The winners of the Euro Cup Men’s Quarter Finals will be decided on Saturday as the second-legs take place across the continent. Two of the ties – Sabadell v Steau Bucharest (6-5) and Spandau v Savona (11-10) are very finely balanced, with just one goal separating the two teams, while Vouliagmeni start with a five-goal lead at Primorje (9-14), and Jug are six ahead against Zvezda (9-15).
Euro Cup Men Quarter Finals Second-Leg Fixtures
Saturday, 27th April 2024
(First-leg scores in brackets, local times shown)
20:00 Primorje Erste Bank (CRO) v Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) (9-14)
12:30 Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP) v CSA Steau Bucharest (ROU) (6-5)
19:30 Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) v Rari Nantes Savona (ITA) (11-10)
20:00 BVK Crvena Zvezda (SRB) v Jug Adriatic Osiguranje (CRO) (9-15)
Primorje Erste Bank have a small mountain to climb as they look to overturn a five-goal deficit in their tie with Vouliagmeni (9-14).
The Croatians are unbeaten at home in Europe this season, so that will give them some hope of at least beating the Greeks on the night.
In the group stage, Primorje also won by five or more goals twice in their own pool – against BVSC-Zuglo (19-10), and VK Sabac Elixir (15-10) – so they will pose a threat, and a few early goal rushes could give them the momentum to complete a remarkable comeback.
Vouliagmeni, however, will be well aware any complacency could easily unravel the excellent work they’ve done so far in this tie.
After making a surprise run to the Champions League Final Four last season, it’ll be as much of a surprise – if not bigger – if they throw away their five-goal lead in Croatia and don’t make the Euro Cup Final Four.
The team likely to be awaiting the winners of the Primorje/Vouliagmeni tie in the Final Four semi-finals is less clear, as only one goal separates Spandau 04 Berlin and Rari Nantes Savona.
Three weeks ago, the two sides played out an epic contest in Savona, and prior to that match, last season’s Euro Cup runners-up had won their last four home fixtures by three goals or more.
Spandau abruptly halted that run, with Marin Tomasovic firing in a late winner to silence the home crowd and ensure his side starts in Berlin with a slender advantage (11-10).
Savona can look to the recent performance of fellow Italian side Ortigia for some inspiration, as they drew 8-8 away at Spandau in the Eight Finals (after leading 4-7 going into the fourth), which wasn’t enough for them to progress, but it shows there are some chinks in Spandau’s armour to aim for.
On the other side of the draw, Jug Adriatic Osiguranje have one foot firmly planted in the Final Four after a dominant first-leg showing against BVK Crvena Zvezda (15-9).
After crashing out of the Champions League, Jug eliminated Euro Cup title-holders Vasas in the Eight Finals and maintained that momentum at home against the Serbians.
With a six-goal lead, the Croatians will be confident of getting the job done in Saturday’s second-leg, but they know they should be starting with an even bigger lead, as they allowed Zvezda two late goals in Dubrovnik to cut the deficit to six.
Sabadell, meanwhile, returned from Bucharest with a narrow one goal advantage and will be hoping home advantage can help them book their place in the Final Four, where Jug or Zvezda await in the semis.
To turn this tie around, Steau will need a much-improved performance from their last visit to Sabadell, where they lost 13-6 in the Champions League group stage earlier this season.
That clash was very much a one-sided contest, which saw the Spaniards dominate from the start after they raced into an early 5-0 lead by midway through the second quarter.
While the hosts will look to dismantle the visitors once again, Steau will be aiming to halt their terrible away form in Europe this season, as they are yet to win on the road after three straight defeats in the Champions League and a loss at Panionios in the Euro Cup Eight Finals.
