This weekend signposts the start of another competition in Europe; The 2023 Women’s Euro Cup.
The continents second-tier club competition provides a valuable and realistic opportunity for many sides to take home some coveted silverware, and the tournament, formerly known as the LEN Trophy, marks a second stab for all sixteen teams dropping out of the Champions League at making their European campaign a success.
As ever though, there are some prestigious sides squaring up in this competition. This stage of the tournament features three national champions (UVSE, Lille and Spandau), as well as three runners up from some of Europe’s top leagues last season (De Zaan, Vouliagmeni, and Plebiscito Padova). The additional presence of this competition’s de facto reigning champions, Ethnikos, also adds to the anticipation.
Sara Centanni (Plebiscito Padova). Photo: Giorgio Scarfi
With the not-so-distant Paris Olympic Games in focus, France plays host to two groups in the preliminary round of the Euro Cup. Group C will be held in Lille, while Mulhouse will host Group B, just as they did for the preliminary round of the Champions League.
Having also held a Champions League preliminary round group, Pacos de Ferreira returns as a host city once more (Group D), alongside Piraeus, which remains an epicentre of women’s water polo, with host club Ethnikos housing the travelling teams from Group A.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals after this weekend’s preliminary round, but for the two teams at the bottom of each group, their European adventures will be over for real this time.
Eleni Kanetidou (Ethnikos)
We can pencil in the teams that will qualify for the quarterfinals in Groups A and B. However, in terms of Groups C and D, things are a little less clear.
In Group A, Eger and Ethnikos, are overwhelming favourites to book a place in the quarter-finals, and the ‘Rebecca Parkes Derby” will almost certainly determine the group winners. For all Ethnikos’ woes this season, the cup-holders from last season still have enough quality to be considered a dangerous opponent in this competition.
Two Hungarian title contenders and bitter rivals, FTC and UVSE, will likely fill the top two spots in Pool B at the expense of their French opponents, Mulhouse and Grand Nancy. There is no hiding that there will be a lot of pride on the line between the two sides from the Hungarian capital – who last met in a gruelling Hungarian Cup final before Christmas.
Eleni Elliniadi (Vouliagmeni). Photo: KOE
On paper, Vouliagmeni stands out as Group C’s most formidable squad, but as we all know, water polo is won or lost in the pool. ZVL 1886 might fancy themselves for second place, but Lille will be hot on their heels.
Finally, the most entertaining group features three excellent teams. Both Plebiscito and De Zaan had unlucky exits from the Champions League qualifiers, while Terrassa, who had a horrible start in the Champions League, will be eager to redeem themselves, especially against De Zaan, who effectively eliminated them in November.
Erica Hardy (Lille). Photo: LUC Metropole
Groups
Group A – ZF Eger, Ethnikos (H), Olympic Nice, Sirens ASC Malta
Group B – FTC Telekom, Grand Nancy, Mulhouse WP (H), UVSE
Group C – LUC Metropole (H), Spandau 04 Berlin, NC Vouliagmeni, ZVL 1886
Group D – CA Pacense (H), Plebiscito Padova, CN Terrassa, ZV De Zaan
Schedule
Friday 13th January
18:00 – Group A – ZF Eger vs Olympic Nice
18:00 – Group C – ZVL 1886 vs NC Vouliagmeni
19:00 – Group D – Plebiscito Padova vs ZV De Zaan
19:30 – Group B – Grand Nancy vs FTC Telekom
19:45 – Group C – LUC Metropole vs Spandau 04 Berlin
20:00 – Group A – Ethnikos Piraeus vs Sirens ASC Malta
20:30 – Group D – CA Pacense vs CN Terrassa
21:00 – Group B – Mulhouse WP vs UVSE
Saturday 14th January
18:00 – Group A – Sirens ASC Malta vs ZF Eger
18:00 – Group C – NC Vouliagmeni vs Spandau 04 Berlin
18:30 – Group B – Grand Nancy vs UVSE
19:00 – Group D – CN Terrassa vs Plebiscito Padova
19:45 – Group C – LUC Metropole vs ZVL 1886
20:00 – Group A – Ethnikos Piraeus vs Olympic Nice
20:30 – Group B – Mulhouse WP vs FTC Telekom
20:30 – Group D – ZV De Zaan vs CA Pacense
Sunday 15th January
09:00 – Group A – Olympic Nice vs Sirens ASC Malta
09:30 – Group B – UVSE vs FTC Telekom
09:30 – Group D – ZV De Zaan vs CN Terrassa
10:00 – Group C – Spandau 04 Berlin vs ZVL 1886
11:00 – Group A – Ethnikos Piraeus vs ZF Eger
11:00 – Group D – CA Pacense vs Plebiscito Padova
11:30 – Group B – Mulhouse WP vs Grand Nancy
11:45 – Group C – LUC Metropole vs NC Vouliagmeni
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