Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-52×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48Total-waterpolo-blog-logo-238×48
  • News
  • SUKNO U15 CAMP – MALTA 2023
  • SHOP NOW
  • LIVESCORE
    • 2023 FINA Men’s Water Polo World Cup
    • LEN Champions League 2022/23
    • Budva Masters 2023
    • Sunčana Kapica
    • HaBaWaBa Spain Plus
    • Alpe Waterpolo League
    • Nordic League
      • Nordic league 2022/23
      • Nordic League 2021/22
      • Nordic Women’s League 2022
    • GERMANY
    • AUSTRIA 🇦🇹
      • Bundesliga Women
      • Bundesliga Men
      • Supercup
      • Cup
      • Regionalliga Ost
      • U-21 Women
      • U-19
      • U-17
      • U-15
      • U-13
      • U-12
      • U-11
    • SLOVENIA 🇸🇮
      • Slovenian championship 2022/23
      • Slovenian Cup 2022/23
    • FINLAND 🇫🇮
      • Championship
      • U-13
      • U-15
      • U-17
    • AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
      • Sydney Super League 2.0 Men
      • Sydney Super League 2.0 Women
    • ROMANIA 🇷🇴
      • Superliga Națională – Romanian Water Polo League 2022/23
      • Superliga Națională
    • ICELAND 🇮🇸
      • Winter League Men 2021
      • Winter League Women 2021
    • LITHUANIA 🇱🇹
      • Championships
      • Nordic Junior CH U17
      • Nordic Junior CH U15
    • Total Waterpolo Trophy U-15
    • RWL
      • Premier League 21/22
      • A1 League 21/22
  • National
    • Spain
    • Hungary
    • Italy
    • France
    • Germany
    • Netherlands
  • International
    • Tokyo 2020 Olympic Water Polo
    • World Championships
      • Budapest 2022 Men
      • Budapest 2022 Women
      • FINA World Men’s Junior Championships Prague 2021
      • Gwangju 2019
      • Budapest 2017
    • European Championships
      • Split 2022 – M
      • Split 2022 – W
      • Budapest 2020
      • Barcelona 2018
    • Other
      • World League – Belgrade 2019
      • World Cup – Berlin 2018
      • Junior WC Prague 2021
      • Junior EC Podgorica 2022
      • Montenegro Cup 2022 (U16)
  • LEN Champions League
    • LEN Champions League 2022/23
    • LEN Champions League 2019/2020
    • LEN Champions League 2018/2019
  • Total Player Award
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
✕

Euro Cup Preview: All bets are off as fascinating first legs beckon

January 27, 2023

Csenge Szellak. Photo: Egri Vizilabda

There are no standout favourites at this stage of the women’s Euro Cup, as the first legs of the quarterfinals begin tomorrow. 

For three of the ties in Spain, Hungary and Greece, it’s anyone’s guess who might progress to the semi-finals of the women’s Euro Cup. In Italy, things are a little more obvious. Still, there are sixty-four minutes of water polo to played, and much can change. 

Quarter-finals  – 1st Leg (28th January)

19.30 – CN Terrassa vs FTC Telekom 

15.30 – UVSE vs Ethnikos 

18.00  – NC Vouliagmeni vs ZF Eger

16.00  – Plebiscito Padova vs LUC Metropole

The focus will very much be on Alfred Hajos tomorrow as the spiralling UVSE reacquaints itself with Ethnikos for the second time this season.

There are many parallels to be drawn between the stories of these two sides’ seasons; both lost big players at the start of the season (either through injury or transfer), and both were knocked prematurely out of the Champions League. The biggest parallel, though, is that both teams, at the moment, are lightyears away from being the best team in their city, having lost multiple times to their big rivals already this season. 

The Hungarians won their duel 10-8 back in December, but the two teams, both of which find themselves third in their national leagues, now might be more evenly matched than ever; Ethnikos have dropped just two games in all competitions since their last meeting (twice to Olympiacos), while UVSE, 2017 winners of this competition,  have been slightly worse, losing four games in all outings, three of which have come against FTC Telekom. A strong start for both teams will be crucial. 

Meanwhile, Terrassa will want to emulate the feat of their men’s team, which won by a huge margin in their European quarterfinal first leg on Tuesday against Ludwigsburg (7-16). Unfortunately, Xavi Perez’s side will have a much more complicated chore as they invite Hungarian league leaders Ferencvaros to town. 

Fradi, who are not long the new Hungarian Cup champions, are on a high at the moment after recently obliterating title rivals UVSE. Terrassa has shown some wild inconsistency this season, which sees them currently sitting 5th in the Spanish League. More worryingly, they have a bad record in the ‘bigger’ games this season, which is something they will want to rectify tomorrow evening. FTC will want to wrap up the game in Spain, but they know they will be able to recover from a minor blip when they return to Nepliget for the second leg. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Total Waterpolo (@total_waterpolo)

In another Greek-Hungarian affair, the quality-filled teams of Eger and Vouliagmeni will lock horns. In a bit of a throwback to a women’s European clash from a decade or two ago, the Nautical Club might just be the favourites for this one, but Eger has the firepower of some seasoned internationals to call on, so Kiki Liosi’s team will be weary. Eger has lost against all of their Greek opponents so far this season. 

Perhaps the clearest-cut quarterfinal of them all is between Lille and Plebiscito. While the French Cup winners of last week will be on a high, they face an uphill battle against last season’s Euro League bronze medalists, Plebiscito. For the reigning French champions, it’s all about staying in the tie on their trip to Padua this weekend.  The Italians have not been at their best this season by any means, but they will still be favourites to take this tie with ease. When they last met earlier this season in the Champions League,  Plebiscito easily triumphed 18-10.

The quarterfinals, like the semis and the final that will follow, will be played over the course of two legs. In the event of an aggregate draw after both games are played, a penalty shoot-out is the method of choice to separate the teams.

Follow all the action from the Women’s Euro Cup

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

James Spencer-Boyce
James Spencer-Boyce

Related posts

Photo by Krsto Vulovic/WPF of Montenegro

March 24, 2023

New World Aquatics rules: There are no more ties; 3-year waiting after changing nationality


Read more

Ekipe deny Roma of an unbeaten first phase. Photo: Ekipe Orizzonte.

March 23, 2023

Ekipe end Roma’s unbeaten streak on final matchday


Read more

Photo: World Aquatics.

March 23, 2023

Brazilian sniper returns to native national team


Read more

Featured Projects

Learn More

Learn More

Custom Team Gear

LEARN MORE

Shop Now

Looking for something?

✕
  • New World Aquatics rules: There are no more ties; 3-year waiting after changing nationality
  • Ekipe end Roma’s unbeaten streak on final matchday
  • Brazilian sniper returns to native national team
  • Dejan Savic: I have never been a gentleman, I hope that from now on I will be a big lady
  • Apollon and Terrassa in first-ever LEN Challenger Cup final
  • Home
  • Water Polo News
  • WearWaterpolo Shop
  • Contact Us
  • Project Superstar – TW Camp
  • BIWPA
  • Custom Team Equipment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2021 Total Waterpolo. All Rights Reserved.
Total Waterpolo Arena