Courtesy: LEN
The clash of Novi Beograd and Jug Dubrovnik can be labeled as premium content among Day 3 fixtures. Last season’s F8 participants’ battle in the game of Ferencvaros and Marseille also belongs to the must-watch games, just like Olympiacos’ visit to Split.
Whenever the top clubs of Serbia and Croatia clash, it’s a highlight of any competition, especially the Champions League. Now it’s happening on Day 3 in Group B: Jug visit Novi Beograd and the current shape of both sides promise a brilliant battle. The host Serbs blew both Spandau and OSC away, while Jug bounced back from the opening day’s loss to Brescia and beat Marseille soundly, then claimed the Crotian Cup with a huge win over Jadran last weekend.
There will be another duel of last season’s F8 participants as bronze medallist Ferencvaros take on Marseille. The Hungarians struggled in Brescia two weeks ago but won the domestic cup final against fellow CL side OSC in a superb game, so they are on the rise. At the same time, Marseille grabbed only a single point in their first two matches, and they badly need a win – however, getting that in Budapest is going to be really challenging.
Brescia took a flying start, beating Jug by five in Dubrovnik, then FTC by four at home is nothing less than a dream start – and Sabadell may not pose a huge threat to the Italians’ winning run. OSC and Spandau both claimed a draw in an away match, besides both were beaten badly by Novi Beograd, playing at home, the Hungarians are the favorites, however, the Germans showed some fine plays in Sabadell on Day 2.
Olympiacos’ adventures in Split are the highlights in Group A. Beating Recco gave the Greeks a huge push for the season, now they meet Jadran which are in a search for a new coach as Mile Smodlaka resigned after the team’s bad loss to Jug in the cup final. For sure, the Croats may imagine a bit easier rival in the given situation…
Recco face off Radnicki – the Serbs had all the problems in the world in the second halves on the first two days, which cost them a win against Vouliagmeni and almost another one against Hannover, so the title-holder Italians should enjoy a smooth ride at home. Just like Barceloneta which play with Hannover – the Germans lost two tough matches, a third defeat may seriously derail their campaign for a fourth straight F8 appearance.
The first win is at stage in the game of Vouliagmeni and Dinamo and to retain some hope to stay close to the big boys.
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Fixtures, Day 3
Group A (Tuesday)
19.00 (18.00 CET) NC Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
19.00 Jadran Split (CRO) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
19.00 Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) v Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
21.00 Pro Recco (ITA) v VK Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)
Group B (Wednesday)
19.00 FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v CN Marseille (FRA)
19.30 Genesys OSC Budapest (HUN) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)
19.45 VK Novi Beograd (SRB) v Jug Adriatic Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO)
20.30 AN Brescia (ITA) v Astralpool Sabadell (ESP)