The qualifications for the Champions League will start on September 29. The draw for the first round was held in Rome during the European Aquatics Championships
Eighteen teams from fifteen countries will start in the qualifications. The tournaments will be held in the Netherlands, Romania, Montenegro, and France between September 29 and October 2.
Interestingly, for the first time in history, two clubs from Bosnia and Herzegovina will take part in the LEN Champions League Qualifications. Besides Banja Luka, which debuted several years ago, Invictum from Sarajevo will start in the qualifications.
After several years of absence, a Dutch club will play in a LEN competition. Denmark, Lithuania, Israel, Portugal will also have their representatives in the qualifications.
The LEN competition rules have been changed. So, none of the teams that will start in the CHL qualifications won’t finish the season after the first round.
The first two teams ranked teams from each group will qualify for the second round. Teams that finish in 3rd and 4th place and 5th will qualify for the second round of the LEN Euro Cup or the 1st round of the LEN Challenger Cup.
UPDATE: “Exact details of the qualifying system for the Euro Cup and Challenger Cup are still being finalised. They will be announced at a future date in accordance with LEN Rules and regulations.”, LEN announced in a press release this afternoon.
According to the competition system approved a few months ago, If four clubs play in the group, the clubs ranked 3rd and 4th will qualify for the LEN Challenger Cup, and If the group has 5 clubs, the 5th-ranked club qualifies for the LEN Challenger Cup, and the clubs ranked in 3rd and 4th place qualify for the LEN Euro Cup Qualification Round 2. But LEN Technical Water Polo Committee may change the system depending on the number of the participating clubs
Sixteen teams will play in the second qualification round. The second-placed (or third-placed teams) of the national leagues that have wild-card holders are directly qualified for the second round.
2022/23 LEN Champions League, Qualification Round 1
Group A (Het Ravinj, Netherlands)
Vasas-Plaket (Hungary)
Steaua Bucharest (Romania)
Primorac Kotor (Montenegro)
Het Ravinj (Netherlands)
Invictum Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Group B (Oradea, Romania)
Savona (Italy)
Galatasary Istanbul (Turkey)
CSM Oradea (Romania)
ASA Tel-Aviv (Israel)
Group C (Herceg Novi, Montenegro)
HAVK Mladost Zagreb (Croatia)
Jadran Herceg Novi (Montenegro)
EVK Zaibas (Lithuania)
Enka Istanbul (Turkey)
Group D (Tourcoing, France)
EN Tourcoing (France)
Panionios GSS (Greece)
Vitoria Guimaraes (Portugal)
Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegvina)
KVIK Kastrup (Denmark)
