An Italian club will play in the final of the LEN Euro Cup for the 18th time in the history of the competition.
The draw for the semifinals of the 2023 Euro Cup was held today.
Two Italian clubs, Savona and Trieste, will face off in one of the two semifinal duels.
Hungarian Vasas and Greek Panionios will play in the second semifinal pair.
Panionios and Trieste will be the hosts in the first leg on March 1. The return matches will be played on March 22.
On their way to the semis, Savona played an Italian derby. In the eight-finals, Savona met Ortigia. It recorded a 7:2 win in home field, and barely saved that advantage in Sicily (Ortigia won 13:9 in the second match)
The current season is the 31st edition of the LEN Euro Cup (including the canceled 2019/20 season). The clubs from Italy played in 17 finals (four times, the finals were the Italian derby). Besides, Ortigia qualified for the final in 2020, but, as mentioned, the season was canceled.
Italy is the most successful nation in the history of the LEN Euro Cup (the clubs from Serie A1 have won 10 titles and 11 silver medals). Savona made a significant contribution to that. It played in the final of the LEN Euro Cup/Len Trophy four times and won three trophies (2005,2011, 2012). Former Ujpest won three LEN Euro Cups. Brescia is a record holder with four trophies and one 2nd place.
The other three clubs are seeking their first trophy in the LEN Euro Cup.
Panionios played in the final twice. In 2009, it lost to Szeged after a penalty shootout in the 2nd leg. Two years later, Savona was better than Panionios.
The duels with Panionios will be Vasas’ fourth appearance in the LEN Euro Cup semifinals after 1998, 2000 and 2001), but the Budapest-based side has never played in the final. However, Vasas is the most decorated club among the semifinalists with two titles in the Champions League (1980, 1985), three trophies in the Cup Winners’ Cup (1986,1995, 2002) and one LEN Super Cup (1985).
Trieste achieved the biggest success in the club’s history by reaching the Euro Cup.
LEN Euro Cup, semifinals
Panionios (Greece) – Vasas (Hungary)
Trieste (Italy) – Savona (Italy)
The matches are scheduled for March 1 and 22
