Euro Cup Men: Race to the final begins with last-four showdowns

The business end of the men’s Euro Cup has arrived, with the four remaining teams set to go head-to-head this weekend in the first legs of the semifinals. CN Marseille and last year’s runners-up SPD Radnicki have both previously tasted success in the competition – Radnicki in 2013 and Marseille in 2019 – but one of the former champions will miss out this season after being drawn together. The other tie sees VK Jadran Split, runners-up in 1998, take on BVSC Manna ABC, who are aiming to reach the final for the first time in the club’s history.

2025/26 Euro Cup Men
Semifinals, First-Legs
Saturday 25 April
(Local times shown)

20:30: SPD Radnicki (SRB) v CN Marseille (FRA)
18:00: VK Jadran Split (CRO) v BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)

Second-legs: Saturday 9 May

20:30: SPD Radnicki (SRB) v CN Marseille (FRA)

SPD Radnicki and CN Marseille both endured disappointing Champions League campaigns, but are now fully focused on finishing the season strongly by lifting a European trophy.

“Marseille are an extremely strong team, with a large number of international players and the best French talents in their squad, so we’re expecting a very tough game,” Radnicki coach Uros Stevanovic told European Aquatics.

“They had some weak performances in their Champions League group, which was surprising for a team of their calibre. But since the European Championships, they have been playing much better water polo – just like us.

“The other semi also features two very respectable teams, Jadran Split and BVSC. I expect four tough games overall, and I think it’s completely open as to who will make it to the final.”

It has been 12 years since these two teams last met in continental competition, with Radnicki coming out on top in 2014 (8-7) in a Champions League qualifier – and this encounter promises to be just as tight.

After being eliminated from this season’s top-tier tournament – Radnicki finished third in their group behind Mladost and Olympiacos – the Serbians dismantled Barcelona in the Euro Cup Eight Finals and Primorac Kotor in the quarters to set up a meeting with Marseille.

Twelve months ago, Radnicki were in exactly the same position, when they got the better of Mladost in the semis before losing in the final to Recco.

They are now aiming for another shot at gold and looking to add a second Euro Cup title to their honours board, following their 2013 triumph over Florentia.

As Stevanovic pointed out, Marseille appear to be firmly back on track after a series of underwhelming Champions League displays.

However, their route to the semis was far from plain sailing, as they were forced to dig deep to get past a resilient Savona in the Eight Finals.

After edging the away leg 11-12, captain Ugo Crousillat’s late goal in Italy proved decisive, as they could only draw the return leg 13-13 at home, despite holding a four-goal advantage early in the fourth quarter.

In the quarters, Marseille put themselves in the driving seat for a last-four place with a 17-12 home victory against Sabadell in the first leg, before playing out a 14-14 draw away.

With just one comfortable win in the competition so far this season, it’s clear Marseille will need to raise their levels against Radnicki if they are to earn the opportunity to add another Euro Cup title to their collection, following their 2019 triumph over Jadran Herceg Novi.

“We’re eager and highly motivated to take on this challenge,” stated Crousillat before travelling to Kragujevac.

“We’re looking forward to playing this semifinal this weekend against a top Serbian team.

“We have what it takes to face them, and we will give absolutely everything to rise to the occasion.”

18:00: VK Jadran Split (CRO) v BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)

After easing past Hungary’s Szolnoki Dozsa Praktiker in the Eight Finals (36-24 on aggregate), VK Jadran Split were pushed all the way in the quarterfinals by a determined Panathinaikos.

Both ties were absolute thrillers, with the Croatians progressing after battling their way to a narrow 30-29 aggregate victory.

Jadran Split captain Zvonimir Butic scored a dramatic late winner in the first leg in Greece, and was the hero once more in the return fixture, firing in two goals in the final two minutes to send his team through.

It was a sensational turnaround, as Panathinaikos had led for the majority of the second leg and it looked like a surprise was on the cards.

Jadran are now targeting their first Euro Cup final since their only appearance in the gold-medal game in 1998, when they lost to Partizan, and their players have been busy doing their homework.

“We’ve been watching and analysing BVSC for quite some time now,” Jadran goalkeeper Marko Bijac told European Aquatics. “They are a typical Hungarian team, with two top national team centres, and excellent shooters around them.

“We’ll need to be extremely focused, but if we stay calm and stick to what the coach asks of us, I believe we are the team that can reach the European final we all want so much.

“We’re aware of how much that result would mean for the club, the city and Croatian water polo. From Saturday until the end of the season, there’s almost no room for mistakes.

“We’re really looking forward to it and I’d like to invite everyone to come to our pool and support us, as I believe we’re in for a real spectacle.”

“We live for matches like this and we believe we can reach the final,” added Jadran’s Toni Radan. “I hope the fans will support us like they did against Panathinaikos, as the atmosphere that night was incredible.”

“BVSC are a classic Hungarian team – strong shooters, two excellent centres, and have a patient, structured, European style of play, which reflects their coach,” stated Jadran head coach Jure Marelja.

“We know almost everything about them, but we need to stay focused and keep our defence at a high level. There were some issues in that area in recent matches against Mladost and Jug, but we’re working hard to return to our standard – matches with fewer goals conceded.

“It’s difficult to promise that against a team without clear weaknesses, but we will give everything.

“We must not allow them to get into that ‘Hungarian frenzy’. The chances for winning are very balanced. I would say 52% in our favour because we are playing at home.

“I hope we will once again feel the energy from the stands like we did against Panathinaikos.”

Standing in Jadran’s way are BVSC Manna ABC, who have never reached the final of this competition and are the only side remaining that didn’t drop down from this season’s Champions League.

“After a long time, we’ve managed to reach the semifinals, which means a lot to both the club and the players,” BVSC’s Peter Kovacs said. “We obviously don’t want to stop here, though.

“We know our opponents are strong, but we will do everything we can to fight to qualify for the final.”

The Hungarians will arrive in Croatia full of confidence, having won all three of their recent games in the national OB I division, including a thrilling 19-18 shootout victory against Conference Cup Final 4 participants Endo Plus Service Honved on Wednesday night.

Before winning that match 9-8 on penalties, following a hugely entertaining 10-10 draw, BVSC also beat familiar foes Vasas away 14-15, the team they memorably knocked out of the Euro Cup in this season’s Eight Finals.

In the quarters, BVSC had a more straightforward path, storming past CSM Oradea 26-15 on aggregate, winning 14-8 at home, before also dominating the away leg 12-7.

“We’ve come a long way to reach this semifinal,” added BVSC coach Daniel Varga. “It’s a major achievement for the team, the club, and the players.

“But we’re not satisfied with just getting this far. In Split, we want to achieve a result we can build on for the return leg, so we have a realistic chance of reaching the final.”

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics

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