Šabac stops Barcelona; decisive match against Panathinaikos next
Šabac defeated Barcelona 12:10 at home in the fifth round of the Euro Cup, keeping alive real chances of qualifying for the knockout stage. In the final round on 5th December, they need a victory against Panathinaikos at home to secure a spot in the next phase.
Nemanja Ličanin's team secured a 12:10 triumph (3:5, 1:1, 5:3, 3:1) thanks to a great finish, led by Ognjen Stojanović, who scored six goals tonight, shining as he has throughout this season.
Barcelona arrived in Šabac undefeated, having collected 12 points in the previous four rounds. The Spanish team controlled the game in the first half. By the middle of the second quarter, they were leading 6:3, and extended the lead to three goals at the start of the third quarter (7:4). After the seventh goal by the visitors, the course of the game shifted. In just under three minutes, Šabac scored three consecutive goals (two by Maćić and one by Stojanović) to level the score. Barcelona took the lead twice more (8:7 and 9:8). Thirty seconds before the final break, Ognjen Stojanović capitalized on a power play opportunity to equalize again - 9:9.
The fourth quarter belonged entirely to Šabac, buoyed by strong support from the stands. In the 28th minute, Korać scored to make it 10:9 (the second lead for the hosts, after an initial 1:0). The guests quickly equalized (10:10), but the home team showed stronger nerves in the end. The outstanding Stojanović scored the last two goals of the match in the 31st minute to set the final score. Alongside Stojanović's six goals, Maćić scored 2, Repanović, Krug, Dragović, and Korać each scored one for the winning team.
Panathinaikos, featuring Dimitrije Rističević and Viktor Rašović, defeated Honved 14:11 in Athens. With both Serbian and Greek clubs tied at nine points each going into the final round, there are no calculations to make. The winner of the match in Šabac will advance to the knockout stage. Atinjani convincingly defeated Šabac 12:5 at their home, and the hosts are eager for revenge.
In Group B, a "Serbian coaching derby" took place. Pro Reko, with Miloš Ćirić, defeated Mladost, now led by Igor Milanović, 7:6. The Italian team secured first place, while the Zagreb team is third, one point behind Solnok. In the final round, Mladost will host ASC Duisburg, coached by Vuk Vuksanović, who is still without a point, and Solnok will host Pro Reko.
Vouliagmeni, coached by Vladimir Vujasinović, defeated Panionios 10:9 in the Athens derby, with a goal from Nemanja Ubović. Vujasinović's team still has a chance to secure second place but is hindered by Ortigia's victory over BVSC (10:9) today. Sicilians maintain a three-point lead over Vouliagmeni. Vujasinović's team will host BVSC in the sixth round, while Ortigia will host Panionios, who missed their last chance for advancement in the Greek derby.
Euro Cup 2024/25, Round 5
Group A: Jug – Strasbourg 15:11, Brescia – Apollon 16:15 (penalties). Standings: 1. Brescia 14, 2. Jug 6, 3. Strasbourg 6, 4. Apollon 4.
Group B: Ortigia – BVSC 10:9, Panionios – Vouliagmeni 10:11. Standings: 1. BVSC 12, 2. Ortigia 9, 3. Vouliagmeni 6, 4. Panionis 3.
Group C: Solnok – ASC Duisburg 16:12, Pro Reko – Mladost 7:4. Standings: 1. Pro Reko 15, 2. Solnok 8, 3. Mladost 7, 4. ASC Duisburg 0.
Group D: Šabac – Barcelona 12:10, Panathinaikos – Honved 14:11. Standings: 1. Barcelona 12, 2. Panathinaikos 9, 3. Šabac 9, 4. Honved 0.
