This season, the Montenegrin water polo club celebrates its first Champions League victory, largely thanks to Jadran M:tel’s strong performance in Hungary. Meanwhile, Primorac secured a second point but faced its third loss.

In the opening rounds, Novlja suffered defeats against Marseille in France and Barceloneta in Trebinje. However, in the third round, they decisively triumphed over Vašaš with a score of 14:6, maintaining control throughout the match.

“We can take pride in this victory. We were aware that Vašaš had played well against Marseille,” noted Jadran’s coach Vladimir Gojkovic.

Conceding only six goals highlights Jadran’s defensive strength.

“Our defense was exceptional in the first two quarters; we neutralized all potential threats, turning them into a dominant position that we maintained until the final whistle. I congratulate the players, and we are now shifting our focus to the upcoming challenges,” Gojković stated.

Russian player Dmitrij Holod scored five goals in this inaugural win, bringing Jadran to three points – tied with Marseille and Vašaš, while Barcelona leads the group with nine points after three victories.

“This victory is crucial for us, keeping us in contention for the second phase of the Champions League. We had limited preparation time for this match, but over the last two days, we managed to get ready effectively. The defense was the key; we halted their top shooters and capitalized on our opportunities,” Holod commented.

Despite three defeats, Primorac earned two points in the elite competition’s opening three rounds. They initially lost to Olympiakos in Piraeus, followed by a defeat against Savona in Kotor, and finally succumbed to Sabadell, each time by five points.

“I think we performed admirably throughout the match. We showcased solid gameplay, though we had moments of concentration lapses where we could have distanced ourselves. Ultimately, the game was decided by the five players,” remarked Primorac’s coach Vjekoslav Pasković, whose team currently sits at the bottom of Group D, trailing Sabadell and Olympiakos by three points and Savona by four.

Over the weekend, Primorac ended a streak of four losses by defeating Jug in the regional Premier League after five matches.

“These games are quite challenging; the players are competing practically every three days, making it difficult to maintain that rhythm. I commend my team for their resilience, and congratulations to Sabadell for their victory,” Pasković added.

This weekend, the fierce rivals from Bokelje will face off again. Specifically, Primorac will host Mladost on Sunday in Budva, while Jadran will travel to Dubrovnik the same day to take on Jug.

The Champions League resumes on November 12, with Jadran facing Marseille and Primorac taking on Olympiakos.

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