Novi Beograd secured the top spot in Group A after a hard-fought victory over Oradea, while Steaua’s triumph against Hannover leaves the 8th qualifying spot undecided. The final day will feature a dramatic Romanian showdown to determine who advances. In Group B, defending champions Ferencváros dominated Radnicki to claim the top rank, while Jadran Split outclassed Dinamo Tbilisi to secure their place in the next stage.
Group A
VK Novi Beograd (SRB) 12–10 CSM Oradea (ROU)
Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) 9–12 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
Standings:
- Novi Beograd – 15 pts
- Oradea – 8 pts
- Steaua – 6 pts
- Hannover – 1 pt
Oradea needed at least a draw in Beograd to secure their place in the next round, but the Serbs had other plans.
Novi Beograd took control in the second quarter, leading 7–4 at halftime thanks to standout performances from Vasilije Martinovic, who netted five goals in total. Despite a spirited comeback from Oradea that narrowed the gap to 11–10 with just under five minutes to play, Martinovic’s fifth goal sealed the win for the Serbs.
Meanwhile, Steaua capitalized on Oradea’s earlier defeat, keeping their qualification hopes alive with a solid win over Waspo in Hannover. Despite missing several man-up opportunities in the second period, Steaua found their rhythm with Francesco Iudean and Tudor-Andrei Fulea leading the charge to secure a 12–9 victory.
The decisive clash between Oradea and Steaua on the final day promises to be a thrilling fight for the second qualifying spot.
Group B
Jadran Split (CRO) 12–5 Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) 16–4 Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)
Standings:
- FTC – 15 pts
- Jadran – 11 pts
- Radnicki – 4 pts
- Dinamo – 0 pts
Ferencváros delivered a dominant performance against Radnicki, completely dismantling their Serbian opponents. By the third quarter, FTC led 11–1, with goalkeeper Soma Vogel delivering a spectacular 78% save rate. In contrast, Radnicki’s goalkeepers managed only 20% combined. Krisztian Manhercz shone with three early goals, leading his side to an emphatic 16–4 win and securing the group’s top spot.
Jadran Split also impressed, efficiently dispatching Dinamo Tbilisi. Croatian goalkeeper Marko Bijac posted an exceptional 69% save rate, while the team’s clinical attack converted 12 of 25 shots. The victory ensured Jadran’s place in the Quarter Finals, with a strong performance that left no doubt about their focus and form.
Both Ferencváros and Jadran will enter the next stage with momentum on their side, setting the stage for an exciting Quarter Final phase.