The road to the Final Four just became significantly clearer — and tougher.
The two leading contenders for this season’s Champions League crown, Ferencváros and Pro Recco, have been drawn together in Group B of the Quarter Final Stage following today’s ceremony in Zagreb.
The draw also determined the pairings for the Euro Cup Round of 16 and the Challenger Cup Final Eight.
Champions League – Quarter Final Stage
Group A
- Brescia
- Novi Beograd
- Barceloneta
- Olympiacos
Group B
- Mladost
- Ferencváros
- Waspo 98 Hannover
- Pro Recco
The first round of matches is scheduled for March 3–4.
Group B: Heavyweights collide
Group B immediately stands out.
Reigning champions Ferencváros and 11-time European champions Pro Recco will renew what has become one of the defining rivalries of modern European water polo. With players such as Álvaro Granados and Vendel Vigvári on opposite sides, this group may well deliver a Final Four-level clash before the semifinals even arrive.
Mladost, built around experience and tactical discipline, have the tools to disrupt the established order. They cannot be overlooked in what is shaping up to be the most demanding group of the phase.
Waspo 98 Hannover enter as underdogs, but the German side has repeatedly shown it can compete physically with Europe’s elite.
Group A: No room for error
Group A appears more balanced on paper.
Olympiacos and Barceloneta — both winners of their respective preliminary groups — are slight favorites to secure the top two spots. However, Novi Beograd and Brescia are both genuine Final Four contenders.
Novi Beograd, rejuvenated again last summer, have reached the final tournament in each of the last four editions and will aim to extend that streak. Brescia, meanwhile, bring depth, structure, and experience in tight knockout situations.
There are no easy fixtures in this group — consistency will be decisive.
Euro Cup – Round of 16
The Round of 16 draw has produced several intriguing ties.
One headline matchup is the Budapest derby between Vasas and BVSC.
Full pairings:
- Panathinaikos – Jadran Herceg Novi
- Oradea – Terrassa
- Sabadell – Šabac
- Barcelona – Radnički
- Savona – Marseille
- Vasas – BVSC
- Primorac – Jug
- Szolnok – Jadran Split
The Adriatic derby between Primorac and Jug adds further tension. The first leg is scheduled for February 25 in Kotor. In recent years, Jug refused to play in Kotor due to political sensitivities surrounding the sports centre’s name. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold this time.
Matches will be played on February 25 and March 7.
Challenger Cup – Final Eight Draw
Group A:
- ENKA (Türkiye)
- Branik (Slovenia)
- EVK Zaibas (Lithuania)
- Vitoria (Portugal)
Group B:
- Sliema (Malta)
- Galatasaray (Türkiye)
- Heybeliada (Türkiye)
- San Giljan (Malta)
The host of the Final Eight (March 12–15) will be confirmed soon.
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