Courtesy: LEN Media
It’s decision time, most of the open questions if not all could be settled on the penultimate day in the prelims. In Group A the second place is at stake for Brescia while visiting fellow Italian side Recco and Ferencvaros (HUN) needs a win against Steaua (ROU) to secure its F8 berth. The big match of the day in Group B will decide whether 2017 champion Szolnok (HUN) can still hope to make the finals or BPM (ITA) manages to take the last available spot as a newcomer.
In Group A Brescia should halt Recco’s unbeaten run in the Italian derby in order to keep its second position. Any other result than a win would drop them to the third place as Barceloneta (ESP) is set to gain three points at home against Zvezda (SRB). Ferencvaros needs a win against Steaua to secure their spot in the Final Eight – that should not be a challenge for the Super Cup winners. In case an upset, the Hungarians might get intro trouble as they would face a rocky closing round in Moscow – where Dynamo (RUS) will clash with Eger (HUN) for the 5th place on Wednesday.
Group B will see the most thrilling match of the day. Szolnok takes on BPM in a live-or-die scenario. The 2017 champions must win to keep their F8 hopes alive and would still need a ‘favour’ from Olympiacos (GRE) in the last round as the Greeks should also beat BPM. Provided the title-holders gain three points against Hannover (GER) in this round, the Greeks would secure their F8 spot already on Wednesday.
The round kicks off with an all-Croatian clash between Jug and Jadran. The hosts have had a lapse recently, lost in the Champions League for the first time in Szolnok, then suffered a stunning defeat from Mladost (CRO) in the Regional League final. Jug might not even need any more points to secure its top spot though, in case BPM loses one of its two remaining games. The loser of the encounter of Spandau (GER) and Mladost might finish bottom ranked so the prestige is at stake in Berlin.
Champions League, Day 13
Group A
19.15 Dynamo Moscow (RUS) v ZF-Eger (HUN)
19.15 Atletic Barceloneta (ESP) v Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
20.00 FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v Steaua Bucharest BA (ROU)
20.30 Pro Recco (ITA) v AN Brescia (ITA)
Standings:
1. Recco 36, 2. Brescia 26, 3. Barceloneta 25, 4. Ferencvaros 19, 5. Eger 15, 6. Dynamo 15, 7. Steaua 6, 8. Zvezda 0
Group B
Tuesday
19.00 Jug CO Dubrovnik (CRO) v Jadran Split (CRO)
Wednesday
19.00 Szolnoki Dozsa (HUN) v BPM Sport Management Busto (ITA)
19.00 Wasserfreunde Spandau 04 (GER) v Mladost Zagreb (CRO)
20.00 Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
Standings:
1. Jug 29, 2. BPM Busto 26, 3. Olympiacos 24, 4. Szolnok 21, 5. Jadran 12, 6. Hannover 9, 7. Mladost 8, 8. Spandau 7
For free live streaming of each game, live scoring, stats and play-by-play action visit www.len.eu or download the Champions League App or our brand new Champions League Virtual Lounge!
