Champions League Women: Several key clashes close the club year
Heading into the Christmas break – and the national teams’ prep period for the Europeans – one last round is due this Saturday in the Champions League Women, featuring a handful of outstanding battles. The three sides on maximum points, Olympiacos, Mataro and St Andreu, are all set to secure their quarter-final berths, while the biggest clash will be the game between Vouliagmeni and FTC-Telekom.
2025/26 Champions League Women
Group Stage, Day 4
Saturday 13 December
(Local times shown)
Group A
17.00: Dunaujvaros (HUN) v UVSE Helia D (HUN)
19.00: Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Alimos NAC Betsson (GRE)
Group B
12.00: Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Ekipe Orizzonte (ITA)
13.00: Assolim Mataro (ESP) v CN Terrassa (ESP)
Group C
16.00: NC Vouliagmeni (GRE) v FTC-Telekom (HUN)
18.30: Rapallo Pallanuoto (ITA) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)
Group D
18.00: ONE Eger (HUN) v CN Sant Andreu (ESP)
20.30: ZV De Zaan (NED) v SIS Roma (ITA)
Group A
17.00: Dunaujvaros (HUN) v UVSE Helia D (HUN)
19.00: Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Alimos NAC Betsson (GRE)
Olympiacos and UVSE delivered dominant performances against their other two rivals, and in the upcoming in-house battles they may further cement their positions in the first two places.
On the opening day, both leading teams scored 17 goals and won comfortably, and there is no reason to expect anything different on Saturday.
Playing at home, Olympiacos are the overwhelming favourites against Alimos, and if UVSE also secure a win, the Piraeus side would clinch their spot in the quarter-finals.
UVSE’s task is slightly more demanding, as Dunaujvaros are always stronger in their home pool.
UVSE’s coach Marton Benczur is well aware of this: “We anticipate one of the most demanding matches of this half of the season as we travel to Dunaujvaros.
“Their team has shown continuous progress, performing at an exceptionally high level, and they now stand in outstanding form.
“To succeed, we must commit ourselves fully from the first whistle to the last. Our objective is clear, to secure our place in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
“Our meetings with Dunaujvaros have long been defined by a rivalry that elevates both teams. This mutual competitiveness has shaped us and strengthened us over the years.
“We hold them in high respect, yet we never withdraw from a challenge or allow ourselves to hesitate. This is our identity. This is UVSE.”
Eszter Macsai shares her coach’s view: “Dunaujvaros have always been a strong opponent for us, and they will remain so because they are a great team. I’m glad that we managed to win the first match confidently at home, and I hope that with the same disciplined and strong performance, we can achieve an away victory as well.”
In the other camp, Dunaujvaros’s seasoned veteran centre-forward Geraldine Mahieu is in an upbeat mood ahead of Saturday.
“The team is approaching a special moment, as it will be our last home match of 2025, and we are eager to deliver a strong performance for our supporters,” said Mahieu. “We’re very satisfied with our first half of the season. The team has grown a lot both individually and collectively, and we hope this progress will be visible on Saturday.
“Since our first Champions League match, where we suffered a heavy loss to UVSE, we’ve worked hard, learned, and evolved.
“This upcoming game is an opportunity to show how far we’ve come and to produce a much better performance. UVSE are a team we know well, one we face regularly, and that familiarity adds even more motivation. We are determined to demonstrate discipline and our identity.”
Group B
12.00: Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Ekipe Orizzonte (ITA)
13.00: Assolim Mataro (ESP) v CN Terrassa (ESP)
Sabadell are facing a tricky challenge as they need to bounce back from their shocking home defeat to Mataro in the previous round.
The Italians staged a terrific finish to take the first game against Sabadell to a shootout, and some may also recall the two sides’ Super Cup final from 2019, when Orizzonte claimed a stunning win in Sabadell.
The Spaniards cannot afford another home loss, as it would create an unimaginable scenario – the quarter-finals without the seven-time winners.
Tara Prentice knows what is at stake for Sabadell: “We are really excited for the game. There’s going to be a lot of nerves, a lot of excitement, but it’s really exciting to play in front of our home crowd.
“It is our last game of the year, so we want this win. We want to do everything we can to get over that line and just play the best we can.”
Dafne Bettini and her Italian teammates are already eager as they travel to Sabadell, only a single point behind at the halfway mark.
“The match on Saturday will be a battle,” said Bettini. “We will go to Sabadell to win. We train every day for matches like this, and we absolutely want to qualify for the quarter-finals.”
Mataro passed the first-half tests with flying colours, recording two fine away wins, including a 7-12 dismantling of Sabadell. Now they face bottom-ranked Terrassa and are all set to march on.
Coach Dani Ballart is confident ahead of the clash with their fellow Spanish rivals: “After winning all the matches in the first round and moving to the top of the group, the team is playing very well, and we’re getting closer to our initial goal of finishing first.
“We need two more wins to secure it. This fourth game, especially at home, is a great opportunity for us to move even closer to that goal. The team is working extremely well, and we come into it with full confidence.”
Still, Terrassa will not go into the match with a white flag.
“It’s going to be a very tough match against Mataro, who are currently the best team in the group,” Terrassa coach Xavi Perez said.
“They have won all their games solidly, and we know the match ahead will be extremely challenging. Even so, we’re working very hard to try to surprise them, bring the game onto our terms, and earn our first points. They have great players, but we hope we can counter them and pick up those points.”
Terrassa goalie Paula Nieto is also preparing for a surprise: “I think the game on Saturday is going to be a really good game. We’re excited, and we know they have won all their games, but now it’s on us and our attitude so we can actually beat them. I think we are ready, and we can cause a surprise on Saturday.”
Group C
16.00: NC Vouliagmeni (GRE) v FTC-Telekom (HUN)
18.30: Rapallo Pallanuoto (ITA) v Spandau 04 Berlin (GER)
The clash between Vouliagmeni and FTC-Telekom is the standout match of the round. The top spot is at stake, and the Greeks have a slim advantage after coming back from two goals down late in the first game and winning a nerve-wracking shootout.
However, it’s only a single point, so they need a positive result against FTC to help secure the top spot, while the Hungarians are also travelling to Athens to take revenge.
Vouliagmeni’s coach Kiki Liosi knows it will be a tough battle, “We are playing against one of the best teams in Europe, but we remain focused on our goal, which is to win and secure first place in the group.
“It will be a very tough and demanding match. We need to stay fully concentrated throughout.”
The hosts’ ace Elena Xenaki, who has been part of the Olympic torch-lighting ceremony for the upcoming Winter Games in ancient Olympia, has her full focus on water polo now.
“We are expecting a very strong and fast-paced game,” said Xenaki. “We really want this win to secure first place in our group.
“However, this is not something that should put pressure on us. On the contrary, we need to stay focused throughout the match and fight for the best outcome on every play. I’m very excited and I can’t wait for this match-up!”
Aspasia Fouraki echoed her captain’s words: “We have to stay focused throughout the game against Ferencvaros, we’re aiming to get the win and secure the top spot in our group, showing that our journey in Europe this year is meant to go far.”
It is also a match where the champions from these two nations, who played in the World Cup and World Championship finals this season, face off – making it a must-watch spectacle for all water polo fans.
Rapallo needs to recover from the shock of dropping all three points against Vouliagmeni due to an officiating error. Another home game against Spandau should serve as the perfect occasion, but their situation remains challenging as the next two matches are against the two strongest sides away from home.
Group D
18.00: ONE Eger (HUN) v CN Sant Andreu (ESP)
20.30: ZV De Zaan (NED) v SIS Roma (ITA)
Though the top two ranked sides are playing away matches, they are both favoured to add more points and reach safe waters this December.
Title-holders St Andreu visit Eger to meet the Hungarians, who are yet to earn a point in the group. The Spaniards are expected to clear this hurdle, and another win would all but send them through.
“We are approaching this fourth match in good form and with good results,” said Sant Andreu coach Javier Aznar. “The game is very important because a victory could almost guarantee us a place in the last eight.
“We’re aware we’ll have to maintain this good form to beat Eger, and it would be a big mistake to think it will be an easy match, just because the result was very favorable for us in the first game at home.”
The other fixture in this group has more at stake for both teams. In fact, this is De Zaan’s last chance to retain a shot at the quarter-finals. Their game in Rome was a nail-biter, which offers them some hope that they could beat the Italians at home.
“It’s going to be a thrilling match on Saturday,” De Zaan coach Mick van den Bree said. “We need to win to stay in contention for second place in our group. Roma are a very strong opponent. I’m really curious to see how the match goes.”
Bente Rogge, one of De Zaan’s top players, is looking for a win. “We’ve been looking forward to this game – it’s going to be a battle from start to finish.
“We’re evenly matched, and we’ll have to fight for every second if we want to win. We’re ready to push for a strong position in the group and fight our way towards the Champions League quarter-finals!”
Roma’s coach Marco Capanna expects a huge fight. “It’s the most important match of this first half of the season. We top the Italian Championship, and having a decisive match at this stage to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals is very important.
“Given the good work my players have done, we have a great match ahead of us. The Dutch team is very strong and very European, having won the Euro Cup and knowing how to approach matches at this level and under this pressure.
“I think we also have the ability and the quality to win away. Lately, we’ve improved in terms of mental toughness and discipline in the water, so we’ll definitely show great determination and tenacity to bring home a result that would be both beautiful and important.”
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
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