The first legs of the Men’s Euro Cup Eight Finals delivered thrilling action on Saturday, with European clubs asserting their dominance. Four teams that dropped down from the Champions League suffered defeats, while Hungary’s BVSC-Manna ABC battled to a dramatic 16-16 draw against VPK Primorac Kotor.
Of the eight teams that began their campaign in the Champions League, only KEIO CN Sabadell, SPD Radnicki, and PVK Jadran M:Tel Herceg Novi emerged victorious in the first-leg encounters.
Men’s Euro Cup Eight Finals: First-Leg Results
- Ortigia 1928 (ITA) 10-13 KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP)
- HAVK Mladost (CRO) 18-11 CSA Steaua Bucharest (ROU)
- Waspo 98 Hannover (GER) 12-15 AN Brescia (ITA)
- CN Barcelona (ESP) 11-10 Vasas Plaket (HUN)
- VK Jug AO (CRO) 9-15 SPD Radnicki (SRB)
- VK Sabac Elixir (SRB) 8-13 PVK Jadran M:Tel Herceg Novi (MNE)
- BVSC-Manna ABC (HUN) 16-16 VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE)
- Pro Recco (ITA) 17-5 Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO)
Sabadell Edges Ortigia in a Tactical Battle
KEIO CN Sabadell secured a crucial 13-10 victory over Italy’s Ortigia 1928, continuing their dominance over the Italian side following their earlier win in the Champions League qualifiers. Montenegro’s Kanstantsin Averka led the charge with five goals, while USA’s Alex Bowen and Spain’s Alberto Barroso netted twice each.
Despite a strong comeback from Ortigia in the third quarter, Sabadell’s clinical finishing, led by Averka’s penalty, ensured a comfortable win, giving them a strong advantage heading into the second leg.
Mladost in Command Against Steaua Bucharest
Croatian powerhouse HAVK Mladost delivered a commanding 18-11 win over CSA Steaua Bucharest, establishing a significant seven-goal cushion for the second leg in Romania. Luka Bukic was the standout performer, netting six goals, while Andrija Basic added four to Mladost’s tally.
Despite an early 4-2 lead for Steaua, Mladost’s dominant second quarter (7-3) proved decisive. A late 5-0 scoring spree further emphasised the Croatians’ superior quality.
Brescia Prevails in Close Encounter with Hannover
In one of the most fiercely contested matches, Italian side AN Brescia secured a hard-fought 15-12 victory over Waspo 98 Hannover in Germany. Brescia overturned a first-half deficit, with key strikes from Filippo Ferrero and Alessandro Balzarini steering them to victory.
Despite Hannover’s resilience, Brescia maintained control in the final stages, leaving them in a favourable position for the second leg.
Late Drama in BVSC-Primorac Stalemate
A thrilling encounter in Budapest saw BVSC-Manna ABC and VPK Primorac Kotor share the spoils in a 16-16 draw. A flurry of late goals saw the Montenegrin visitors claw back from a three-goal deficit, with Dusan Matkovic’s equaliser coming just 55 seconds before the final whistle.
With both sides evenly matched, the second leg promises to be an exciting affair.
Pro Recco’s Commanding Performance
Italian giants Pro Recco delivered the most emphatic victory of the round, dismantling Dinamo Tbilisi 17-5. Led by Ben Hallock and Francesco Condemi, who scored four goals each, Recco dominated from start to finish, virtually securing their place in the quarter-finals.
Women’s Euro Cup: De Zaan and Trieste Take Control
In the Women’s Euro Cup semi-finals, ZV De Zaan and Pallanuoto Trieste both claimed first-leg victories to take control of their respective ties.
Results:
- ANC Glyfada iRepair (GRE) 6-9 ZV De Zaan (NED)
- Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA) 15-9 CN Tenerife Echeyde (ESP)
De Zaan edged past Glyfada with a strong fourth-quarter performance, while Trieste dominated CN Tenerife Echeyde in a convincing 15-9 home win, with Arianna Gragnolati leading the charge with four goals.
The return legs are scheduled for 15 February, with both De Zaan and Trieste now in pole position to reach the final.
