Every Champions League preliminary round group has its own story. But at the concluding point of the prelims on Wednesday all teams have to battle hard for the last time in order to gain a good position going into the round of last sixteen where the group winners will face another group’s number four and the respective numbers two’s and three’s will be drawn to face each other. Only reigning Spanish champion Barceloneta (group C) and Croatian champs Jug (group B) dominated the preliminary phase and are way ahead of the rest; already being sure of advancing as overall group winners. But for Jug the tenth and final day might include some danger as the prestigious matchup with Crvena Zvezda is scheduled at home in Dubrovnik. Read more for an extensive preview on the Champions League day 10.
The big matchup in group A featuring Russian powerhouse Spartak Volgograd and current leading side Vouliagmeni to shake things up in that group is a start. There is a highlight in the city of Dubrovnik, Croatia as Jug hosts Crvena Zvezda; two absolute title contenders. Like you bet on March Madness, while the playoffs phase is still to come. And in group C there are four teams, all withtin just three points from each other, battling for the remaining three spots behind Barceloneta. Meanwhile in group D, both Szeged and Partizan are keen not to make any mistakes to keep Szeged in first place while Partizan hopes that Spandau can create an upset and the Serbs could finish first if they manage to beat Galatasaray Istanbul.
The standings in group A seemed to emerge as pretty clear during the course of the ten-rounded preliminary phase but got close recently. While reigning Greek champion Vouliagmeni still leads the way, the Russians from Volgograd have prooved to be a serious contender and with both teams facing off against each other in Russia on Wednesday, its all-or-nothing for the home side. Knowing that the first game against Vouliagmeni was lost 11-6 in Greece, the reigning Russian champion is up for a daunting task of making up for that defeat in order to still finish first in the group. Numbers three and four, ZF-Eger and Schuurman BZC respectively, are likely to win their final group stage games so their spots are pretty much preserved.
Can Christos Afroudakis and Vouliagmeni survive in Russia and finish on top of group A?
In group B all eyes will be on Dubrovnik where Crvena Zvezda will get its chance of revanche against the dominant side of Jug. The two giants squarred off in Belgrade in the prelims’ first round in September 2012 but as much anticipated as that game was Jug showed no remorse and powered its way to a 6-10 win. The home side was dissapointed but knew they would improve as the season would go on being relatively new to each other at that point. And so they did. Although falling just short to Olympiacos Piraeus in round three, the Serbs made up for that loss by beating the Greeks in their next matchup and so are rightfully in second place. Now they face a dominant force in this year’s Champions League campaign. Jug holds a perfect 7-0-0 record and were endangered just once as Olympiakos came within two goals in Dubrovnik in round 3. The Croats responded in the next meeting in Greece though putting up a strong defensive performance in a 2-9 victory. Wednesday’s game in the Southern Croatian city of Dubrovnik is set to start at 18.00 local time.
Andro Buslje (white cap) and Dusko Pijetlovic will meet again in Dubrovnik on Wednesday. Pijetlovic scored once in the previouw Champions League encounter in Belgrade.
Group C is up for a tense and exciting finish as well. Four contenders will be fighting for three spots in the next round on Wednesday with Serbian participant Vojvodina and current Italian league leader Brescia playing a decisive battle in Novi Sad, Serbia. For the French squad of Marseille, who already completed their eight game preliminary phase, Wednesday night will be a night of waiting for the outcome of the two games to know if they will advance or not. The French surprised many people by beating group leaders Barceloneta 11-10 at home on day 9 and therewith are back in the race for the next round. Meanwhile the situation for Sintez Kazan is tough. Although they are in current second place on the table, one point ahead of the three other contenders, the Russians are hosting Barceloneta on Wednesday. And the home team is all but sure of advancing as the group’s number two. As Vojvodina is now in fifth and last place, the Russians lost the first game against the Serbian team and drew level 6-6 in their return. So if the Serbs manage to beat Brescia, they can even end up in second place and either Marseille or Brescia will be eliminated. That will come down to the goal differential of all eight matches and so far the Italians are looking better (-1) then the French (-12).
Christian Presciutti and Brescia will look to transfer their good form from the Italian Serie A1 into the Champions League to beat Vojvodina and assure themselves of a spot in the next round
The situation in group D seems pretty clear although the two top teams will be sharp as a knife to maintain their position (Szeged) or still hold a chance of finishing on top (Partizan). German champion Wasserfreunde Spandau could double their points total by beating Szeged but still fall short to fourth placed Oradea after having lost by three goals, followed by a two-goal win over the Romanians in this year’s campaign. It is just a matter of who will claim the overall group win as both contenders are favorite to win their respective matchups and in that case it will be Szeged who can look forward to play another groups’ number four in the round of last sixteen, ahead of the likely big quarter-finals.
The task for Szeged-goalie Laszlo Baksa and his team is clear: beat Wasserfreunde Spandau and the groups’ first place is there
Champions League
Preliminary Round
Day 10 schedule
Group A
Wednesday February 27, 2013
19.00: Spartak Volgograd (Rus) vs. Vouliagmeni NC (GRE)
19.00: Ligamus Tbilisi (GEO) vs. ZF-Eger (HUN)
20.30: Waspo ’98 Hannover (GER) vs. Schuurman BZC (NED)
Progress points:
Vouliagmeni 24, Spartak Volgograd 21, ZF-Eger 21, Schuurman BZC 9, Waspo ’98 Hannover 4, Ligamus Tbilisi 1
Group B
Wednesday February 27, 2013
18.00: Jug CO Dubrovnik (CRO) vs. Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
20.30: SC Kreuzlingen (SUI) vs. Olympiakos Piraeus (GRE)
Progress points:
Jug CO Dubrovnik 21, Crvena Zvezda 15, Olympiakos Piraeus 12, Montpellier Waterpolo (+1) 6, SC Kreuzlingen 0.
Group C
Wednesday February 27, 2013
18.00: Sintez Kazan (RUS) vs. CN Atletic-Barceloneta (ESP)
19.00: Vojvodina Novi Sad (RUS) vs. AN Brescia (ITA)
Progress points:
CN Atletic-Barceloneta 18, Sintez Kazan 10, AN Brescia 9, CN Marseille 9, Vojvodina Novi Sad 7.
Group D
Wednesday February 27, 2013
19.30: Wasserfreunde Spandau Berlin (GER) vs. A-HID Szeged Beton (HUN)
20.30: Galatasaray Istanbul (TUR) vs. Partizan Raiffeissen Belgrade (SRB)
Progress points:
A-HID Szeged Beton 18, Partizan Raiffeissen Belgrade 16, Galatasaray Istanbul 6, CSM DiGi Oradea (+1) 6, Wasserfreunde Spandau Berlin 3.
N.b.: times mentioned are local time
Top photo: Jug’s top shooter Aleksandar Ivovic