Brescia and Marseille enjoyed a huge evening in Week 5 of the 2025/26 Champions League, with both clubs securing crucial away wins to book their places in the Quarter Final Round.
Brescia produced one of the surprises of the season, defeating Ferencváros in Budapest after a penalty shootout (16–13, 12–12). Remarkably, the Italians had already mathematically secured their place in the Top 8 before the opening sprint, thanks to Primorac’s earlier 15–11 win over Oradea. While Brescia’s victory was impressive, it won’t change their position — they will remain second in Group C, with Ferencváros still poised to finish top as they face Primorac in Round 6.
In Group D, Barceloneta mounted a brilliant late comeback in Marseille. Trailing by three goals for most of the match, the Spaniards stormed to a 4–0 run in the final period to clinch a 12–11 victory. The win sends Barceloneta into the Quarter Finals and all but guarantees first place in their group.
In Group B, Novi Beograd defeated Jadran Split 15–11. The game remained balanced through three quarters, but Novi Beograd dominated the final eight minutes with a 6–1 run. The victory boosts confidence for the decisive February matchup against Jadran Herceg Novi — the winner of that fixture joins Pro Recco in the Top 8. Jadran Split, meanwhile, has now lost its final chance to advance.
2025/26 Champions League — Group Stage, Round 5
GROUP B
Novi Beograd – Jadran Split 15:10
(2:4, 3:3, 4:2, 6:1)
Novi Beograd: Cuk 4, Perkovic 4, Martinovic 3, Trtovic 2, Dimitrijevic 1, Lukic 1.
Jadran Split: Berehulak 4, Marinic Kragic 2, Butic 2, Fatovic 1, Curkovic 1.
Novi Beograd extended their perfect Champions League record against Jadran Split — eight meetings, eight victories. Despite the strong win, the Serbian side must still beat Jadran Herceg Novi in February to reach the Quarter Finals.
Jadran, missing first-choice goalkeeper Marko Bijac, built a 5–2 lead early in the second quarter through excellent man-up conversions. But Novi Beograd stayed in touch and slowly shifted momentum. A pivotal 4–0 run from 7–9 to 11–9 turned the match, with Miroslav Perkovic (four goals, eight exclusions drawn) and Milos Cuk leading the charge.
Standings:
- Pro Recco 12 (4)
- Jadran HN 6 (2)
- Novi Beograd 6
- Jadran Split 3
GROUP C
Ferencváros – Brescia 13:16
(1:0, 5:8, 3:2, 3:2 / PSO 1:4)
Ferencváros: Manhercz 3, Di Somma 3, Argyropoulos 2, Vámos 2, Varga 1, Mandic 1, Jansik 1.
Brescia: Dolce 4, Popadic 3, Viskovic 3, Del Basso 2, Ferrero 1, Gianazza 1, Giri 1, Balzarini 1.
With qualification already guaranteed before the opening sprint, Brescia played with freedom — and delivered Ferencváros their first Champions League defeat since April. After a quiet first quarter, the match exploded into life with 13 goals in the second period. Brescia overturned a 1–0 deficit and took a 7–6 halftime lead, extended it to 9–6, and survived a late Ferencváros push before winning the penalty shootout convincingly (4–1).
Primorac – Oradea 15:11
(4:2, 3:3, 3:2, 5:4)
Primorac: Mrsic 4, S. Cetkovic 3, Vuckovic 3, Brguljan 1, Murisic 1, Vidovic 1, Vico 1, Stanojevic 1.
Oradea: Gardasevic 5, Ilisie 1, Vancsik 2, Velkic 2, Czenk 1.
Primorac earned their first points of the season, ending Oradea’s slim Top-8 hopes. Although both teams now sit on three points, Primorac did not overturn the seven-goal defeat from their first meeting, meaning they will likely remain at the bottom.
Standings:
- Ferencváros 13
- Brescia 11
- Oradea 3
- Primorac 3
GROUP D
Marseille – Barceloneta 11:12
(4:1, 4:4, 2:3, 1:4)
Marseille: Bouet 4, Vernoux 2, Kalogeropoulos 2, Larumbe 1, Drasovic 1, Marion Vernoux 1.
Barceloneta: Echenique 3, Vigvari 3, Sanahuja 2, Biel 2, Valls 1, Burian 1.
Barceloneta staged a dramatic comeback to avenge their earlier defeat to Marseille. The French champions controlled the opening half (8–4) and restored a three-goal lead early in the fourth period (11–8). But then came Barceloneta’s decisive surge: four unanswered goals in less than three minutes, capped by Burian’s winner with 2:11 left. Marseille missed a penalty in the final seconds, ending their hopes of salvaging a point.
Facing their third straight defeat, Marseille now have a difficult task ahead in their final match — away at Sabadell.
Standings:
- Barceloneta 12
- Marseille 6
- Hannover 6 (2)
- Sabadell 3 (2)
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