CNAB, Polar Bears, Hapoel and Kerulet successfully navigate Euro Cup qualifiers to reach the main stage

With all four places in the women’s Euro Cup Group Stage still undecided going into the final day of the Qualification Round, the stage was set for plenty of drama – and the last three games of the weekend didn’t disappoint. All the concluding clashes produced spectacular action as every team fought to the end, knowing that goal difference could prove crucial in deciding who progressed as the best runners-up. Zodiac CNAB were the first team to qualify after a second straight dominant display, this time against Panionios GSS, to top Group A. Polar Bears followed, surviving a tense final few minutes against ASD Bogliasco to clinch Group B, while Hapoel Yoqneam downed VK Vojvodina to finish first in Group C. The best runners-up spot went to III Keruleti TVE, whose late heroics to force a shootout against Hapoel on Friday ultimately proved decisive.

2025/26 Euro Cup Women
Qualification Round, Day 3
Sunday 19 October
(Goals scored/conceded/difference in brackets)

Group A
(Zagreb, Croatia)

Panionios GSS (GRE) 8-14 Zodiac CNAB (ESP)

Standings:
1. Zodiac CNAB, 6pts (32:12 +20)
2. Panionios GSS, 3pts (19:23 -4)
3. ZAVK Mladost Zagreb, 0pts (13:29 -16)

Group B
(Ede, Netherlands)

Polar Bears (NED) 10-9 ASD Bogliasco 1951 (ITA)

Standings:
1. Polar Bears, 6pts (32:15 +17)
2. ASD Bogliasco 1951, 3pts (36:15 +21)
3. Galatasaray Zena, 0pts (11:49 -38)

Group C
(Novi Sad, Serbia)

VK Vojvodina (SRB) 8-12 Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR)

Standings:
1. Hapoel Yoqneam, 5pts (27:23 +4)
2. III. Keruleti TVE, 4pts (28:25 +3)
3. VK Vojvodina, 0pts (18:25 -7)

With the Qualification Round complete, the full line-up for the women’s 2025/26 Euro Cup Group Stage has been confirmed, while the five teams who missed out – Panionios GSS, ZAVK Mladost Zagreb, ASD Bogliasco 1951, Galatasaray Zena and VK Vojvodina – will head to the Conference Cup.

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

Group A
Lille UC (FRA), Polar Bears (NED), Ethnikos (GRE)

Group B
BVSC Manna ABC (HUN), Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR), ANC Glyfada iRepair (GRE)

Group C
Antenore Plebiscito Padova (ITA), Grand Nancy AC (FRA), Zodiac CNAB (ESP)

Group D
EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP), III. Keruleti TVE (HUN), Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)

Group A
(Zagreb, Croatia)

Panionios GSS (GRE) 8-14 Zodiac CNAB (ESP)

Standings:
1. Zodiac CNAB, 6pts (32:12 +20)
2. Panionios GSS, 3pts (19:23 -4)
3. ZAVK Mladost Zagreb, 0pts (13:29 -16)

Zodiac CNAB picked up where they left off on Saturday night, dominating the early exchanges of their clash with Panionios GSS. Cristina Nogue, Alejandra Aznar, Mariona Viladot and Paula Leiton got them off to the perfect start, firing in four unanswered goals inside the first two and a half minutes.

The Spaniards moved the ball confidently, finding space on the perimeter and arrowing their shots into the corners – much to the frustration of Panionios goalkeeper Edina Gangl, who wasn’t getting much protection from her defence.

At the other end, the Greeks were smothered in attack, struggling to get the ball into the centre or seriously trouble Bianca Colominas in the CNAB goal.

Molly Renner finally got Panionios off the mark with a penalty midway through the first quarter, but it came against the run of play and did little to halt CNAB’s momentum.

By half-time, the European newcomers – who have arguably looked the most composed and experienced side this weekend – were six goals clear (3-9) and firmly on course for top spot in the group and a place in the main stage.

Panionios staged a rally late in the third, scoring four without reply, but that only boosted their goal difference rather than threatened the result.

At 7-10 heading into the final quarter, CNAB stepped up again, with captain Nerea Martin stretching the lead to four after just 19 seconds.

When Liv Del Sol – who was part of Spain’s triumphant U18 squad at this summer’s European Championships – and Martín struck again, the three points were sealed at 7-13.

There was still time for another goal apiece, but it was the Spaniards who left the pool triumphantly. It was their second successive impressive display, and they’ll certainly be a team to look out for when the group stage begins next month.

Group B
(Ede, Netherlands)

Polar Bears (NED) 10-9 ASD Bogliasco 1951 (ITA)

Standings:
1. Polar Bears, 6pts (32:15 +17)
2. ASD Bogliasco 1951, 3pts (36:15 +21)
3. Galatasaray Zena, 0pts (11:49 -38)

Polar Bears secured top spot in Group B after holding off a spirited ASD Bogliasco 1951 to claim a narrow 10-9 victory on Sunday afternoon.

The Dutch side led from the start and were four clear early in the third quarter (6-2), but the Italians fought back in the fourth, cutting the deficit to one twice (9-8 and 10-9) in the dying minutes to set up a nervy, frantic finale.

Urged on by their loud and passionate supporters – who waved giant green-and-white flags throughout – Polar Bears defended superbly in the first half, shutting down several six-on-five situations and restricting Bogliasco to just two goals.

At the other end, they were more clinical in attack, with Netherlands U20 internationals Kiara Heerink and Linde Haksteen scoring two apiece, and Karen Haksteen adding one to open up a 5-2 lead at the turnaround.

In the third, a fierce battle ensued as both teams continued to fight for every ball, but the hosts managed to maintain their three-goal cushion (8-5) at the penultimate buzzer.

The final eight minutes were full of drama. Polar Bears’ Marjolein de Gier struck first, but Carlotta Paganuzzi, Vittoria Santora and Eleonora Bianco replied with three in a row to move within one, setting up a tense final two minutes.

De Gier steadied the nerves with another fine finish from a six-on-five, but Bianco hit back again – her fourth of the game – with 1:04 left on the clock, ensuring the tension didn’t subside until the very last second.

Bogliasco had trailed from the third minute, but never gave in, constantly chasing the Dutch players, and as the clock ticked down, they desperately searched for an equaliser to force a shootout (a result that would have ultimately sent both teams through).

The Italians’ final possession ended with two speculative efforts from outside six metres – the first blocked by a defender, the second comfortably saved by a hugely relieved Laura Steenbeek in the Polar Bears goal.

Both sides left nothing in the pool, but as the scintillating encounter ended, it was the Dutch team who celebrated with their fans and can now look forward to the start of the Euro Cup Group Stage next month – while Bogliasco head home with the sense they missed a real opportunity to progress.

Group C
(Novi Sad, Serbia)

VK Vojvodina (SRB) 8-12 Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR)

Standings:
1. Hapoel Yoqneam, 5pts (27:23 +4)
2. III. Keruleti TVE, 4pts (28:25 +3)
3. VK Vojvodina, 0pts (18:25 -7)

After Sunday’s earlier results, VK Vojvodina stepped into their final clash with Hapoel Yoqneam facing an impossible task.

Bogliasco’s one-goal defeat to Polar Bears in Group B left them with a +21 goal difference – meaning the Serbians had to beat the Israelis by at least 24 to stay alive.

Hapoel, meanwhile, had everything to gain. A win in regular time would propel them to the top of Group C and straight into next month’s Euro Cup Group Stage.

And they didn’t miss their chance. With another composed, clinical performance in Novi Sad, the Israelis surged to their second win – and with it, a well-earned ticket to the main stage.

The result also suited the watching Kerulet, as they celebrated clinching the final qualification spot as the best runners-up across all three groups.

Hapoel came out firing, with early strikes from Shunit Strugo and Dar Menakerman putting them 0-2 up in the opening quarter.

Vojvodina fought hard to stay within reach, trailing just 4-5 at half-time, but their resistance faded in the third.

Two ruthless 0-3 surges from Hapoel saw them take control, as they extended their lead to 6-11 heading into the final eight minutes.

Vojvodina edged the fourth 2-1, but the contest was already settled.

Hapoel’s disciplined defence held firm to comfortably close out another statement win, securing three vital points and top spot in the group.

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics

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