Novi Beograd in Champions League Quarterfinals, Radnički's Chances Slim
Novi Beograd secured a place in the quarterfinals of the Champions League by defeating Steaua 15:8 away in the fourth round.
Radnički suffered a home defeat to Jadran Split 14:11, diminishing their chances of reaching the top eight.
Novi Beograd lived up to their role as favorites in Bucharest and registered their 11th consecutive victory from the beginning of the season. The Serbian champions set the pace from the start. Steaua resisted until the middle of the second quarter when they were trailing 4:5. The team led by Živko Gocić then scored three goals in three minutes (Lukić, Ćuk, Vučinić), and towards the end of the quarter, Skumpakis scored for a significant lead of 9:4. Throughout the rest of the match, Novi Beograd increased their lead to seven – 15:8 (5:2, 4:3, 3:2, 3:1). The most efficient players in the winning team were Vasilije Martinović and Nikola Lukić with three goals each, while Ćuk and Vlahopulos scored two goals each, and Skumpakis, Trtović, Dimitrijević, and Gladović scored one goal each.
In the fifth round on November 20, Novi Beograd will host Oradea, where even a single point will be enough for them to secure the top spot in the group.
The duel between Radnički and Jadran in Kragujevac was "do or die" for both teams, as they were direct rivals for the second spot in the group behind the undefeated Ferencvaroš. Split took the lead from the first attack, and the game went goal by goal until halftime, which ended in a draw – 7:7.
Upon returning from the break, Jadran gained a two-goal advantage (9:7) and extended it to "plus three" by the start of the final quarter – 12:9. Kragujevac tried to catch up, but they missed their chances in the attack. Two minutes into the fourth period, they reduced the gap to two goals (12:10), but that was all they could do.
The visitors scored two consecutive goals through Loren Fatović and Markus Berehulak and settled the victory three minutes before the end – 14:10. In the 30th minute, Vićković scored a penalty to soften Radnički's defeat and set the final score at 11:14 (4:5, 3:2, 2:5, 2:2). Nikola Jakšić scored four goals for Radnički, followed by Vasić and Vićković with two each, while Rašović, Janković, and Murišić scored one each. On the other side, nine players from Jadran found the net, with none scoring more than two goals.
Radnički is now four points behind Jadran, and their remaining matches are against Ferencvaroš in Budapest and Dinamo in Kragujevac. Even if Radnički wins both remaining games, they won't control their fate as Jadran only needs two points to keep the second spot.
Aside from Novi Beograd, Barseloneta and Ferencvaroš have so far secured a place in the quarterfinal groups. Barseloneta defeated Vašaš in this round, and Slobodan Nikić's team still has a chance to reach the quarterfinals, but they need victories against Marseille and Jadran from Herceg Novi.
Champions League 2024/25, Fourth Round
Group A: Steaua – Novi Beograd 8:15, Oradea – Hanover 10:9; Standings: Novi Beograd 12, Oradea 8, Steaua 3, Hanover 1.
Group B: Dinamo Tbilisi – Ferencvaroš 7:18, Radnički – Jadran Split 11:14; Standings: Ferencvaroš 12, Jadran Split 8, Radnički 4, Dinamo 0.
Group C: Jadran Herceg Novi – Marseille 3:9, Vašaš – Barseloneta 10:15; Standings: Barseloneta 12, Marseille 6, Jadran and Vašaš with 3 points each.
Group D: Primorac – Olympiacos 9:18, Sabadell – Savona 13:14 (11:11); Standings: Savona and Olympiacos 8, Sabadell 6, Primorac 2.
