Jadran’s water polo team recorded their first defeat in this season’s Champions League. In the second round of Group C, before a full pool at Poljud, they were beaten by Barceloneta, the current European champions, by a score of 17:7. The quarter-by-quarter scores were 4:1, 4:4, 3:1, 6:1.
Jadran held their own well against the favoured visitors during the first half, although the Spaniards held a lead from the start. The Split side reduced the deficit to a single goal on several occasions, most recently in the 14th minute when Seman scored to make it 6:5. The teams went to the interval with Barceloneta leading 8:5. Goalkeeper Aguirre made seven saves by the halfway mark.
At the start of the third quarter, Sanahuja extended the lead to 9:5, giving Barceloneta a four-goal advantage for the first time. Jadran then replaced Popadić with Anić in goal. Anić recorded six saves for the remainder of the match. In the final quarter, Barceloneta scored six goals, while Jadran managed to score just once.
Jadran coach Jure Marelja pointed out problems in attack, a lack of concentration, and errors that are not typical for his team after the match. “The first and second quarters were good defensively, but we melted in the attacking game,” Marelja said. “We overcomplicated things several times, from the first passes to the player to wrong, negative situations that are not natural.”
Marelja believes it was absolutely a matter of mental approach. “They simply met us on their half and punished us,” he said. “We played some unanticipated actions that we had absolutely never done before, neither in training nor in matches. We will have to work a lot on concentration. It is not hard to pass the ball to each other without passing it to the opponent.”
He also commented on the quality of the opponents. “They play really modern water polo and have very good shooters. What Barceloneta shows in defence is truly perfected,” Marelja concluded.
Barceloneta took a 4:1 lead in the first quarter. The second period ended level at 4:4, and Barceloneta went to the long break with an 8:5 advantage. The Split side scored only one goal in the third quarter, while the visitors netted three. Before the final eight minutes, Barceloneta increased their lead to 11:6. In the 18th minute, Anić came on in goal for Jadran, replacing Popadić, who had recorded three saves up to that point. Barceloneta converted six of their 10 power-play opportunities.
