Olympiacos has one step away from celebrating a historic treble. The "Reds" dominated over Barceloneta (6-4) in the first semifinal of the LEN Champions League held in Henoa and secured the qualification to the final. Buslie was the MVP of the game scoring two goals and having an excellent defensive performance. The ‘’Reds’’ claim the third European trophy in the men’s water polo having participated in seven finals of international competitions and in the second one in the last three years. Now, the players of Thodoris Vlachos are waiting for the match ‘’Pro Recco-Jug’’ to know their opponent in the tomorrow final (9/6, 21:30).

Key action: 

Both teams were goalless in the first four minutes of the semifinal. Olympiacos was very good in the man-up and Buslje did 1-0. The Spanish team reacted and equalized to 1-1 which was the score of the first quarter. Genidounias scored for 2-1 giving the lead again to Olympiacos. The ‘’Reds’’ boosted the margin to two goals with a nice attempt by Gounas at 5:04. However, Barceloneta came back and replied with two goals to tie the game at the end of the first half. 

The game was very interesting in the second half with the two teams having great defensive performance in the first minutes and remaining goalless. The ‘’Reds’’ protested against the referee decisions many times, especially at the penalty of Gounas. Buslje did 4-3 but Barceloneta replied with Vrilc who was in an offside position. 

The ‘’Reds’’ started the fourth quarter decisively in order to secure the qualification to the final. The Barceloneta players were very nervous and Olympiacos went ahead again with a goal by Fountoulis. Pavic had an excellent performance making impressive saves and so, keeping the lead until the end. Obradovic scored with a nice attempt nine seconds before the end and the ‘’Reds’’ celebrated the qualification to the final. 

Match data:

The quarters: 1-1, 2-2, 1-1, 2-0

Goals: 

1st quarter: 1-0 Buslje (04:00), 1-1 Mallarach (03:10)

2nd quarter: 2-1 Genidounias (06:45), 3-1 Gounas (05:04), 3-2 Granados (02:18), 3-3 Perrone (01:00)

3rd quarter: 4-3 Buslje (01:22), 4-4 Vrlic (00:47)

4th quarter: 5-4 Fountoilis (04:41), 6-4 Obradovic (0:09)

Squads: 

Olympiacos (Thodoris Vlachos): Pavic, Mylonakis, Delakas, Genidounias 1, Fountoulis, Nikolaidis, Dervisis, Buslje 2, Mourikis, Gounas 1, Argyropoulos, Obradovic 1, Galanopoulos

Barceloneta (Jesus Martin): Lopez, Famera, Granados 1, Munarriz, Vrlic 1, Larumbe, Paul, Fernandez, Tahull, Perrone 1, Mallarach 1, Bustos, Linares

Quotes: 

The Head Coach, Thodoris Vlachos said: ‘’When you conceded just four goals in a semifinal, it is difficult to lose. We could have scored more goals but the Barceloneta goalkeeper was excellent tonight. We kept the rhythm during the game and were focused on our plan. My players proved that the willingness, the quality and the determination plays an important role. We are in the final but don’t stop here. We have to be very concentrated tomorrow. We are happy to be here and have the experience of the final. That will be the second final in the last three years.’’

Genidounias stated at olympiacossfp.gr: ‘’Today, our goal was to qualify to the final and did it. We knew that it would be a tough game, especially on the defense. We were very good defensively and conceded just four goals. But we haven’t done anything yet. We have to be concentrated because the final is tomorrow.’’ 

Olympiacos has one step away from celebrating a historic treble. The "Reds" dominated over Barceloneta (6-4) in the first semifinal of the LEN Champions League held in Henoa and secured the qualification to the final. Buslie was the MVP of the game scoring two goals and having an excellent defensive performance. The ‘’Reds’’ claim the third European trophy in the men’s water polo having participated in seven finals of international competitions and in the second one in the last three years. Now, the players of Thodoris Vlachos are waiting for the match ‘’Pro Recco-Jug’’ to know their opponent in the tomorrow final (9/6, 21:30).

Key action: 

Both teams were goalless in the first four minutes of the semifinal. Olympiacos was very good in the man-up and Buslje did 1-0. The Spanish team reacted and equalized to 1-1 which was the score of the first quarter. Genidounias scored for 2-1 giving the lead again to Olympiacos. The ‘’Reds’’ boosted the margin to two goals with a nice attempt by Gounas at 5:04. However, Barceloneta came back and replied with two goals to tie the game at the end of the first half. 

The game was very interesting in the second half with the two teams having great defensive performance in the first minutes and remaining goalless. The ‘’Reds’’ protested against the referee decisions many times, especially at the penalty of Gounas. Buslje did 4-3 but Barceloneta replied with Vrilc who was in an offside position. 

The ‘’Reds’’ started the fourth quarter decisively in order to secure the qualification to the final. The Barceloneta players were very nervous and Olympiacos went ahead again with a goal by Fountoulis. Pavic had an excellent performance making impressive saves and so, keeping the lead until the end. Obradovic scored with a nice attempt nine seconds before the end and the ‘’Reds’’ celebrated the qualification to the final. 

Match data:

The quarters: 1-1, 2-2, 1-1, 2-0

Goals: 

1st quarter: 1-0 Buslje (04:00), 1-1 Mallarach (03:10)

2nd quarter: 2-1 Genidounias (06:45), 3-1 Gounas (05:04), 3-2 Granados (02:18), 3-3 Perrone (01:00)

3rd quarter: 4-3 Buslje (01:22), 4-4 Vrlic (00:47)

4th quarter: 5-4 Fountoilis (04:41), 6-4 Obradovic (0:09)

Squads: 

Olympiacos (Thodoris Vlachos): Pavic, Mylonakis, Delakas, Genidounias 1, Fountoulis, Nikolaidis, Dervisis, Buslje 2, Mourikis, Gounas 1, Argyropoulos, Obradovic 1, Galanopoulos

Barceloneta (Jesus Martin): Lopez, Famera, Granados 1, Munarriz, Vrlic 1, Larumbe, Paul, Fernandez, Tahull, Perrone 1, Mallarach 1, Bustos, Linares

Quotes: 

The Head Coach, Thodoris Vlachos said: ‘’When you conceded just four goals in a semifinal, it is difficult to lose. We could have scored more goals but the Barceloneta goalkeeper was excellent tonight. We kept the rhythm during the game and were focused on our plan. My players proved that the willingness, the quality and the determination plays an important role. We are in the final but don’t stop here. We have to be very concentrated tomorrow. We are happy to be here and have the experience of the final. That will be the second final in the last three years.’’

Genidounias stated at olympiacossfp.gr: ‘’Today, our goal was to qualify to the final and did it. We knew that it would be a tough game, especially on the defense. We were very good defensively and conceded just four goals. But we haven’t done anything yet. We have to be concentrated because the final is tomorrow.’’