European Aquatics spoke to all eight teams ahead of this week’s first-leg matches in the Euro Cup Quarter Finals. The four games are expected to be closely contested and will bring excitement across Europe on Thursday as each team aims to gain an important advantage ahead of the return legs on 20th March.
Euro Cup Men Quarter Finals First-Leg Fixtures Thursday, 27th February 2025 (Local times shown)
19:00: AN Brescia (ITA) v SPD Radnicki (SRB)
19:30: HAVK Mladost (CRO) v PVK Jadran M:Tel Herceg Novi (MNE)
19:30: KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) v VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE)
20:00: Vasas Plaket (HUN) v Pro Recco (ITA)
AN Brescia (ITA) v SPD Radnicki (SRB)
AN Brescia’s last match against SPD Radnicki ended in a comfortable 8-15 win in the Champions League Preliminary Stage in September 2023, but both teams are very different now.
The young Italians have had some great wins this season in the Euro Cup Group Stage and Eight Finals, but they’ve worked hard for every victory, with their biggest margin being just three goals on two occasions.
‘I’ve been feeling everyone’s tension since Monday, and that’s good because it’s pushing us to work harder,’ said Brescia coach Alessandro Bovo. ‘We need to give more than 100% in these next eight periods. We want to win at home this week because it will be even tougher in Serbia.’
‘These are the big games you always want to play in – a Quarter Final of a European cup in front of your own fans,’ said Brescia’s Filippo Ferrero.
‘It will be crucial to win on Thursday to send a message that AN Brescia are here. The whole team is convinced that we have everything to play for now.’
Radnicki are currently third in the Regional League, three points behind the leaders but with a game in hand. They recently beat Novi Beograd 16-14.
‘Brescia have changed their roster, but they are still a top team and have achieved strong results this year,’ said Radnicki coach Uros Stevanovic.
‘We must stay strong and handle their pressing and swimming, which are their strengths,’ added Radnicki’s Strahinja Rašović. ‘Brescia are a big name, and that makes us even more motivated for this match.’
HAVK Mladost (CRO) v PVK Jadran M:Tel Herceg Novi (MNE)
Mladost and Jadran are well familiar with each other, having met twice this season in the Regional League, with Jadran winning both matches – 11-9 at home in September and 9-13 away in January.
These two victories make Jadran the favourites, but Mladost’s Ante Vukicevic believes his team can turn the odds in their favour.
‘We’ve played well this season, but now is the time to show our best,’ he said. ‘Jadran are a great team and are playing very well right now, but we hope to show strong defence, concentration, and aggression in our own pool in Zagreb to win.’
‘We need to stop their strong counter-attack and transitions, and stay focused in defence.’
Jadran will arrive with confidence, having won their last 14 matches in all competitions and sitting level on points with Novi Beograd at the top of the Regional League.
‘These two games are very important for us,’ said Jadran captain Aleksandar Ivovic. ‘We’ve beaten Mladost twice this season, but they are still a great team with many Croatian national team players and an excellent coach, Igor Milanovic.’
‘If we want to repeat our previous results, we have to perform at our best, but I’m optimistic we can progress.’
KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP) v VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE)
KEIO CN Sabadell and VPK Primorac Kotor know each other well after meeting twice in the Champions League Group Stage this season.
If those matches are anything to go by, we can expect two exciting contests across both legs of this Euro Cup Quarter Final.
The Montenegrins narrowly won 15-16 in Spain, but Sabadell claimed victory in Kotor 14-16 after a penalty shootout.
‘In the last round of the Euro Cup, we produced two strong team performances against Ortigia, and we’ll need to do the same to reach the Semi Finals,’ said Sabadell’s Eduardo Lorrio.
‘Primorac have great players, but we want to win, and to do that we must play as a team, be solid in defence, and show our attacking talent.’
Primorac have lost their last two matches in the Regional League – against Mladost and Jadran Herceg Novi – and captain Drasko Brguljan has called on his team to give their all in Thursday’s first leg against Sabadell.
‘I want us to give 100% from the first minute of the first leg to the last minute of the second leg,’ he said. ‘The Euro Cup is very important for us, and Sabadell are a top team. We expect two very tough matches.’
‘The difference will come down to which team makes the fewest mistakes,’ added Primorac’s Dusan Matkovic. ‘We’ve trained hard for this, and we believe in our abilities to progress.’
Vasas Plaket (HUN) v Pro Recco (ITA)
Pro Recco’s quest for their first Euro Cup title takes them to Budapest this week for their Quarter Final first-leg clash with 2023 champions Vasas Plaket.
Although the Italian giants lost in Budapest to BVSC in the Euro Cup Qualification Round last September, they have been in great form ever since.
‘It will be very tough against Vasas, especially the first match in their pool,’ said Pro Recco captain Francesco Di Fulvio. ‘I expect the stands to be full, and there will be a lot of support for them, so we will have to stay focused. We need to stay calm and show what we can do.’
After winning the Euro Cup in 2023, Vasas lost 18-10 to Recco in the Super Cup Final, the last time these two teams faced each other.
‘Recco are still a very strong team, and it won’t be easy for us on Thursday,’ said Vasas coach Slobodan Nikic. ‘They will put us under a lot of pressure, so we must focus on having a solid defence and make the most of our six on fives in attack.’
‘We’ve prepared for Recco, and we’ll give it our all,’ added Vasas captain Bence Batori. ‘With our fans behind us, we want to achieve a good result at home. We will fight until the very end.’
