The 2024 Euro Cup Men’s Qualification Round started with a bang on Thursday, as teams in four of the eight groups battled it out for the top two spots. Early favorites came out strong, delivering some impressive victories across several exciting matches.
Group A (Sabac)
Host team Sabac made an emphatic start, cruising to a 17-8 victory over Germany’s Potsdam. After pulling away with four consecutive goals in the second period, Sabac comfortably controlled the game, securing their spot at the top of the group.
Meanwhile, the clash between France’s Strasbourg and Romania’s Dinamo proved to be the highlight of the day. In a thrilling back-and-forth match, Dinamo led 10-9 late in the fourth quarter, only to be forced into an equalizer with just 37 seconds left. The contest went to a penalty shootout, where Strasbourg emerged victorious with a 15-13 win.
Group B (Budva)
After missing out on the Champions League, Italy’s Brescia shifted their focus to the Euro Cup, where they aim to extend their record with another strong campaign. Brescia dominated Hungary’s Honved, securing a commanding 12-7 win with a stellar 5-0 run that kept their rivals scoreless for 14 minutes. Max Irving led the scoring with three goals.
The home team, Budva, put on a show, dismantling Bosnia’s Banja Luka in a staggering 35-0 victory, with Petar Mitrovic contributing eight goals.
Group D (Zagreb)
Mladost had little trouble dispatching Montenegro’s Cattaro, winning comfortably 18-4 in a one-sided affair. The Croatians dominated their opponents, restricting them to just three man-up opportunities.
In the other match, Turkey’s Enka stunned Spanish side St Andreu with an overwhelming 16-7 win. Enka’s two Greek stars, Georgios Dervisis and Christodoulos Kolomvos, led the way, combining for seven goals, matching St Andreu’s total.
Group F (Aix-en-Provence)
Defending champions VK Jug faced off against the host team Pays D’Aix, gradually pulling away in the second half to claim a solid 17-11 victory.
In the other fixture, Panathinaikos crushed Ludwigsburg 18-4, though Italian side De Akker Team, who enters the fray tomorrow, could yet make their mark on the group.
The action has only just begun, but early signs suggest the favourites are on course for another thrilling Euro Cup campaign.