Both home teams claimed victories in the opening legs of the 2026 LEN Euro Cup semi-finals, but neither managed to build a decisive cushion ahead of the return matches on May 9.
VK Jadran Split edged BVSC-Zugló 13-12 in Croatia, while Radnicki Kragujevac defeated CN Marseille 17-14 in a dramatic contest in Serbia.
Both ties remain wide open, with all four clubs still firmly in contention for a place in the final.
Jadran Split 13-12 BVSC
In Split, the hosts looked set to take a stronger lead into the second leg after moving three clear on multiple occasions, including at 13-10 with just over a minute to play. But BVSC produced a late rally to cut the deficit to one.
Jadran captain Zvonimir Butic led by example with four goals. He opened the scoring in the fourth minute, but BVSC responded with three unanswered goals to seize early momentum.
Butic then swung the match back in Jadran’s favour with two goals in 17 seconds early in the second quarter. First he converted on the extra player, then stole possession and finished a counterattack to level the score at 3-3.
That sparked a strong spell for the Croatian side, who moved 5-3 ahead before BVSC again responded. Balint Ekler was the visitors’ standout performer, scoring four times, including a delicate lob to make it 5-5.
Loren Fatovic restored Jadran’s lead before half-time and later scored a crucial power-play goal for 13-10 in the closing stages.
BVSC refused to fold. Ekler struck during a double man-up before Marton Tatrai netted with two seconds left to leave the Hungarian side trailing by just one heading home.
The extra-man battle was central throughout, with Jadran converting 10 of 15 opportunities and BVSC scoring nine times from 14 man-up chances.
Radnicki 17-14 Marseille
In Kragujevac, Radnicki Kragujevac took a three-goal advantage into the return leg after a high-scoring clash full of momentum swings and disciplinary drama.
Strahinja Rasovic scored four times for the hosts, while Angelos Vlachopoulos and Boris Vapenski added three each.
For Marseille, Thomas Vernoux and Ugo Crousillat both scored four.
The French side led 7-6 late in the first half after Vernoux finished a counterattack, but Radnicki exploded in the third quarter.
Back-to-back goals from Vlachopoulos gave the Serbian side a 10-9 lead, and strikes from Vapenski and Nikola Jaksic stretched the gap to two for the first time.
Tempers flared as both benches protested repeatedly, with yellow cards shown to coaches and further expulsions following later in the match.
Radnicki entered the final quarter 13-12 ahead and immediately increased the pressure when Jaksic made it a two-goal game. Marseille briefly threatened through Vernoux, but the hosts responded again.
Sava Randjelovic converted a man-up chance for 16-13 with under four minutes remaining, before Vlachopoulos sealed the scoring late on.
Goalkeeper Radoslav Filipovic also proved decisive, making key saves in the closing minute to preserve the three-goal margin.
With one goal separating the first semi-final and three in the second, both return legs on May 9 promise more drama as the race for the Euro Cup final reaches its climax.
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