advance. I do not know if playing the second game at our home will be an advantage or not, but our focus right now is on this week’s game in Budapest.”

“In the draw, BVSC were probably the most favourable option for us,” added Oradea’s Darian Luncan. “First of all because of the short distance between Oradea and Budapest, and also the other possible opponents being stronger in my opinion.

“But this does not mean we are already through to the semifinals. It also doesn’t mean we consider BVSC to be a weaker team than ours.

“We hope to have a good match in Budapest and hopefully to qualify. Hosting the second leg in Oradea, in front of our fans, could be decisive, we’ll see.”

In the Eight Finals, BVSC beat domestic rivals Vasas 28-24 on aggregate, as despite losing the first leg 11-8 away, they turned the tie around at home by winning the return leg 20-13, while Oradea narrowly beat Terrassa by just one goal, after winning 14-13 at home and drawing 14-14 away.

Quarterfinals, First-Leg
*To be played Thursday 19 March
(Local times shown)

19:00: Panathinaikos AC (GRE) v VK Jadran Split (CRO)

VK Jadran Split roared into the quarterfinals after dominating both legs in the Eight Finals against Szolnok (36-24 on aggregate, 21-14 at home and 15-10 away), and were the only team to advance with a double-digit winning margin (12).

It is a fact not lost on Panathinaikos coach Dimitris Mazis, who is fully aware of the challenges his team are likely to experience over the two forthcoming games.

“We are facing a very good team with many skilled and experienced players,” Mazis told European Aquatics. “We must be very focused and combative to give ourselves a chance of qualifying.”

The Greeks were the only team in the Eight Finals to need penalties to progress, after two thrilling ties with Jadran Herceg Novi ended 28-28 on aggregate.

Panathinaikos will be hoping their passionate fans can inspire them to a strong result in the first leg at home this week and keep their chances of progressing intact ahead of the second leg in Croatia.

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics

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