Champions League and Europa League Draw: Novi Beograd to Host Qualifiers, Radnički to Face Olympiacos...
Today in Zagreb, the draw for both the qualifying rounds and the group stage of the Champions League and Europa League took place.
In the Champions League, Radnički, the national champions of Serbia, will represent the country, while Novi Beograd will attempt to reach the group stage through the qualifiers.
Champions League 2025/2026
Qualifying Round (September 19-21)
Novi Beograd will host one of the three qualifying groups. They will welcome Steaua, Primorac from Kotor, and Pei d Eks, the runners-up of Romania, Montenegro, and France, respectively.
The top two teams will advance to the group stage. If Novi Beograd finishes first in their pool, they will compete in a group where Ferencvaroš is the main favorite, while a second-place finish will put them in a group with Pro Reko. The third and fourth-place teams from the group will continue their season in the Europa League qualifiers.
Group A (Belgrade): Novi Beograd (Serbia), Steaua (Romania), Primorac (Montenegro), Eks An Provans (France)
Group B (Sabadell)): Sabadell (Spain), Vasas (Hungary), and Spandau 04 (Germany)
Group C (Zagreb): Brescia (Italy), Mladost (Croatia), Vouliagmeni (Greece)
Group Stage
In the group stage, Radnički will face the Greek champions Olympiacos and the two winners from the qualifying groups. Potential opponents for Radnički and Olympiacos include Sabadell, Vasas, Spandau, Brescia, Mladost, and Vouliagmeni.
Group A: Olympiacos (Greece), Radnički (Serbia), 1B, 1C.
Group B: Pro Reko (Italy), Jadran ST (Croatia), Jadran HN (Montenegro), 2A.
Group C: Ferencvaroš (Hungary), Oradea (Romania), 1A, 2C.
Group D: Barceloneta (Spain), Marseille (France), Hanover (Germany), 2B.
Europa League
Red Star Belgrade will participate in the Europa League qualifiers, while Šabac will feature in the group stage.
Sixteen teams in the qualifiers will be divided into four groups.
In the Europa League qualifiers, Red Star Belgrade will compete in a group in Montpellier, France, against the local Montpellier club, Italian Trieste, and one team from the Champions League qualifiers.
The four group winners and the three best runners-up will advance to the Europa Cup group stage.
The criteria for determining the three highest-ranked runners-up are as follows: 1) points in the group, 2) goal difference, 3) total goals scored, and 4) European Aquatics ranking.
Šabac will face Italian Savona and two teams from the qualifiers in the group stage.
Qualifying Round (October 3-5)
Group A (Athens): 3rd Place in Group B Champions League qualifiers, Apollon Smyrnis (Greece), ZV De Zaan (Netherlands), Sport Management (Georgia)
Group B (Montpellier): 3rd Place in Gr. C Champions League qualifiers, Red Star Belgrade (Serbia), Trieste (Italy), Montpellier (France)
Group C (Šibenik): 3rd Place in Gr. A Champions League qualifiers, Dinamo Tbilisi (Georgia), Solaris (Croatia), Rapid Bucharest (Romania)
Group D (Terrassa): 4th Place in Gr. A Champions League qualifiers, Szolnok (Hungary), Terrassa (Spain), OSC Potsdam (Germany)
Eliminated teams (excluding those in the Champions League qualifiers) will have the opportunity to participate in the newly launched Conference Cup.
Group Stage
Group A: Jug Dubrovnik (Croatia), ASC Duisburg (Germany), winners of Groups C and D qualifiers.
Group B: Barcelona (Spain), Dinamo Bucharest (Romania), winner of Group B qualifiers, third-best runner-up from the qualifiers
Group C: BVSC Budapest (Hungary), Panathinaikos (Greece), Buducnost (Montenegro), best runner-up from the qualifiers
Group D: Savona (Italy), Šabac (Serbia), winner of Group A qualifiers, second-best runner-up from the qualifiers.
