Can the title-holder survive?
Two duels seem to be decided but the other two are wide open and title-holder Kinef (RUS) is on the edge of bowing out as Olympiacos (GRE) seems to be in a more comfortable position after the away draw. The Italian teams are also set to make the F4 by ousting both Hungarian sides.
The in-house battle of the Spanish teams has already been settled in the first leg as Sabadell, winning four times in the last seven editions, soundly beat Mataro – the rematch is a mere formality. Record-holding Italian side, 8-time champion Orizzonte can prepare for a calmer afternoon too as they play at home and already earned a 3-goal advantage in Dunaujvaros (HUN).
The other Italian-Hungarian duel promises much more excitement as the first game of Padova and UVSE ended in a 7-7 tie in Budapest. UVSE was runner-up in 2016, last year they surprisingly bowed out in the quarters though they got some consolation by clinching the LEN Trophy, by beating Padova in the final. While the Hungarians are targeting the Euro League again, they face a pretty tough challenge and playing at home Padova is in a somewhat better position.
The fourth QF also produced a draw in the first leg: the rematch of last year’s Euro League final between Kirishi and 2015 winner Olympiacos cannot be any tighter. One goal decided the final last year, favouring the Russians, two weeks ago it was 10-10, now one of them should miss the F4 for the first time after three years.
Euro League, Quarterfinals, 2nd leg
Friday
19.15 Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Kinef Kirishi (RUS) – First leg: 10-10
Saturday
12.45 La Sirena Mataro (ESP) v Astrapool Sabadell (ESP) – First leg: 3-12
18.00 Ekipe Orizzonte (ITA) v Dunaujvaros-Maarsk Grpahics (HUN) – First leg: 13-10
19.00 Plebiscito Padova (ITA) v UVSE Budapest (HUN) – First leg: 7-7
Winners will advance to the Euro League Final Four, the losing teams will play in the LEN Trophy Final Four.
For play-by-play descriptions, detailed statistics visit www.len.eu
16 March 2018