Sabadell and Jadran Split secured the final two places in the 2026/27 Champions League group stage as the qualification round concluded on Sunday.
Both clubs went into the final day knowing victory would guarantee progression, and neither left much room for doubt.
Sabadell overwhelmed A-Polo 22-12 in Tbilisi to finish second in Group B, while Jadran Split defeated Honved 12-6 at home to take the remaining qualification place from Group C.
Their victories complete the 16-team field for the Champions League group stage, with the draw set to take place on Monday.
Sabadell recover from early scare
A-Polo made the perfect start against Sabadell, scoring on each of their opening three possessions to establish a 3-0 advantage.
That lead disappeared quickly.
Sabadell responded with seven unanswered goals, completely changing the momentum of the game and moving 7-3 ahead early in the second quarter.
A-Polo briefly reduced the deficit to 7-5, but another three-goal burst from the Spanish side restored their control before halftime.
Sabadell then broke the game open in the third period, outscoring their opponents 7-2 and removing any remaining doubt over qualification.
Konstantin Averka was the standout scorer with seven goals as Sabadell completed a 22-12 victory and finished the qualification tournament with six points.
Brescia had already secured first place in the group and ended the weekend with seven points despite losing their final match to Budva.
That game finished 17-17 in regulation before Budva won the penalty shootout 4-1, producing a 21-18 final score. Goalkeeper Dejan Lazovic made two saves in the shootout.
Jadran end Honved’s campaign
The second qualification decider took place in Split, where Jadran faced Honved for the final place from Group C.
The Croatian side established an early 2-0 lead and remained in front throughout the opening half, taking a 7-5 advantage into the break.
Honved reduced the deficit to one through Araya at the beginning of the third quarter, but that proved to be their final goal of the competition.
Jadran shut the Hungarian side out for the remaining 15-and-a-half minutes and steadily extended their advantage.
Honved struggled particularly on extra-player opportunities, converting only one of 14 chances.
Jadran eventually completed a 12-6 victory, with Butic, Curkovic, Zovic, Skejic and Matkovic all scoring twice.
Panathinaikos had already secured top spot in Group C after victories over both Honved and Jadran, while the Croatian side’s win left them second with three points.
Novi Beograd finish perfect
In Group A, Novi Beograd completed qualification with a perfect record after edging CSM Oradea 11-10.
The Serbian side led 5-1 early in the second quarter and carried an 11-7 advantage into the final period.
Oradea mounted a late comeback, scoring three unanswered goals and closing to within one in the final minute, but Novi Beograd held on to finish the group with nine points.
Both clubs had already guaranteed qualification before the match.
Spandau 04 finished third after beating Strasbourg 13-6, while the French side ended the weekend without a point.
Champions League group stage field complete
The six qualifiers — Novi Beograd, CSM Oradea, Brescia, Sabadell, Panathinaikos and Jadran Split — join the ten clubs already guaranteed places in the main round.
The complete 16-team field is:
Barceloneta, Pro Recco, Ferencvaros, Olympiacos, Mladost, Waspo Hannover, Radnicki, Jadran Herceg Novi, Marseille, Steaua Bucharest, Novi Beograd, Brescia, Panathinaikos, CSM Oradea, Jadran Split and Sabadell.
Panathinaikos are the only Champions League debutants among the 16 teams, while Steaua also return to the main round after missing last season.
The group stage draw will take place on Monday.
Champions League Qualification – Final Day
Group A
CSM Oradea 10-11 Novi Beograd
Spandau 04 13-6 Strasbourg
Final standings:
- Novi Beograd – 9 pts
- CSM Oradea – 5 pts
- Spandau 04 – 4 pts
- Strasbourg – 0 pts
Group B
A-Polo 12-22 Sabadell
Budva 21-18 Brescia (after penalties)
Final standings:
- Brescia – 7 pts
- Sabadell – 6 pts
- A-Polo – 3 pts
- Budva – 2 pts
Group C
Honved 6-12 Jadran Split
Panathinaikos – bye
Final standings:
- Panathinaikos – 6 pts
- Jadran Split – 3 pts
- Honved – 0 pts
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