Women’s Champions League Final Four line-up set to be decided
By Gergely Csurka
While two duels seem to have been decided a week ago, two are still open in the Champions League Women Quarter Finals. Title-holders Sabadell and last season’s bronze medallists St Andreu look set to play in the Final Four once more, but runners-up Olympiacos face a huge battle against Vouliagmeni, and eight-times winners Orizzonte face a difficult task versus Ferencvaros in Budapest.
Champions League Women
Quarter Finals, Second-Legs
Saturday, 29th March 2025
(Local times shown)
13.00 Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) v CN Sant Andreu (ESP)
(first leg: 8-13)
16.00 Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE)
(first leg: 10-11)
18.00 Alimos NAC Betsson (GRE) v Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP)
(first leg: 6-19)
19.15 FTC-Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v Orizzonte Catania (ITA)
(first leg: 11-9)
Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) v St Andreu (ESP)
(first leg: 8-13)
St Andreu’s strong finish gave them a massive five-goal advantage against fellow Spanish side Mataro. It was the third time this season that St Andreu beat their local arch-rivals in the various competitions, and it’s difficult to see any way Mataro can turn this duel around.
Mataro are on the verge of missing the Final Four after back-to-back appearances in the last two years.
Vouliagmeni NC (GRE) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE)
(first leg: 10-11)
The all-Greek match-up promises sheer excitements. After handing heavy defeats to their local arch-rivals in recent encounters, Olympiacos found themselves in the middle of a dogfight in their last two clashes.
First, Vouliagmeni halted the Greek champions’ seven-year unbeaten run in the domestic league, and four days later they forced another tight game in Piraeus.
Though Olympiacos had two better spells, and at certain points they seemed to take control, Vouliagmeni staged a brilliant finish and only a last-second penalty stop prevented them from tying the first leg. On Saturday afternoon, we will see if that miss was crucial or not.
Alimos NAC Betsson (GRE) v Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP)
(first leg: 6-19)
While the all-Spanish clash in Mataro has a chance of turning into a heated battle, this clash looks certain to go the way of Sabadell.
After winning the first leg by a huge 13 goals, they’ve pretty much already booked their ticket to the Final Four for the 12th time in 15 years.
FTC-Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v Orizzonte Catania (ITA)
(first leg: 11-9)
Even though eight-times winners Orizzonte’s visits to the Final Four have become less frequent than in the good old times (six of their victories came between 2001 and 2008), no one can rule out the Italian champions this season, even if they fell two goals behind at home to Ferencvaros.
Just like the men’s team, the Fradi women have also enjoyed a great run in the Champions League – of course, not quite as supreme as their mighty title-holder male counterparts. Still, FTC had a fine performance in the group stage and edged out their rivals, just like they did against Orizzonte in Catania last Saturday.
These two teams should produce another thrilling encounter this weekend, which will determine whether a Hungarian or an Italian team join the Spanish and Greek participants.
If the home side can keep their advantage, it would be their first ever journey to the finals, while Orizzonte are looking for a return after missing out last year.
–
The Quarter Final second-legs take place on Saturday, 29th March. You can watch all the Champions League Women action live on www.euroaquaticstv.com and stay up-to-date with live results/tables and real-time updates through the European Aquatics App. Download it here: Google Play.
The post Women’s Champions League Final Four line-up set to be decided first appeared on European Aquatics®.