DFVE, Terrassa, Alimos and Mataro safely navigate qualifiers to confirm places in women’s 2025/26 Champions League

Four teams – CN Terrassa, DFVE Vizilabda, Alimos NAC Betsson and Assolim CN Mataro – confirmed their places in the Group Stage of the 2025/26 Champions League Women after a dramatic second day of qualification action across Europe. The results mean there’s still lots to play for on the final day, as there are four more tickets for the main competition to be decided.

2025/26 Champions League Women
Qualification Round
Day 2, Saturday 27 September 2025

Group A (Glyfada)

ONE Eger (HUN) 13-13 (4-2P) CN Terrassa (ESP)

Group B (Berlin)

Alimos NAC Betsson (GRE) 21-11 Lille UC (FRA)

Group C (Dunaujvaros)

DFVE Vizilabda (HUN) 15-13 ZV De Zaan (NED)

Group D (Dunaujvaros)

Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) 14-9 Rapallo Pallanuoto (ITA)

Group A (Glyfada)

ONE Eger (HUN) 13-13 (4-2P) CN Terrassa (ESP)

CN Terrassa secured their Group Stage berth after forcing a shootout against ONE Eger in a game where they were playing catch-up for the entire match.

The Spaniards never led, but a late equaliser made sure they didn’t leave the pool emtpy-handed. And thanks to their opening-day win over hosts ANC Glyfada iRepair, they perhaps didn’t mind losing the shootout too much.

Eger, coached by the legendary three-time Olympic champion Peter Biros, played really well and built a 6-4 lead by half-time, winning both periods 3-2.

Deep into the third they went 8-5 up, and they still held a two-goal lead before the last period at 10-8.

The goals continued to flow in the fourth, but after 12-10, the Spanish levelled things up at 12-12 with 2:05 to play. In fact, it was a Hungarian who held Terrassa’s flag high, as Panni Szegedi netted three in the fourth period.

Her third was another equaliser, 17 seconds from time for 13-13.

In the shootout, Terrassa got off to a terrible start with back-to-back misses, while the Hungarians scored all their shots to land two points. Now they need to earn at least one point on the final day against ANC Glyfada iRepair to make the main Group Stage.

Group B (Berlin)

Alimos NAC Betsson (GRE) 21-11 Lille UC (FRA)

Alimos NAC Betsson got over their narrow defeat to the hosts Spandau O4 Berlin on day one by brushing Lille UC aside on Saturday. Fleurien Bosveld led the Greek charge with eight goals, while Afroditi Bitsakou hit five.

It took Alimos just 91 seconds to open up a 3-0 lead, and although Cecilia Nardini struck twice for Lille, Alimos controlled the early exchanges and were 6-4 up at the first break.

The gap would have been bigger had it not been for two late goals from Lille’s Lily Vernoux and Lara Andres, and although the French side cut the deficit to one (7-6) three minutes into the second, Alimos responded with a powerful 5-0 surge – including three goals from Bitsakou – which set them back on the path to victory.

Lille trailed 12-7 at the turnaround and although they did trouble Alimos at times, they weren’t able to get close again in the second half, and their task only got worse once Vernoux was fouled out late in the third.

With the hosts Spandau their opponents on the final day, Lille now need a huge performance if they are to cause an upset and finish in the top two. Alimos, meanwhile, can just enjoy the action, knowing their qualification is secure.

Group C (Dunaujvaros)

DFVE Vizilabda (HUN) 15-13 ZV De Zaan (NED)

Hosts DFVE Vizilabda clinched their second win of the weekend to secure the top spot in Group C as they downed last season’s Euro Cup winners ZV De Zaan in a thrilling match.

The opening period was an even contest, as the Dutch took the lead twice, but the home side staged the better finish, netting two inside the last minute to go 4-3 up.

DFVE needed just 52 seconds to add two more in the second, but 2024 European champion Lieke Rogge stepped up, hitting two to cut the difference back to a single goal at 6-5.

Next came the Hungarians with another fast double, this time in a mere 23 seconds, but the Dutch needed only a minute to come back to 8-7, while they also killed a woman-down between their goals.

Still, the Magyars forced a penalty in the remaining seconds and Krisztina Garda buried it to double their lead with 0:02 on the clock – and it was only half-time.

De Zaan took the upperhand at the start of the third, as Kila van der Veen’s double brought the Dutch back to even at 9-9, for the first time since 3-3.

This time it was Ilona Borsi’s turn to reply with two fast goals, both from action for 11-9. Both sides then converted a penalty, followed by an action goal apiece, before Pau Hicks put away an extra for 13-12, so the final quarter promised even more drama.

De Zaan failed to convert two extras early on, then van der Veen equalised from action, with 4:21 remaining. And they even had another six on five but missed this one too and that cost them the game.

Nora Sumegi scored from the next possession to put DFVE ahead and 45 seconds later Ana Milicevic’s action goal decided the match.

Despite the disappointing loss, De Zaan will remain confident of qualifying, as they now face a straight shootout with Grand Nancy on Sunday for the runners-up spot.

Group D (Dunaujvaros)

Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) 14-9 Rapallo Pallanuoto (ITA)

Spanish giants Assolim CN Mataro entered the Qualification Round on Saturday and recorded an expected win against Rapallo Pallanuoto. The 2023 Champions League runners-up were behind twice in the first quarter, at 0-1 and 1-2, but a 3-0 rush put them ahead after five minutes and ultimately it was a lead they never surrendered.

Mataro’s star summer signings, American Jewel Roemer and Australian Tilly Kearns, were their stand-out performers, as Roemer top scored with four goals, while Kearns fired in a hat-trick. Martina Claveria was also in fine form, as she hit three as well.

At half-time, Rapallo were still in touching distance at 8-6, but the Spaniards hammered in four unanswered goals at the start of the third and began to pull away.

Mataro’s advantage was five (13-8) by the last break and the goals dried up in the fourth as both sides finished with one apiece in the final eight minutes.

With this victory, Mataro’s place in the top two is confirmed, and they also hold the fate of Rapallo in their hands.

Rapallo can now only sit and watch the final Group D clash, and hope Mataro dish out similar treatment against their Italian rivals Pallanuoto Trieste on Sunday.

For the full fixtures/schedule/tables,click here
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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