Euro Cup Women: Trieste and Ethnikos aiming for second successive Group Stage victories
After sitting out Day 1, Netherlands’ Polar Bears, Greece’s ANC Glyfada iRepair, France’s Grand Nancy and Hungary’s III Keruleti TVE all enter the action on Day 2 of the women’s Euro Cup Group Stage, looking to kick-start their campaigns with much-needed victories. Ethnikos OFPF and Pallanuoto Trieste, meanwhile, are searching for back-to-back wins, which would see them both take a step closer to the quarter-finals.
2025/26 Euro Cup Women
Group Stage, Day 2
Saturday 29 November
(Local times shown)
Group A
20:30: Ethnikos OFPF (GRE) v Polar Bears (NED)
Group B
14:00: ANC Glyfada iRepair (GRE) v Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR)
Group C
13:00: Grand Nancy AC (FRA) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
Group D
18:30: Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA) v III Keruleti TVE (HUN)
Group A
(Local times shown)
20:30: Ethnikos OFPF (GRE) v Polar Bears (NED)
Ethnikos OFPF dominated their first Euro Cup group game against Lille UC 6-17 and have played four tough domestic games in the Greek A1 division since, losing three – against Vouliagmeni, Olympiacos and Panionios – and winning one, against Champions League side Alimos 8-7 last weekend.
“We have the quality as a team to control the game against Polar Bears the way we want and to win our most important match so far,” said Ethnikos’ Stamatina Kontogianni.
“Victory is the only way for us if we want to take first place in the group,” added Ethnikos coach Orestis Salachas. “We call on the fans of Ethnikos to stand by our side.”
A second successive win would see them seize control of the group heading into their final two fixtures.
Polar Bears sat out on Day 1, but will enter the tournament this week determined to claim all three points and move level in the table with their Greek rivals.
Group B
(Local times shown)
14:00: ANC Glyfada iRepair (GRE) v Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR)
Hapoel Yoqneam head into their second game of the Group Stage, no doubt inspired by their opening-day performance against BVSC Manna ABC in Budapest, a contest that saw the Israelis pushing the Hungarians right until the very end.
BVSC ended up winning 15-12, but Hapoel captain Shunit Strugo was a constant thorn in their side, top-scoring with five goals, including two in the first quarter from the centre that gave her team the lead, albeit momentarily.
The score could also have been closer – or even better – had Hapoel not seen eight of their shots crash back off the frame of the goal.
This week, Hapoel face another tough test – ANC Glyfada iRepair, who reached the semi-finals of the Euro Cup last season, where they lost over two legs, 20-16 (6-9, 11-10), to eventual winners ZV De Zaan.
The Greeks will start this clash in a confident mood, as they’ve won each of their last four games in their domestic A1 league, including a commanding 17-7 victory against NO Rethymno last weekend.
Group C
(Local times shown)
13:00: Grand Nancy AC (FRA) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
“After the defeat against Padova in Italy on Day 1, we know how important this match against Nancy is,” said CNAB coach Chus Martin. “This will be our second away game, and it will be very important to get a victory that keeps our chances of reaching the quarter-finals alive.
“The team arrives well prepared, in good shape, and focused on achieving our first win of the group phase.”
Against Padova, who won the Euro Cup in 2024, CNAB were neck and neck throughout, level at 11-11 midway through the fourth quarter before eventually falling 13-11.
“We are excited to play Grand Nancy this weekend and make a step forward as a team,” added CNAB’s Cristina Nogue. “We consider every game an opportunity to improve toward our bigger goal.”
Since the loss to Padova in the Euro Cup, CNAB have responded strongly in the Spanish Division de Honor, winning all three of their games, including a 13-10 victory against Horta on Wednesday.
French side Grand Nancy, meanwhile, face another demanding European test as they look to reverse their fortunes in the Euro Cup after losing their last 13 games across the previous three seasons.
Group D
(Local times shown)
18:30: Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA) v III Keruleti TVE (HUN)
This fixture reunites Pallanuoto Trieste and III Keruleti TVE after the two teams clashed three times in European competitions last season – once in the Champions League qualifiers and twice in the Euro Cup quarter-finals.
“We know Kerulet very well, and in attack they have several key players,” said Pallanuoto Trieste coach Paolo Zizza, who guided his team to a 13-15 away win against Catalunya on Day 1. “We’ll try to take control of the match, as a victory would be extremely important for qualification.”
The Italians – Euro Cup runners-up in the past two seasons – will look to make it four wins from four against Kerulet after winning all three of their recent meetings, though they didn’t have it all their own way and twice won by just one goal (14-13).
“I’m happy we’ve reached the second stage of the Euro Cup and that we can play against strong professional teams such as Trieste and Catalunya,” said Kerulet coach Denes Lukacs.
“It is the first international competition season for the majority of our players, and we will try to get the best out of every game we face. Last year, we met three times and played exciting and spectacular matches; I would be happy to achieve a similar performance on Saturday.”
“Last season’s games against Trieste were very good – tough, hard-fought matches,” added Kerulet’s Lilla Raski. “I’m expecting something similar this weekend, and we want to make things difficult for them again.”
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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
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