Champions League Men: Olympiacos and Novi Beograd set to clash in high-stakes game
Though the grand duel of 11-time winners Pro Recco and title-holders FTC is also scheduled for Day 4 in the Champions League Quarterfinal Stage, the match with the highest stakes is arguably the battle between Olympiacos and Novi Beograd. Here, the losing team will fall behind almost irreversibly in the race for the Final Four.
2025/26 Champions League Men
Quarterfinals Stage, Day 4
(Local times shown)
Group A
(Wednesday 22 April)
19:30: Olympiacos SFP (GRE) v VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB)
20:30: Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v AN Brescia (ITA)
Group B
(Tuesday 21 April)
20.30: Pro Recco (ITA) v FTC-Telekom (HUN)
20.30: Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Mladost Zagreb (CRO)
Group A
(Wednesday 22 April)
19:30: Olympiacos SFP (GRE) v VK Novi Beograd Tehnomanija (SRB)
Head-to-head: 2-4 (1 draw)
Day 1: 10-12. 2024-25: 5-8, 15-16. 2023-24: 11-13, 9-6. 2021-22: 12-9, 12-12.
This contest carries the highest stakes. With three teams in the group level on three points behind CNAB, the race for the second qualifying spot couldn’t be any tighter. In this game, two of those sides face off and, even if it’s not mathematically decisive, in reality the winners’ chances of reaching the finals will receive a tremendous boost.
Seven weeks ago, NBG stunned Olympiacos in Belgrade, but they then suffered back-to-back away defeats, despite showing promising moments in both Barcelona and Brescia.
Now they need more of those moments to stay on course, as Olympiacos have also performed well at home but fell short in Belgrade and Barcelona.
In that last encounter, conceding 20 goals to CNAB was somewhat embarrassing, and the Greeks will need to improve their defence to keep their hopes alive.
“We are aware this is one of the most important matches of the year for us,” Olympiacos coach Elvis Fatovic said. “We are expecting a great opponent who beat us in the first game, but we are ready to deliver a much better performance than we did in Belgrade.
“It will be very important to have a strong defence and good transition, because NBG are very, very dangerous in counterattacks and in transition, so we need to neutralise that part of their game.
“At the same time, we need to speed up our playing style a bit if we want a good result. In the first game, the man-up and man-down situations did not work, especially on both sides.
“Both teams were better in the man-down. So I hope we will improve that part and I am expecting a good game from our side.”
Since their heavy loss to CNAB, most of the Piraeus players have been heavily involved in the World Cup Division One tournament, where they had to play six matches in seven days. NBG players went through the same experience and, unlike the Greeks – who finished the event on a high – the Serbs left empty-handed.
In any case, this game is set to be both a physical test and a test of character, with whichever side in better shape likely to prevail in this crucial clash.
This was mirrored by the statement of Luka Pjevancic, NBG’s big man in the centre: “Expectations for this game are the highest. We need to win the match, and then we can go to the Final Four in Malta.
“Of course, after that we have two more very hard and important games. But if we talk about Olympiacos, it’s going to be a very hard game, especially in Piraeus.
“They’re a very good team, most of them play for national teams. They have two great centre-forwards, that is their biggest strength. And if you want to win the game, we need to play with strong focus, good defence and take care of all details of our plan we practiced this and last week.”
Similarly, Olympiacos’ veteran playmaker Ioannis Fountoulis thinks they are facing a final. “We are playing a game that is clearly a final for us. If we want to get closer to the Final Four, we must win this match at all costs.
“Novi are a very strong team with great quality, and it certainly won’t be easy, but we are playing at home, and we must impose our own game and our own rhythm here.
“We need to show up with a lot of energy, passion, and concentration on our plan, and combined with the support of our fans, I am confident we can succeed and secure a great victory.”
Group A
(Wednesday 22 April)
20:30: Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v AN Brescia (ITA)
Head-to-head: 8-6 (2 draws)
Day 1: 13-11. 2023-24: 12-8, 12-5. 2021-22: 12-14, 12-12. 2020-21: 8-6, 10-9, 7-13 (bronze). 2018-19: 8-8, 8-14. 2017-18: 5-6, 5-7. 2014-15: 7-7, 4-12. 2013-14: 6-4 (quarter-final). 2012-13: 7-5, 9-7.
Barceloneta can resume their quest for the Final Four from a very comfortable position. Holding a six-point advantage over the rest at the halfway mark is a rare scenario, and beating Brescia would secure their place in the endgame straight away.
With CNAB unbeaten at home, they have a strong chance to seal another appearance in the finals. They managed to beat the Italians on the opening day, however, Brescia have already shown in the group stage that they can never be written off.
Title-holders FTC also defeated them in Brescia, but Sandro Bovo’s side responded in Budapest with a shootout win, having dominated much of the regular time as well.
At the same time, the home players are fresh from winning the World Cup Division One tournament with the Spanish team – an undoubtedly uplifting experience, though it may also have drained some of their reserves.
CNAB’s coach Fran Fernandez is aware of the challenges. “After securing three wins in three games, we now approach our first ‘match point’ to secure a spot in the Final Four.
“We’ve reached this stage of the competition unbeaten. But it’s not the start that counts – it’s how it ends.
“The only way to give meaning to what we’ve achieved is by playing good water polo that allows us to keep racking up wins.
“I hope the break for the World Cup and the physical demands coming with it for the national team players doesn’t affect the team’s great form over the past few weeks.
“It will be the last Champions League match of the season in our pool. Hopefully, the atmosphere and our fans will push us to claim all three points.
“There’s a lot at stake, and the group is wide open. Brescia have thrown themselves back into the fight for a ticket to Malta by beating NBG in their last match, making them a more than uncomfortable and dangerous opponents.
“Another intense and exciting match is guaranteed at Sant Sebastià, not recommended for those with heart conditions, I’d say.”
Local hero Unai Biel is optimistic before the game. “After the World Cup, we are back at Barceloneta, preparing for our game against Brescia. We know how important these three points are.
“We know their style of playing, we know they play a lot of one-on-one situations, intensely, with a lot of strength. We must match their intensity, to take the three points and enjoy the win with our fans in our home.”
Brescia’s Vincenzo Dolce is also determined to make the most of their visit in Barcelona. “It will be a really tough match, very physical because they are a strong team. They have a good defence, so all we can do is to go there, focus on our goals and our game plan. We know how important this match is for the qualification.”
Group B
(Tuesday 21 April)
20.30: Pro Recco (ITA) v FTC-Telekom (HUN)
Head-to-head: 6-1 (1 draw)
Day 1: 13-9. 2023-24: 11-12 (final). 2022-23: 8-4 (quarter-final). 2021-22: 10-7 (semi-final). 2020-21: 9-6 (final). 2019-20: 13-13. 2018-19: 9-6, 13-7.
2025 Super Cup final: 14-15
The grand duel kicks off Day 4 action on Tuesday evening. Perhaps for the first time in the last two years, FTC’s opponents are considered the favourites to win.
Recco currently occupy the virtual top spot in the entire field – and the very real one in the group – as they are the only unbeaten side this season.
They have yet to lose a match across all competitions, while Fradi have already fallen twice, both times to Italian teams: first against Brescia in the group stage, then against Recco on Day 1 of this phase.
It’s also hard to ignore that in the previous two seasons, FTC’s only defeat came on Day 4 of the quarterfinal stage, both in 2024 and 2025, when they visited their strongest rivals’ homes – Olympiacos two years ago and CNAB in the last edition.
Now, it’s Day 4 again, and they are set to play in Recco. At the same time, Fradi have at least maintained one record this season – they have not lost any away matches.
All of that will count for little when these two giants collide on Tuesday.
At the beginning of March, Recco’s commanding 0-5 start set the tone for the rest of the game, and at home the Italians rarely hold back.
They led 8-2 against Jadran Herceg Novi and 10-4 against Jadran Split at half-time in the group stage – only Novi Beograd managed to keep pace for two periods before fading in the third.
Recco’s American star Max Irving offered a great description of the upcoming battle. “This game is extremely important for us, but not only for us, but also for FTC.
“We’re two of the best teams in the world competing for a spot at the Final Four.
“Whenever you’re in the quarterfinal phase fighting for a semifinal spot, it’s going to be two teams going to war giving everything they have.
“The key for us is going to be putting a lot of our attention and focus and concentration on defence, and then at the end of four quarters, 32 minutes, we’ll turn to the scoreboard and see where we’re at.
“It’s going to be a completely different game than the one we played in Budapest. For us, it’s an amazing opportunity to take a step forward, to grow together as a team, and ultimately get closer to who we want to be at the end of the season, because we know the Italian championship is long, and then of course there’s a lot of time until the Final Four in Malta if we qualify.
“So, it’s going to be an amazing opportunity for us to play water polo at the highest level. Sciorba has really given us a major home court advantage when we played Brescia at home, Savona at home, and then of course for the Coppa Italia.
“So, thank you all to the fans who show up and come out here and support us. Just bring that energy, bring that fire, bring that passion, and we’re looking forward to seeing you guys all soon.”
Recco warmed up with a thrilling 19-16 away win against Savona in the domestic league while Fradi also raised their game after that shocking defeat, snatching two big away wins in the CL in Hannover and in Zagreb, and they also blew away their home rivals.
Ultimately, they are the title-holders and a couple of their key players skipped the World Cup adventure and that might have an impact in this already gruelling season.
Alvaro Granados hit seven against Savona, but now his attention is also on Tuesday’s clash. “Well, for sure there are many things we need to take into account against this team that, I think, with us, is the most talented team in the world.
“But I think our side is ready and we will approach the game like we need to. Yes, the push our fans give us here is always important, so I call everyone to come here and keep fighting with us.”
In the Fradi camp, after their win over Mladost eased the pressure, coach Balazs Nyeki’s approach changed a bit.
“The Recco-Fradi battle is always a special one, with a huge prestige. Sadly, we are not in our best shape since we have a lot of injured and ill players, so we arrived at Genova with weakened team, but it can’t be an excuse.
“We would like to show our best, and of course the main goal is to win the match. But all in all, I think this won’t be the most important Recco-Fradi match in the history of water polo.”
Group B
(Tuesday 21 April)
20.30: Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Mladost Zagreb (CRO)
Head-to-head: 1-4 (1 draw)
Day 1: 8-12. 2019-20: 13-15, 12-18. 2018-19: 11-11, 14-9. 2014: 8-13 (qualifications)
Though Mladost’s chances to make the finals suffered a serious blow when Fradi handed them a five-goal defeat in Zagreb, they still have some chance to advance.
To achieve that, they have to land all three points in Hannover. That seems an easy task maybe on paper, but Marseille and Sabadell both arrived to Germany with the same goal, but melted in the heat and those losses dropped them out from the race for the quarterfinal spots.
Mladost played a demanding match at the weekend, but managed to beat arch-rivals Jadran Split to keep their hopes alive to finally clinch the Croatian title.
It was also a great start for their new head coach Hrvoje Hrestak, who had been the assistant of the dismissed head coach Zoran Bajic.
As for Waspo, this is perhaps their last chance to gain something in this stage, as visiting Recco and FTC in the remaining two rounds promises little for the Germans.
But Hannover’s Dutch aces are ready for battle. “Respect to Mladost for the win in Zagreb, but now it’s our turn.” commented Sam van den Burg. “We’re focused on taking revenge for the 12-8 loss and showing our true level. Everything stays in the water. Let’s go!”
“The World Cup was hard, we had six matches and almost no rest, but this shouldn’t affect our high motivations against Zagreb,” Mark Gansen added. “They are a great team, but I‘m sure we will get our first points in the second round.”
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
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