Dramatic clashes await after Champions League and Euro Cup draws

Monday’s draw for all four club water polo competitions – the men’s and women’s Champions League and Euro Cup – set up a series of outstanding matches fans can look forward to from this autumn.

Champions League Men
2025/26 Group Stage
October 14th/15th-February 10th/11th

Group A
Olympiacos SFP (GRE), SPD Radnicki (SRB), Winner Qualification Group B, Winner Qualification Group C

Group B
Pro Recco (ITA), VK Jadran Split (CRO), Jadran m:tel Herceg Novi (MNE), Runners-up Qualification Group A.

Group C
FTC Telekom (HUN), CSM Oradea (ROU), Winner Qualification Group A, Runners-up Qualification Group C.

Group D
Zodiac CNAB (ESP), CN Marseille (FRA), Waspo Hannover 1898 (GER), Runners-up Qualification Group B.

Champions League Men
Qualification Round
September 19th-21st

Group A (Belgrade)
VK Novi Beograd (SRB), CSA Steaua BA (ROU), VPK Primorac Kotor (MNE), Pays d’Aix Natation (FRA)

Group B (Sabadell)
KEIO CN Sabadell (ESP), Vasas Sport Club (HUN), Spandau 04 (GER)

Group C (Zagreb)
AN Brescia (ITA), Vouliagmeni NC (GRE), HAVK Mladost (CRO)

If Novi Beograd prevail at home in the qualification round, last season’s final will be replayed right away in the Group Stage, as the draw would land the winners of their group in the company of FTC-Telekom.

The Hungarians beat the Serbs in a memorable match in Malta – and now there is a strong chance the two giants will meet again. Romanian champions Oradea have also been drawn to Fradi’s quartet, whom the title-holders met in the quarters in the previous seasons and cruised past them with ease.

However, the fourth team, the second best among Brescia, Vouliagmeni and Mladost may cause some headaches even for the Magyars, who are targeting a three-peat after winning the past two editions while losing only a single match in the respective season.

Group A promises some exciting battles as Olympiacos and Radnicki have already been drawn together. Two group winners from the qualifications will join them, making this four arguably the toughest one.

Returning Italian giants Pro Recco will also be challenged as the respective champions of Croatia and Montenegro, Jadran Split and Jadran Herceg Novi will be ready to put up some good fights against the most decorated club in history.

Another showdown from the Final Four will be replayed in Group D – the bronze medal match between Zodiac CNAB and Marseille. Here, Hannover may find it difficult to hold off the two greats, and a qualifier will complete this group.

Champions League Women
2025/26 Group Stage
October 25th-TBC

Group A
Runners-up Qualification Group B, UVSE Helia-D (HUN), Olympiacos SFP (GRE), Winner Qualification Group C

Group B
Ekipe Orizzonte (ITA), Runners-up Qualification Group A, Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP), Winner Qualification Group D

Group C
Winner Qualification Group B, FTC Telekom (HUN), Runners-up Qualification Group D, Vouliagmeni NC (GRE)

Group D
CN Sant Andreu (ESP), SIS Roma (ITA), Winner Qualification Group A, Runners-up Qualification Group C

Champions League Women
Qualification Round
September 26th-28th

Group A
CN Terrassa (ESP), ANC Glyfada (GRE), ONE Eger (HUN)

Group B
Alimos NAC Betsson (GRE), Lille UC (FRA), Spandau 04 (GER)

Group C
DFVE Vizilabda (HUN), ZV De Zaan (NED), Grand Nancy AC (FRA)

Group D
Assolim CN Mataro (ESP), Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA), Rapallo Pallanuoto (ITA)

The Greek–Hungarian rivalry hit new heights recently as the national teams contested both big finals, at the World Cup and the World Championships. This adds some extra flavour to the already-known composition of Group A and Group C.

In the first, Olympiacos and UVSE were drawn together – the two sides also met last season in this stage – while FTC-Telekom and Vouliagmeni will play two exciting matches in the other group.

The two most successful clubs in the competition history, seven-times winners Sabadell, runners-up last spring, and eight-times champions Orizzonte are set for more battles in Group B, and another Italian–Spanish showdown is coming in Group D, where title-holders Sant Andreu and SIS Roma will meet.

Of course, several strong sides will join the show from the qualifications, two per group, from the four groups of three and all the favourites will impose some threats on the eight teams listed above.

Euro Cup Men
2025/26 Group Stage
October 16th-February 12th

Group A
VK Jug AO (CRO), Duisburg (GER), Winner Qualification Group C, Winner Qualification Group D

Group B
CN Barcelona (ESP), CS Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU), Winner Qualification Group B, 3rd-best 2nd-place team in Qualification

Group C
BVSC Manna ABC (HUN), Panathinaikos AC (GRE), PVK Buducnost Podgorica (MNE), 1st-best 2nd-placed team in Qualification

Group D
RN Savona (ITA), VK Sabac Elixir (SRB), Winner Qualification Group A, 2nd-best 2nd-placed team in Qualification

Euro Cup Men
Qualification Round
October 3rd-5th

Group A
3rd CHL QR Group B, GS Apollon Smyrnis (GRE), ZV De Zaan (NED), A-Polo Sport Management (GEO)

Group B
3rd CHL QR Group C, BVK Crvena Zvezda (SRB), Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA), Montpellier Water Polo (FRA)

Group C
3rd CHL QR Group A, WPC Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO), VK Solaris (CRO), CS Rapid Bucuresti (ROU)

Group D
4th CHL QR Group A, Szolnoki Dozsa Praktiker (HUN), CN Terrassa (ESP), OSC Postadam (GER)

Euro Cup Women
2025/26 Group Stage
November 8th-December 13th

Group A
Third Place Qualification Group B, Winner Qualification Group B, Ethnikos (GRE)

Group B
BVSC Manna ABC (HUN), Winner Qualification Group C, Third Place Qualification Group A

Group C
Antenore Plebiscito Padova (ITA), Third Place Qualification Group C, Winner Qualification Group A

Group D
EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP), 1st best 2nd place team in Qualification, Third place in Qualification Group D

Euro Cup Women
Qualification Round
October 17th-19th

Group A
Panionios GSS (GRE), ZAVK Mladost (CRO), Zodiac CNAB (ESP)

Group B
Polar Bears (NED), Galatasaray Zena (TUR), ASD Bogliasco 1951 (ITA)

Group C
III Keruleti Torna Es Vivo Egylet (HUN), VK Vojvodina (SRB), Hapoel Yokneam (ISR)

Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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