Champions League, Prelims, Day 6 – Summary
Recco: 6/6, Jug breaks the curse

Pro Recco played the toughest game of its Champions League campaign so far but emerged the winner in Brescia in the all-Italian duel and on their way to Barcelona. In the in-house clash of the Croats Jug managed to beat Rijeka for the first time on two years. Hungarians had another fine day, both clubs won, Szolnok netted 17 goals for the second time in an away game and stands with 83 goals after six rounds.

It’s hard to see Pro Recco not finishing atop of Group A. The Italian giant was challenged by its domestic archrival Brescia, but managed to give the right answer for the third time in three weeks. After beating them on Day 5 8-5 and in the Italian Cup final with the same score-line. Brescia now came closer but lost again (5-6) despite a brave effort in the third period when they managed to turn the game with a 3-0 rush, but they faded in the fourth. Aleksandar Ivovic did a splendid job for Recco, scoring 4 goals.

After a sluggish start title-holder Barceloneta started to gain ground: after two draws and two losses the Spaniards earned connecting wins over Olympiacos. The Greeks played well for three periods but Barceloneta finished them off in the closing quarter – this was the 4th consecutive defeats of the Greeks.

Eger (HUN) took revenge on Radnicki (SRB) in an enormous fight. Just as three weeks ago (12-11) a single goal decided (7-6 this time). The first three periods saw six goals – three apiece –, the last one brought seven with Eger getting the upper hand and earning three crucial points. The Hungarians took a huge step towards the Final Six, though the race is to tight to name the team earning the remaining berth behind Recco (enjoying an 8-point lead) and besides Barceloneta (qualifying as host).

The picture is clearer in Group B, though Partizan (SRB) kept its slim hopes alive by upending Spandau (GER) with a fine performance. In the Croatian derby Jug could get rid of its curse against Rijeka and upset its main arch-rival for the first time in two years. One couldn’t imagine any better start for a new coach: Vjekoslav Kobescak led his team to triumph one day after he took over the toughest job in Dubrovnik.

Szolnok has perhaps the strongest attacking line and they were in their prime in Istanbul: the Hungarian-Serbian mix netted 17 goals again (they did it in Berlin as well), Denes Varga and Stefan Mitrovic both scored 5 goals in the spectacular downing of Galatasaray. The Magyars stand with 83 goal, by far the most in the prelims.

Champions League, prelims, Day 6

Group A
AN Brescia (ITA) vs. Pro Recco (ITA) 5-6
ZF-Eger (HUN) vs. Radnicki Kragujevac (SRB) 7-6
Atletic Barceloneta (ESP) vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) 12-8

Classification:
1. Recco 18, 2. Eger 10, 3. Barceloneta 8, 4. Radnicki 6, 5. Brescia 5, 6. Olympiacos 4

Group B
Jug Croatia Osiguranje Dubrovnik (CRO) vs. Primorje Erste Banka Rijeka (CRO) 9-6
Partizan Raiffeisen Belgrade (SRB) vs. Spandau 04 Berlin (GER) 8-6
Galatasaray Istanbul (TUR) vs. Szolnoki Dozsa-Kozgep (HUN) 12-17

Classification:
1. Jug 15, 2. Szolnok 15, 3. Rijeka 12, 4. Partizan 6, 5. Galatasaray 3, 6. Spandau 3

Day 7 is scheduled on 25 March.