Courtesy: LEN
The tussle goes on in Group A: the top two sides clash in Brescia, without doubt Olympiacos’ visit to Italy is the highlight of the last round held in 2021. A couple of crucial matches are also in the schedule, important ones in the hunt for the F8 spots, like the clashes between the Hungarians and Croatians, one in Budapest featuring Ferencvaros and Jadran, and the other in Dubrovnik, with Jug and OSC.
With another load of draws a week ago in Group A, Olympiacos broke two points clear but the Greeks now face a really tough challenge as they close out the year in Brescia. Both sides are undefeated so far, it’s going to be a thrilling encounter.
The chasers will also have a couple of crucial battles. Last season’s runner-up Ferencvaros takes on Jadran, this is a key match-up in the hunt for the F8 spots. The Hungarians had five extremely tight matches so far, four draws and a single-goal win (against Novi Beograd), so excitements at their games are guaranteed. Now Jadran pays a visit to Budapest, fresh from winning the Croatian Cup, a huge achievement for the club vying for trophies for painfully long years – a week ago the Hungarians managed to grab a point in Barcelona in the same situation (days after they had won their cup).
Barceloneta also badly needs the points, and they have a chance to collect three at home against Radnicki – though the Serbs came back to life by beating Dinamo last Tuesday. The other Serbian club, F8 host Novi Beograd is set to cash in three points in Tbilisi.
In Group B, leader Recco spent the past week in Hungary, beat OSC last Wednesday, trained with top sides including Ferencvaros on the following days, on Monday evening they play in Szolnok for the Super Cup, then travel to Hannover to continue their winning streak.
Marseille is also in a great run, won five straight games and after victories in Dubrovnik and Budapest, beating Spandau at home should not be a problem (they already downed the other German side Hannover last week). Jug lost painfully to Jadran in the Croatian Cup final, a consolation may come quickly but that won’t be easy as OSC comes to Dubrovnik. The Hungarians also look for a positive finish of the years after back-to-back home defeats to Marseille and Recco, though the Croats are still the favourites in this match.
Steaua Bucharest is yet to win a game, playing with Crvena Zvezda at home may offer a fair chance, though the Serbs have other thoughts in mind as only a victory would keep their slim hopes to reach the F8 alive.
Champions League, Day 6 – Fixtures
Group A (Tuesday)
- 19.00 Zodiac Atletic Barceloneta (ESP) v Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)
- 20.30 FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v Jadran Split (CRO)
- 20.30 Brescia (ITA) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
Wednesday
- 19.00 Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) v Novi Beograd (SRB)
Standings: 1. Olympiacos 13, 2. Brescia 11, 3. Ferencvaros 7, 4. Barceloneta 7, 5. Novi Beograd 7, 6. Jadran 6, 7. Radnicki 4, 8. Dinamo 0
Group B (Wednesday)
- 19.00 CN Marseille (FRA) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)
- 19.00 Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) v Pro Recco (ITA)
- 19.00 Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) v OSC-Budapest (HUN)
- 20.00 Steaua Bucharest (ROU) v Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
Standings: 1. Recco 15, 2. Marseille 12, 3. Jug 12, 4. OSC 7, 5. Hannover 5, 6. Spandau 4, 7. Zvezda 3, 8. Steaua 0
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