Champions League 2017-2018, draw for the Main Round

 

2016 final to be replayed in the group

 

The draw for the Champions League Main Round was held in Budapest on the occasion of the wild card-holder teams’ first meeting. In the new format sixteen teams play for reaching Final Eight. The Hungarian capital will also host both Super Cup finals later in the autumn.

 

The Champions League Main Round’s virtual start took place where the previous season ended: the draw was held in Budapest (HUN), site of the Final Six tournament last May. Beforehand a meeting was staged for the wild card-holder sides whose number was increased to 12 from the previous year’s eight.

 

LEN Operational Manager Marco Birri presented the most important guidelines and requirements for the participating clubs including the live TV coverage which ensures free streaming of each game during the season.

 

The draw has already set up a couple of great matches in the coming season. In Group A Jug Dubrovnik (CRO) and Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) will replay the 2016 final, while Group B will see two brilliant matches between title-holder Szolnok (HUN) and the 2015 champion Pro Recco (ITA).

 

At a press conference held after the draw LEN announced that Budapest would continue hosting outstanding water polo events in 2017. After the finals of three European cups in the spring (Champions League, Euro Cup, Euro League) and an outstanding World Championships, both Super Cup finals will be staged in the Hungarian capital.

 

Magyar teams were pretty successful this season winning three titles. Thus in the women’s game UVSE Budapest will clash with Russia’s Euro League winner Kirishi while the men’s contest is going to be an all-Hungarian affair featuring Szolnok and Euro Cup winner Ferencvaros. The finals will be held back-to-back in the completely refurbished Komjadi pool, another legendary site where most of the Hungarian clubs managed to earn European glory in the past.

 

Group A

Dinamo Moscow (RUS)

Jug Croatia Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)

CNA Barceloneta (ESP)

Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)

Q3 Winner B

Partizan Belgrade (SRB)

Q3 Winner C

Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)

 

Group B

Steaua Bucharest (ROU)

Olympic Nice (FRA)

Q3 Winner D

Q3 Winner A

Pro Recco (ITA)

Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)

Szolnoki Dozsa-Kozgep (HUN)

 

29 August 2017