The water polo team of Jadran Mtela is gearing up for what could be a pivotal match on their journey to the Champions League quarterfinals. After three rounds, Novljani holds one win and two losses in Group A, facing off against Marseille tonight, a team that has previously handed them a defeat early in the season, as noted by Vladimir Gojković.

In their first encounter in France, the score was 13:11 in favor of the team led by the legendary goalkeeper Miloš Šćepanović. With this rematch, the Montenegrin vice-champions are eager to secure a win that could propel them closer to a spot among the top eight teams in Europe.

– We know it will be a challenging match, and the stakes are high because a victory would bring us significant benefits. Our first game against Marseille didn’t go as planned, but we also lost Vuk Milojević to a serious injury during that match – recalls Uroš Vučurović, Jadran’s left-handed attacker.

Milojević suffered the injury after being struck by a teammate from the national squad, Vladan Spaić, who received a 10-game ban from LEN for his unsportsmanlike conduct.

Following that defeat against Barceloneta in Trebinje, where they both now share the same number of wins after three matches, Jadran secured a crucial victory in their last match, beating Vašaš in Hungary with a score of 14:6. They last played ten days ago, triumphing over Jug in Dubrovnik.

– I believe we’ve had enough rest, prepared adequately, and focused our minds, so I’m expecting us to deliver a strong performance. We’re hopeful for a positive outcome – Vučurović added before the match in Trebinje, which kicks off tonight at 20:00.

Another optimistic voice on the team is rising star Danilo Stupar.

“A win is essential; we understand its importance in our quest for the knockout stage in the Champions League. We have reviewed our previous match against Marseille and identified mistakes we must avoid repeating. I also hope the support of our fans can play a crucial role for us – Stupar said.

In the same group, Vašaš and Barcelona will clash at 18:15, with the Catalans heavily favored to win…

Meanwhile, Primorac finds itself in a tough spot ahead of its match with Olympiakos at the “Zoran-Džimi Gopčević” swimming pool in Kotor (18:15). The Montenegrin champions are struggling with just two points from three rounds, having suffered two defeats at home. Their next matches don’t look promising as they will face Savona and Sabadell away. It’s clear that tonight is practically their last chance to stay competitive for the quarterfinals, as they trail their rivals by three or four points.

– We’re up against an exceptional team filled with top players. Olympiakos is arriving motivated after their loss to Savona and undoubtedly aims for a win. However, we share the same goal – we must focus on ourselves and stay concentrated. Achieving triumph is crucial – highlighted Francesco Massaro, the goalkeeper for Primorac.

This season, Primorac has played nine matches both in regional competitions and the Champions League, with two victories – both in the Premier League, against Primorje and Jug, where they secured a five-point lead.

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