Draw for European Cup and Challenger Cup: Šapčani and Novi Sad host qualifiers
The draw for the qualification of the European Cup for men and the Challenger Cup for women was held in Zagreb today.Two Serbian clubs will participate in the European Cup - Šabac Elixir, which took part in the Champions League qualifiers last weekend, and Valis Vega. Vojvodina and Crvena zvezda represent Serbia in the Challenger Cup for water polo players
European Cup Qualifying Draw (September 27-29)
Šabac will host Group A, and they will welcome Romanian Dinamo, Strasbourg (France), OSC Potsdam (Germany) and OSC from Budapest (Hungary). Two teams from each group advance. Nemanja Ličanin's team is one of the more serious candidates for the first two places at the tournament in Šabac. Strasbourg and Hungarian OSC from Budapest welcome the tournament with similar chances, but the other two teams should not be underestimated either.
Valis, led by coach Miloš Saković, has been drawn into a very strong Group B, which will be played in Budva. Along with the hosts Budva Riviera and Valis, Italian Breša, Banjaluka and Honved from Budapest will also participate. The only outsider is Banjaluka, which opened the season in the Champions League qualifiers, but suffered four convincing defeats at the tournament in Dubrovnik.
The Serbian coaches competing in the European Cup are Vladimir Vujasinović (Vuljagmeni), who is going to a strong group in Barcelona, Vladimir Marković (Špandau 04), Vuk Vuksanović (ASC Duizburg).
It is worth mentioning that Reko Waterpolo, the successor of the famous Pro Reko, which, after the retirement of the main financier Gabriel Volpi, made major changes in the team, also participates in the European Cup. However, the club has kept several top players and will be a serious candidate for a high ranking.
Group A (Sabac): Sabac Elixir (Serbia), Dinamo Bucharest (Romania), Strasbourg (France), OSC Potsdam (Germany), OSC Budapest (Hungary) )
Group B (Budva): Breša (Italy), Banjaluka (BiH), Honved (Hungary), Valis Vega (Serbia), Budva Riviera (Montenegro) ,
Group C (Barcelona): Barcelona (Spain), Vouliagmeni (Greece), Solaris (Croatia), Irene Quinto Genoa (Italy).
Group D (Zagreb): Mladost (Croatia), Enka Istanbul (Turkey), Apollon Smyrnis (Greece), Sant Andreu (Spain), Kataro (Montenegro).
Group E (Athens): Spandau 04 (Germany), Solnok (Hungary) Panionios (Greece), Tenerife (Spain)
Group F (Aix en Provence): South Dubrovnik (Croatia), Pei d'Aix (France), Ludwigsburg (Germany), Panathinaikos (Greece), De Acker Bologna (Italy)
Group G (Kranj): Ortiđa (Italy) PAOK (Greece), Triglav Kranj (Slovenia), ASC Duisburg (Germany)
Group H (Budapest): BVSC (Hungary), Reko Waterpolo (Italy), Primorje (Croatia), Terasa (Spain).
16 clubs will participate in the second phase, which will be divided into four groups. Just like last year, six rounds will be played, and the first and second placed teams advance to the round of 16, where the third and fourth placed teams from the Champions League groups await them.
Women's Challenger Cup Qualification Draw (November 8-10)
Like last year, Vojvodina and Red Star will participate in the Challenger Cup.
Vojvodina, the current champion of Serbia, will host Group A, and its main rival will be Turkey's Izmir, winner of last year's first Challenger Cup for women. Slađana Drezgić's team will, apart from the Turks, meet with the British Manchester and Sliema (Malta).
Red Star, silver medalist in the 2024 Challenger Cup, travels to Romania. Dragana Ivković's Pulenka team will compete with Benfica (Portugal), Galatasaray (Turkey), Eschlingen (Germany) and home Unirea from Alba Julia for one of the first two places leading to the second phase.
Group A (Novi Sad): Izmir BSB (Turkey), Vojvodina (Serbia), Manchester (Great Britain), Sliema (Malta)
Group B (Malta): Cyrens (Malta), Jadran Split (Croatia), Blau-weiss Bochum (Germany), Hapoel Emek Hajarden (Israel)
Group C (Strakonice): ŽAVK Mladost (Croatia), Strakonice (Czech Republic), Otter Swimming Club (Great Britain), Dalton Colleges (Turkey)
Group D (Alba Iulia): ŽVK Crvena Zvezda (Serbia), Benfica (Portugal), Eschlingen (Germany), Galatasaray (Turkey), Unirea Alba Iulia (Romania)
