All questions surrounding the Final Four lineup for the 2024/25 Champions League have now been answered.
Following decisive results in the penultimate round of Group A, Novi Beograd and Marseille have officially booked their tickets to the Champions League Final Four in Malta. They join Ferencváros and Atlètic Barceloneta, who secured qualification yesterday in Group B.
Novi Beograd edge Olympiacos in thriller
Novi Beograd clinched a dramatic 16:15 victory over Olympiacos in Belgrade, eliminating the Greek side from contention. Olympiacos, considered one of the title favourites, saw their hopes dashed despite a fourth-quarter comeback.
Scorers – Novi Beograd: Vlachopoulos 4, Martinovic 3, Gladovic 2, Vucinic 2, Cuk 1, Gbadamassi 1, Dimitrijevic 1, Perkovic 1, Lukic 1.
Scorers – Olympiacos: Genidounias 4, Zalanki 3, Fountoulis 2, Kakaris 2, Nikolaidis 2, Pouros 1, Dimou 1.
The hosts burst out of the gates with a 2:0 lead in the opening 84 seconds and led 5:3 by the end of the first quarter. Olympiacos fought back multiple times, but Novi Beograd always had a response. Youngster Andrija Gladovic played a standout role in the second quarter, scoring twice to help restore a three-goal cushion.
Despite a temporary shift in momentum when Olympiacos took their first lead at 14:13 in the fourth quarter, Vasilije Martinovic turned hero for the home side, firing in a clutch hat-trick to reclaim control at 16:14. Although Genidounias closed the gap, Olympiacos lost possession on their final attack, sealing Novi Beograd’s passage to Malta.
Marseille dominate Jadran to make history
In Split, Marseille delivered a historic and emphatic 18:6 win over Jadran, topping the group and securing their first-ever appearance in the Champions League semifinals.
Scorers – Jadran: Butic 2, Buselic 1, Radan 1, Pejkovic 1, Fatovic 1.
Scorers – Marseille: Bouet 5, Vernoux 4, Angyal 2, Crousillat 2, Spaic 2, Prlainovic 2, Bodegas 1.
The French side took command early, leading 4:0 after the first period with goalkeeper Petar Tesanovic making several crucial saves. Their dominance continued with a well-balanced team performance and relentless attacking play. Tesanovic finished the first half with seven saves, neutralizing Jadran’s offense.
By halftime, Marseille led 8:2 and never looked back. Their final tally of 18 goals marks their most convincing victory in the Champions League to date.
Group A Standings after Round 5:
- Marseille – 12 pts
- Novi Beograd – 12 pts
- Olympiacos – 4 pts
- Jadran Split – 2 pts
Head-to-head: Marseille vs. Novi Beograd – 14:9, 14:15
The battle for the top seed remains undecided, with both Marseille and Novi Beograd tied on 12 points. However, Marseille currently holds the head-to-head advantage.
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