The biggest favourites for the Men’s Champions League title will all enjoy home advantage in the upcoming third round of group games. FTC, Barceloneta, and Olympiacos are each set to face their group runners-up, with all three aiming to cement their positions at the top.
Group A
The action in Group A kicks off on Tuesday with a clash between two Romanian teams, Steaua and Oradea. This matchup often headlines the Romanian domestic league final, where Steaua has dominated, winning the last eight championships, while Oradea held the nine previous titles. The outcome here could be pivotal in the race for second place in the group.
Meanwhile, Serbia’s Novi Beograd, fresh from victories over Romanian teams, takes on Hannover, who has struggled in recent Champions League seasons. This matchup offers Novi Beograd a promising chance to add to their points tally.
Group B
One of the most anticipated matches of the round is the showdown between defending champions FTC and Croatian titleholders Jadran Split. FTC has been in fierce form, recently triumphing over Jug in the Super Cup final, a win that made their intentions clear. Jadran, on the other hand, has been conceding double-digit goals, an issue they’ll need to address if they hope to challenge FTC in Budapest.
Elsewhere in Group B, Radnicki faces Tbilisi and will be eager to secure three points to bolster their chances of securing second place. Any other result could complicate their campaign.
Group C
Wednesday’s fixture between Barceloneta and Marseille in Group C is one to watch. Barceloneta has shown strong form with wins over Vasas and Jadran, while Marseille, after a hard-fought victory against Montenegrin rivals, suffered an unexpected loss to the Hungarians. A second consecutive defeat could jeopardize Marseille’s campaign, but they are expected to battle for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Another exciting game in Group C sees Vasas facing Jadran Herceg Novi. Vasas, who pulled off a surprise win over Marseille, has been unpredictable, recently bowing out of the Hungarian Cup against Szolnok. It could be a tightly contested match with either side able to come out on top.
Group D
Olympiacos will host Savona after a strong away win over Sabadell, with the Greeks’ key player Gergo Zalanki returning to action following a two-match ban. Zalanki, with three years of experience in Italy, may bring valuable insights against Savona, who recently displayed scoring prowess with an 18-goal performance in Kotor.
Primorac, who came close to upsetting Olympiacos on the opening day, will take on Sabadell. This match is critical for both sides, as a win would greatly boost the victors’ chances of advancing.
Fixtures – Day 3
(All times CET)
Group A (Tuesday)
- 18:15 Steaua Bucharest (ROU) vs. CSM Oradea (ROU)
- 20:00 Novi Beograd (SRB) vs. Waspo 98 Hannover (GER)
Group B (Tuesday)
- 18:15 Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO) vs. SPD Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB)
- 20:00 FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) vs. Jadran Split (CRO)
Group C (Wednesday)
- 18:15 Vasas-Plaket (HUN) vs. Jadran mHerceg Novi (MNE)
- 20:00 Zodiac CNA Barceloneta (ESP) vs. CN Marseille (FRA)
Group D (Wednesday)
- 18:15 Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) vs. RN Savona (ITA)
- 20:00 Primorac Kotor (MNE) vs. KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP)
Stay tuned for updates as the Champions League action unfolds!