The draw for the group stage of the men’s Euro Cup took place this morning in Zagreb.

Sixteen teams that qualified from the preliminaries have been sorted into four groups of four. Despite the high caliber of the participating teams, only the top two from each group will advance to a two-legged quarter-final.

The two first-placed clubs in the group will advance to the round of 16 of the Eurocup in the spring, when they will be joined by the clubs that will be eliminated from the Champions League after the group competition.

The first round of the Euro Cup is scheduled for Thursday, October 10. The entire Eurocup is planned to be played on Thursdays or the day after the competition in the Champions League.

Group A will see a fierce battle for the top spot between two traditionally strong Champions League contenders—Brescia and Jug, the reigning Euro Cup champions. Joining them are Team Strasbourg and Apollon Smyrnis, making this group highly competitive.

In Group B, two Greek teams—Panionios and Vouliagmeni—will provide strong opposition for Italian side CC Ortigia, who were impressive group winners in the previous round, and Hungarian side BVSC-Zuglo.

Group C evokes nostalgia with three former Champions League winners: Pro Recco, Mladost, and Szolnok, who are joined by ASC Duisburg, the sole German team remaining in the tournament.

In the final group, Group D, it’s anyone’s game, as little separates Panathinaikos, Sabac, Honved, and Barcelona, making it the most unpredictable group of the draw.

Group A

AN Brescia (ITA)
VK Jug Dubrovnik (CRO)
Team Strasbourg (FRA)
Apollon Smyrnis (GRE)

Group B

Panionios GSS (GRE)
CC Ortigia 1928 (ITA)
BVSC-Zuglo (HUN)
Vouliagmeni NC (GRE)

Group C

Pro Recco (ITA)
Szolnok (HUN)
ASC Duisburg (GER)
HAVK Mladost (CRO)

Group D

Panathinaikos AC (GRE)
VK Sabac (SRB)
CN Barcelona (ESP)
Honved (HUN)