No doubt, the big match is the clash of Olympiacos and Barceloneta in Group A, the two sides having gained four wins in as many rounds so far. There are other highly important matchups too, especially in Group B where almost all matches produce extreme excitements.
Olympiacos and Barceloneta both have been flying high so far, delivered four fine victories – but now one of these winning series would come to an end (or both, in case of a tie). The home field may give the Greeks the necessary edge, still, it’s a hard call to make any prediction – apart from noting that Barceloneta’s coach Elvis Fatovic, a Croat, spent some time with coaching the hosts’ key players, goalie Marko Bijac and 2m defender Andro Buslje while working with the national team some years ago.
Some kilometres away along the Greek coasts, in Vouliagmeni, a crucial tie is due between Vouliagmeni and Jadran as both sides are running for the fourth spot behind the big three in Group A.
Title-holder Recco should have no problem to add another win in Hannover and Radnicki need to do the same against Dinamo to stay on course in the race for the F8.
Group B encounters usually bring tight results, one-two goals separate the teams if it’s not a draw at the end (which already happened four times). Novi Beograd is the only unbeaten side in this group but now the F8 hosts are heading to Marseille. The French could finally win a game in the last round, so this is definitely the game to watch on Wednesday.
The Hungarians’ away matches also promise some thrills. Ferencvaros visit Berlin and with some key players being injured, they might face some challenging moments against Spandau. OSC are definitely the underdog in Brescia, still, they also gained their first win in December, so they seem to be on the rise too.
Jug recorded one win so far – though had a fine draw in Belgrade –, so meeting Sabadell at home offers them a good chance to take another big step; any other outcome would jeopardise their run for an 8th consecutive F8 appearance.
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Fixtures, Day 5
Group A (Tuesday)
19.00 (18.00CET) Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP)
19.00 (18.00CET) Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Jadran Split (CRO)
19.00 Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Pro Recco (ITA)
20.30 Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
Group B (Wednesday)
19.00 Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) v Astralpool Sabadell (ESP)
19.30 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN)
20.00 CN Marseille (FRA) v Novi Beograd (SRB)
20.30 AN Brescia (ITA) v Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN)
Group A (Tuesday)
Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP)
Igor Milanovic, coach, Olympiacos
“I would like to send my best wishes for the New Year to all the fans of water polo and especially to the fans of Olympiacos. We are looking forward to the match against Barceloneta on Tuesday. Both teams are at the top of the group so far. The analysis we have done on Barceloneta has shown us that they play very fast, very well on defence with a lot of flexibility in their game. I really like this way of playing, after all, that’s how we try to play as well. We have a lot of common elements in defence especially and in the strategy we choose to have in the water. One problem we have is that some of our players are sick right now and I don’t know yet if I will be able to have them available for Tuesday’s game. On the other hand, I strongly believe in my team, I strongly believe in the heart of my players, and in our home in front of our fans we will give our best for this game and I believe it will be enough to win.”
Dinos Genidounias, player, Olympiacos
“The game against Barceloneta is decisive for the rest of the season. It’s one of the games we have to win at home, against a team that is in great form at the moment. With our defence as a weapon and concentration throughout the game, we can get this win.”
Elvis Fatovic, coach, Barceloneta
“This game will be a good test for us to see where we stand. Olympiacos is a great team with a great coach. We need to be very focused and play our best. We are hoping for a very interesting game.”
Dusan Matkovic, player, Barceloneta
“We are expecting a very difficult game. It will be the most difficult one so far this season. Olympiacos is a team with extraordinary individuals. We’ll do our best to put on a great show and try to win.”
Alberto Munarriz, player, Barceloneta
“This will be the hardest match with the strongest rival we’ve had so far this season. The truth is that we face this game with a lot of desire. This will be a real test for us. We have claimed all the points till now so that gives us a certain calmness regarding our classification. We will enter the match without pressure and hope for a good game and the keep the right direction we’ve taken in the first part of the season.”
Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Jadran Split (CRO)
Vladimir Vujasinovic, coach, Vouliagmeni
We, like most teams, started working after a long break, national teams’ preparations and New Year’s holidays. So I can only say that I hope we will be ready physically and mentally for a very important period for our team.”
Charalampos Troulos, player, Vouliagmeni
“The game with Jadran is one of the most important and challenging games we will play in the group. Jadran Split has very experienced and capable players. We are determined to prove we’re not in the Champions League by chance. It’s a big opportunity for us to gain the fourth position of the group, gaining a huge advantage to reach the Final 8.”
Jure Marelja, coach, Jadran
“This game against Vouliagmeni is going to be very hard for us. Looking at the way they play in the Greek Championship and in the Champions League suggests they have good coaching and are really well organised. They play aggressive and swimming a lot, so I hope my team will be on a good level.”
Andelo Setka, captain, Jadran
“With our new coach we have a big game ahead of us. Victory in this away match could be crucial for our run to the Final Eight.”
Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Pro Recco (ITA)
Karsten Seehafer, coach, Hannover
“Recco is the champion and together with Olympiacos and Barceloneta, they are the favourite in this group and for the title too. I hope, we are able to play a nice game.”
Andrija Basic, player, Hannover
“Another hard game, this time against the European champions. I think it will be a difficult game for us – especially now, after the holidays, and also because we had a few sick players last week. But we will give 100% and show a good face. It is another game in which we can grow as team and get prepared for games with Dinamo and Vouliagmeni.”
Luka Lozina, player, Hannover
“Playing against Recco is always hard since they are one of the best teams in Europe. We will give our best and continue to grow in each game.”
Sandro Sukno, coach, Pro Recco
“Waspo Hannover have changed several players since last season, they are rejuvenating the squad. In any case, I believe that everything depends on us, after the Christmas break, we want to start over with an important victory in our European path.”
Giacomo Cannella, player, Pro Recco
“A tough game awaits us like any Champions League match. Waspo Hannover is a team that has changed compared to the last few seasons, while we recharged our batteries during these holidays and trained with Harvard University. We want to win to reach our goal to take the first place in the group.”
Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
Uros Stevanovic, coach, Radnicki
“The first game after the holiday break is ahead of us. We all gathered together only a few days ago, but despite this, I hope we will win. Getting three more points is imperative, and we also want to improve the impression we left during the previous two games.“
Bogdan Gavrilovic, player, Radnicki
“I expect a tough game, but I hope we will win. We want to take three new points in the race for a place in the Final Eight. This match is also very important for us to get back on the winning path after bad games and heavy defeats in the last two appearances in the Champions League.”
Zurab Rurua, coach, Dinamo
“Playing on the road is always difficult, especially against Radnicki. We have an ambition to play a very tough game and we will give our maximum to achieve this goal. It will be especially important for us to correct the mistakes we made in the previous games.”
Khvicha Jakhaia, player, Dinamo
“In our last two games we were so far from our best. We worked hard to correct our mistakes and we hope and believe that our performance in the next game against such a strong team like Radnicki will reach a good level.”
Group B (Wednesday)
Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) v Astralpool Sabadell (ESP)
Vjekoslav Kobescak, coach, Jug
“We have some problems with injuries but still we need these three points. I hope we will play as we played in last few games.”
Toni Mozara, player, Jug
“This game against Sabadell will be everything but an easy one. We need to be on top if we want to win this game. There are no easy games this season, so we are focused on how we present ourselves and I hope the three points will stay in Gruz.”
Quim Colet, coach, Sabadell
“After the Christmas break, we are approaching this Champions League game with a lot of enthusiasm. We are going to one of the most challenging pools in Europe. In any case, the latest results of the team give us optimism to face the match and get the first victory of the season.”
Bernat Sanahuja, player, Sabadell
“The team is very motivated after the Christmas holidays. In any case, some of the players have been on stage these days in the USA with the national team and this has allowed us to continue with a good pace of work. We have a lot of confidence to try to get a good result.”
Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN)
Athanasios Kechagias, coach, Spandau
“We are looking forward to our two home matches this season and want to present our audience an exciting and interesting game. FTC Budapest is a very strong team with many internationally experienced top players. Even though my team is in an underdog role in this match, we will try everything to create a surprise. We are prepared and looking forward to a good match.”
Mateo Cuk, player, Spandau
“It is always difficult to play against a Hungarian team at the highest level. We have trained hard in the past and would like to reap the rewards. It will be a tough match against FTC Budapest, but if you don’t believe in yourself, you can’t win. A win for Spandau would probably be a surprise for insiders. Only surprises make the competition interesting.”
Zsolt Varga, coach, FTC
“In the Champions League, every match and point is important, but these three points very much fall into this category. We are prepared and will do everything to win. We have difficulties but we can handle these, and we would like to come home from this match as winners.”
CN Marseille (FRA) v Novi Beograd (SRB)
Milos Scepanovic, coach, Marseille
“VK Novi Beograd is a very good team with a lot of quality in attack and in defence, it’s not an accident that they are the reigning European vice-champions. And they got even stronger since last season. We work a lot in order to face this level of teams, so we are ready. In addition, we ended the year well, that’s why we want to start the new one well.”
Mathias Olivon, player, Marseille
“A great match is coming up, we’re training to play these matches and we want to carry on the momentum we got against Spandau and continue to win matches in the Champions League to go the furthest afterwards.”
Zivko Gocic, coach, NBG
We are expecting a very tough game against our rival whom we respect so much. This game is coming at a very difficult time for us because most of our players had obligations with their respective national teams, and we didn’t spend so much time together recently. Still, we have a huge desire and motive to win the game against Marseille. We will try to prepare ourselves in the best possible way and we will try to do our best. If we play at our highest level, we will have a chance for a good result. I will repeat one more time, we have a huge respect for Marseille, but we believe in ourselves and hope for an exciting game.”
Dusan Mandic, player, NBG
“We face a very tough game against Marseille, which is a very quality team. This is the first game for us in 2023 and we want to win. That goal will not be easy to accomplish at all because most of our players were recently with the national teams and we didn’t have too much training opportunities together. Also, we have some problems with injured players, so we will not play with our strongest roster. But we will try to give our 100 percent and do our best to win in the end.”
AN Brescia (ITA) v Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN)
Alessandro Bovo, coach, Brescia
“It is always uncertain to restart after the holidays’ period. We are happy because some of our players recovered from injuries. OSC is a very strong team, well organised. Our aim is to win this match because it’s so important for our Champions League path.”
Stefano Luongo, player Brescia
“OSC is a very strong team. They have really good offensive players and because of this we have to be very careful in defence. We have to be concentrated and focused also on the offensive side and try to do our best.”
Daniel Varga, coach, OSC
“After a 20 day-long break we will start the year against one of the best teams in Europe – so we don’t have too much pressure on us. We have had only two training days with all the players, due to national team practice sessions. Unfortunately, four players have problems either with injury or other sickness. I don’t expect my players to be in top form, but I want to see them give everything what they could in this part of the season.”
Marton Levai, goalie, OSC
“The first game for us in 2023 is a tough one against Brescia. Our next CL-opponent is a well-organised, stable defensive team, with strong counter-attack ability. We need to turn off this strength of theirs and force them to have a six-on-six game. This is the way to play a good game and reach a good result in an away match.”
Facts and Figures, Day 5
Group A (Tuesday)
Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP)
Olympiacos: Recco 9-7 (h), Dinamo 21-9 (a), Jadran 13-8 (a), Hannover 16-7 (a)
Barceloneta: Dinamo 14-8 (a), Vouliagmeni 11-7 (a), Hannover 20-5 (h), Radnicki 18-9 (h)
Recent encounters:
2021-22: 3-7, 8-4. 2020-21: 9-22 (quarter-final). 2019-20: 9-15, 11-11. 2018-19: 14-10, 7-7 (prelims), 6-4 (semi-final)
Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Jadran Split (CRO)
Vouliagmeni: Radnicki 9-9 (a), Barceloneta 7-11 (h), Dinamo 12-7 (h), Recco 7-14 (a)
Jadran: Hannover 10-8 (a), Recco 9-13 (h), Olympiacos 8-13 (h), Dinamo 21-7 (h)
Recent encounters:
Never met in the CL
Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Pro Recco (ITA)
Hannover: Jadran 8-10 (h), Radnicki 12-13 (a), 5-20 Barceloneta (a), Olympiacos 7-16 (h)
Recco: Olympiacos 7-9 (a), Jadran 13-9 (a), Radnicki 21-12 (h), Vouliagmeni 14-7 (h)
Recent encounters:
2021-22: 3-18, 7-20. 2020-21: 9-16 (quarter-final). 2019-20: 13-21. 2018-19: 10-14 (quarter-final). 2016-17: 7-10, 8-18
Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
Radnicki: Vouliagmeni 9-9 (h), Hannover 13-12 (h), Recco 12-21 (a), Barceloneta 9-18 (a)
Dinamo: Barceloneta 8-14 (h), Olympiacos 9-21 (h), Vouliagmeni 7-12 (a), Jadran 7-12 (a)
Recent encounters:
2021-22: 14-7, 17-13
Group B (Wednesday)
Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) v Astralpool Sabadell (ESP)
Jug: Brescia 8-13 (h), Marseille 14-9 (h), Novi Beograd 12-12 (a), FTC 7-9 (a)
Sabadell: FTC 7-10 (h), Spandau 9-9 (h), Brescia 4-7 (a), OSC 8-9 (a)
Recent encounters:
Never met in the CL
Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN)
Spandau: Novi Beograd 5-16 (h), Sabadell 9-9 (a), OSC 9-9 (a), Marseille 7-14 (a)
FTC: Sabadell 10-7 (a), Brescia 4-8 (a), Marseille 9-8 (h), Jug 9-7 (h)
Recent encounters:
Never met in the CL
CN Marseille (FRA) v Novi Beograd (SRB)
Marseille: OSC 10-10 (h), Jug 9-14 (a), FTC 8-9 (a), Spandau 14-7 (h)
NBG: Spandau 16-5 (a), OSC 17-9 (h), Jug 12-12 (h), Brescia 11-9 (h)
Recent encounters:
2021-22: 10-16 (quarter-final)
AN Brescia (ITA) v Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN)
Brescia: Jug 13-8 (a), FTC 8-4 (h), Sabadell 7-4 (h), Novi Beograd 9-11 (a)
OSC: Marseille 10-10 (a), Novi Beograd 9-17 (a), Spandau 9-9 (h), Sabadell 9-8 (h)
Recent encounters:
2017-18: 9-5, 8-6
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