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On April 2, there was a lot of drama in the LEN Champions League Second Stage. CN Marseille defeated VK Novi Beograd 14-9, and Jadran Split defeated Olympiacos 14-13 in a penalty shootout.
Novi Beograd 9 – Marseille 14
Marseille defeated Novi Beograd, their group rivals, with a strong performance. The French team jumped out to an early lead and ended up winning the game by a score of 12–4 by the third quarter. With the help of seasoned players like Ugo Crousillat and Michael Bodegas, Marseille defeated the Serbian powerhouses for the first time ever.
“This win is worth its weight in gold with the energy and motivation from our fans,” head coach Miloš Šćepanović stated.
The outcome tightens the fight for the Final Four by bringing Marseille and Novi Beograd level on points.
(After Penalties) Olympiacos 13 – Jadran Split 14
Jadran forced a shootout after Olympiacos wasted a three-goal lead and missed four penalties in regular time. Throughout the game and the penalty shootout, the Croatian team maintained composure, and goalie Marko Bijač made crucial saves.
“The team never gave up; they never lost hope,” Jadran coach Jure Marelja stated.
Olympiacos receives one point from the shootout defeat, while Jadran wins for the first time in the quarterfinals.
Marseille’s 14–9 victory over Novi Beograd is a turning point in their Champions League campaign. With the win, the French side moves to the top of Group A and takes control of their Final Four destiny. Not only do they pull level with Novi Beograd on points, but they now hold the head-to-head advantage—a critical factor if the group ends in a tie. With two matches remaining, a single additional win could be enough to secure their place in the season’s climax.
For Olympiacos, the evening was far more disappointing. The narrow 14–13 shootout loss to Jadran Split, a team that had yet to claim a point in this stage, leaves the Greeks five points behind the top two. With only two games left—against Novi Beograd and Marseille—Olympiacos faces a steep uphill battle. They now must win both matches and hope for a slip from one of the group leaders to have any hope of reaching the Final Four. What had been seen as a must-win match at home turned into a costly missed opportunity.
