Radnički secures Euro Cup semifinals spot, European clubs unite for Champions League reform

Radnički has advanced to the semifinals of the Euro Cup after defeating Primorac Kotor in both legs of the quarterfinals. The team from Kragujevac won 14:10 in Kotor and followed up with a 17:15 home victory, securing a place among Europe's top four. Nikola Jakšić was Radnički's top scorer in the second leg with four goals, while Duško Pijetlović contributed three and Strahinja Rašović and Boris Vapenski scored two each. The Serbian side will meet French club Marseille in the semifinals on April 25 and May 9, while the other semifinal features Jadran Split against Hungary's BVSC.

The matches against Primorac were closely contested, especially with Primorac at one point holding a 6:3 advantage in Kragujevac. However, Radnički turned the tide before halftime and secured their advancement, notably capitalizing on power play opportunities with a 9/10 conversion rate.

Elsewhere, Jadran Split moved to the Euro Cup semifinals after a dramatic 19-19 draw against Panathinaikos, with Zvonimir Butić scoring a decisive goal in the closing seconds. The aggregate saw Jadran through, having also won the first match (11-10). In other quarterfinal action, Marseille held off Sabadell, and BVSC eliminated Oradea.

In Champions League action, Pro Recco overcame Mladost Zagreb 13-10 to remain top of their group. Solid defensive efforts in the first two quarters, leading to a 7-2 halftime advantage, set the tone for the Italian team. Andrea Fondelli and his teammates managed the gap until the final whistle, with Kharkov scoring five for Mladost. Pro Recco’s defensive organization and opportunistic offensive play proved critical for securing three important points in their qualifying campaign.

Meanwhile, significant developments are underway at the European club level regarding the Champions League’s future. Nearly 20 clubs participating in the Champions League, representing eight nations (Italy, Greece, Spain, Croatia, Serbia, France, Germany, and Romania), have jointly sent a strong, signed letter to European Aquatics (EA) titled "Something Big is Coming". The clubs demand a transformation in how Final Four hosting is decided, specifically:

• Reducing the hosting cycle from three to one year to increase fairness.
• Extending the short deadlines for submitting bids.
• Eliminating hosting fees, considering the financial realities faced by clubs.

This collective action aims to foster fairness and credibility in water polo. The letter, which for the first time unites men's and women's club voices, will be discussed in the upcoming EA meeting in Antalya, with expectations high for reforms to be implemented.