The first-ever LEN Challenger Cup begins tomorrow.
Fifteen teams that arrived from the first rounds of the Champions League and Euro Cup qualifications got a new opportunity to play in Europe. There are not many favorites. The teams are split into four groups. The top two from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.
LEN Challenger Cup, Preliminary Stage, groups
Group A (Novaky, Slovakia): KVP Novaky (Slovakia), Galatasaray Istanbul (Turkey), Ydraikos (Greece), Echeyde Tenerife (Spain).
Group B (Terrassa, Spain):Terrassa (Spain), Het Ravijn (Netherlands), ASA Tel Aviv (Israel).
Group C (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Hercezovina): Invictum Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) , Banja Luka (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Enka Istanbul (Turkey), SKP Kosice (Slovakia)
Group D (Kranj, Slovenia): AVK Triglav Kranj (Slovenia), KVIK Kastrup (Denmark), Apollon Smyrnis (Greece), Ludwigsburg 08 (Germany).
If we consider the tradition of water polo in the countries that will have their teams in the Challenger Cup, the Spanish and the Greek clubs are favorites.
But there will be interesting games in each group, for sure. All clubs are motivated and want to make the most of the new opportunity to prove themselves on the European stage. In previous years, most of these clubs finished the season after the first qualification round. The LEN Challenger Cup is their great chance to collect more points in Europe than before since they will have rivals of similar qualities.
2022/23 LEN Challenger Cup, Preliminary Round, Schedule
Day 1 (November 11)
Group A (Novaky): Ydraikos – Echeyde (17:00), Novaky – Galatasaray (18:30)
Group C (Sarajevo): Invictum – Banja Luka (19:00), Enka – Kosice (21:00)
Group D (Kranj): Apollon Smyrnis – Ludwigsburg (18:30), Triglav – KVIK Kastrup (20:15)
Day 2 (November 11)
Group A (Novaky): Ydraikos – Galatasaray (17:00), KVP Novaky – Tenerife (18:30)
Group B (Terrassa): Terrassa – ASA Tel Aviv (10:00), Terrassa – ZPC Het Ravijn (18:00)
Group C (Sarajevo): Invictum – Enka (18:00), Kosice – Banja Luka (20:00)
Group D (Kranj): Apollon – KVIK (18:30), Triglav – Ludwigsburg (20:15)
Day 3 (November 12)
Group A (Novaky): Tenerife – Galatasaray (09:30) Novaky – Ydraikos (11:00)
Group B (Terrassa): ASA Tel Aviv – ZPC Het Ravin (12:00)
Group C (Sarajevo): Enka – Banja Luka (09:00), Invictum – Kosice (11:00)
Group D (Kranj): KVIK – Ludwigsburg (10:00), Triglav – Apollon (11:45).
The quarterfinals are scheduled for January 25 and February 8. The dates of the semifinals are March 1 and 22. The best two teams will face off in the final games on April 15 and 29.
