Match point for Waspo
You can spin it any way you want. Germany is not one of the absolute top nations in water polo at the moment. That’s why it would be important to put an exclamation mark on it once again. The German champions Waspo Hannover have the best chance of doing so at the moment, as they have it in their own hands to reach the Final Eight of the Champions League, which would put them among the supposedly eight best teams in Europe.
However, it is not the case that participation in the final tournament will be handed to the Lower Saxons on a silver platter, because for that they have to finish fourth in the group stage. The first three places are out of reach after eleven of 14 match days, but Waspo are currently in this important fourth place. At the moment, they have 14 points.
The toughest competition for this last free slot is OSC Budapest. The Hungarians currently have 13 points. It is exciting that both teams will meet in a direct duel on Friday, with home advantage, however, going to the Orvosegyetem Sport Club from the Hungarian capital.
We basically agree with this opinion, but perhaps Karsten Seehafer’s team can rise above themselves and cause a surprise, as they have already managed to do in the top division this season. However, there is a tendency to bet on the Hungarians in the match between OSC Budapest and Hannover, which would be a bitter setback for Waspo on their way to the Final Eight.
OSC Budapest – Statistics & current form
In the run-up to the tournament, the Hungarians were named as one of four teams to make the Final Eight from this group. However, the Magyars were hit hard by an outbreak of the pandemic in the meantime, so that, for example, they lost their home match against Spandau in the top flight with 0:10 at the green table. With three points from this match, the world would look a lot different in the standings.
Air to the top
So the team of Hungarian legend Daniel Varga is forced to win the duel against Waspo on Friday. The form could well be better, however, as the Hungarians have only won three of their last eight competitive matches. Therefore, there is at least one loophole left to play the odds on a point win for the guests in the duel between OSC Budapest and Hannover.
In the Hungarian league table, Budapest only managed third place behind local rivals Ferencvaros and Szolnoki. Nevertheless, they have safely entered the play-offs of the best four teams and still have good chances to win the national championship. The first clash in the semi-finals of the playoffs at Szolnoki took place last weekend.
The Orvosegyetem Sport Club delivered a very mature performance. They won 13:9 away from home, which was hardly threatened. Only in the second quarter were there slight problems, which did not lead to a really close game. OSC Budapest now have one foot in the final of the national championship.
Predicted line-up of OSC Budapest:
Levai, Devai – Szilad, Manhercz, Varnai, Salamon, Csacsovszky, Dala, Aranyi, Vigvari, Burian, Bundschuh, Harai – Coach: Varga
Hannover – Statistics & current form
Waspo Hannover still have a lot of plans this season. From a national perspective, the plan is to win the double of championship and cup. Considering that there is only one serious opponent in Spandau 04, these goals are not unrealistic. In addition, Karsten Seehafer’s team wants to make it to the Final Eight of the premier league.
Hannover have everything in their own hands
After all, Hannover have everything in their own hands in this respect as well. However, they should at least get a point on Friday, otherwise Budapest will pass them by and they will only have the compulsory tasks against Red Star Belgrade and Steaua Bucharest ahead of them. But if the Lower Saxons score in the Hungarian capital, then things don’t look bad with a remaining programme in Berlin and at home against Dubrovnik.
On Tuesday, Hannover had already hosted Spandau in their own swimming pool. Because the Bundesliga had already secured a place in the playoffs, Karsten Seehafer could afford to spare some of the top players. Nevertheless, the game was open for a long time, but in the end they lost 10:14.
But the team should be fresh on Friday in order to score in this groundbreaking game. Apart from the defeat on Tuesday, things have been going very well lately. Before that, there were three wins in a row. The last defeats were either against Wasserfreunde Spandau or against the European top teams Pro Recco and Marseille.
Predicted line-up of Hannover:
Schenkel, Götz – Corusic, Macan, Real, D. Brguljan, Radovic, Muslim, Nagaev, Kubisch, M. Brguljan, Schütze, Winkelhorst – Coach: Seehafer
OSC Budapest – Hannover Direct comparison / H2H-balance
OSC Budapest and Waspo Hannover have largely avoided each other on the international stage so far. Only once have the paths of these two clubs crossed. This means that these two teams have been drawn against each other in the Champions League for the first time this season. The first leg in Hannover in November was the first and only duel to date.
In Hannover, the two rivals parted with a 12:12 draw. Waspo led after the first period, but fell behind in the second quarter and trailed until the end of the game. It was only just before the final siren of the game that Ivan Nagaev managed to score the final 12:12. Jörn Winkelhorst and Darko Brguljan were the best scorers for the team from Lower Saxony with three goals each.
Hungary OSC Budapest – Hannover tip
While there are still three games to go in the Champions League group stage, it already feels like a final on Friday when Waspo take on the Hungarian capital. We are sure that the Hungarians will not give up the fourth place with a win and take six points in the last two games.
Waspo will therefore have to earn at least a draw, just like in the first leg. Coach Karsten Seehafer made a point of sparing some regular players in Tuesday’s Bundesliga match against Spandau because he knows the importance of this game.
If the Lower Saxons even win, the door to the Final Eight is wide open. But we think the Hungarians will put in a highly concentrated performance, just like last weekend in the tough match against Szolnoki. That’s why we decided to play the betting odds on a handicap win (-2.5) for the Hungarians in the match OSC Budapest vs Waspo Hannover.
