After almost a one-year break, the female European clubs’ water polo competitions will restart.
The last four matches of the European cups for women before the suspension of the competitions were played on February 8, 2020. It was 1st leg of the LEN Euro League Quarterfinals. Tomorrow, 362 days after these four games, a new season will begin.
The Qualification Round of the LEN Euro League will be played from Thursday to Sunday (February 4 – 7). A total of 17 clubs from six countries (Spain, Italy, Hungary, Greece, Russia, France) will participate. Spandau 04, the German champion, was also in the draw. But, two weeks ago, the Berlin-based club announced a withdrawal from the competition.
The 17 teams are split into four groups. The best two clubs from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.
LEN Euro League Qualifications, Groups
Group A (Budapest): Ekipe Orizzonte (Italy), UVSE Budapest (Hungary), Lille UC (France), Dynamo Uralochka (Russia), Sant Andreu (Spain)
Group B (Verona): CN Mataro (Spain), Kinef Kirishi (Russia), CE Mediterrani (Spain), Ferencvaros-Telekom Budapest (Hungary), CSS Verona (Italy)
Group C (Roma): Olympiacos Piraeus (Greece) Olympic Nice (FRA) SIS Roma (Italy) Plebiscito Padova (Italy) BVSC-Zuglo (Hungary)
Group D (Verona): Dunaujvaros (Hungary), Vouliagmeni (Greece), Astralpool Sabadell (Spain)
It is hard to predict the outcome since many excellent teams will battle for the next round.
Ekipe Orizzonte, the most decorated club in the LEN Euro League (nine triumphs), is a favorite in Group A in Budapest. The Italians won two European trophies in 2019 – LEN Trophy and the LEN Super Cup. According to the predictions, the Italians will have the most demanding tasks against UVSE and Dynamo Uralochka. Host UVSE is led by the best scorer of most major tournaments in the last few years – Rita Keszthelyi. Dynamo played in the quarterfinals last season.
It seems that Kinef Kirishi (a two-time European champion – 2017 and 2018), with its superstar Ekaterina Prokofyeva, and host CSS Verona stand out in Group B. Still, two Spanish sides Mataro and Mediterrani, and Hungarian Ferencvaros have their hopes.
Olympiacos, the runner-up in the season 2018/19, arrives in Rome, at the tournament of Group C, as a favorite. Last season, the Greeks reached the quarterfinals. They aim to repeat that success and make a few steps further. But, Plebiscito, SIS Roma, BVSC have the same goals.
Spandau 04 was chosen to host Group D. But, the German club withdrew from the competition due to the difficulties caused by the pandemic, and LEN moved this tournament to Verona. Only three teams will play in this group, but it doesn’t mean that any of these clubs will have an easy task. All three contestants are favorites – Sabadell, Dunaujvaros, and Vouliagmeni. Sabadell is the reigning European champion. Vouliagmeni is the most successful Greek female club, which won two LEN Euro Leagues (2009 and 2010). Dunajuvaros won the 2018 LEN Trophy. All three clubs played in the LEN Euro League quarterfinals last season. Each of the three matches in this group will be a derby.
LEN Euro League Qualifications, schedule
Group A (Budapest)
Day 1 (February 4)
Lille – Ekipe Orizzonte (17:00)
UVSE – Sant Andreu (19:00)
Day 2 (February 5)
Dynamo Uralochka – Sant Andreu (11:00)
Lille – Sant Andreu (17:00)
UVSE – Dynamo Uralochka (19:00)
Day 3 (February 6)
Dynamo Uralochka – Ekipe Orizzonte (11:00)
Lille – Dynamo Uralochka (17:00)
UVSE – Ekipe Orizzonte (19:00)
Day 4 (February 7)
Ekipe Orizzonte – Sant Andreu (11:00)
UVSE – Lille (13:00)
Group B – Verona
Day 1 (February 4)
Kinef Kirishi – Mataro (18:30)
CSS Verona – Mediterrani (20:30)
Day 2 (February 5)
Mataro – Ferencvaros (10:00)
Mediterrani – Kinef Kirishi (12:00)
Mataro – CSS Verona (18:00)
Kinef Kirishi – Ferencvaros (20:00)
Day 3 (February 6)
Mataro – Mediterrani (18:00)
Ferencvaros – CSS Verona (20:00)
Day 4 (February 7)
Mediterrani – Ferencvaros (12:00)
CSS Verona – Kinef Kirishi (14:00)
Group C – (Rome – Ostia)
Day 1 (February 4)
Olympiacos – Plebiscito Padova (18:00)
SIS Roma – Olympic Nice (20:00)
Day 2 (February 5)
Plebiscito Padova – Olympic Nice (09:30)
Olympiacos – BVSC (11:30)
Plebiscito Padova – BVSC (18:00)
Sis Roma – Olympiacos (20:00)
Day 3 (February 6)
Olympiacos – Olympic Nice (18:00)
SIS Roma – BVSC (20:00)
Day 4 (February 7)
Olympic Nice – BVSC (10:30)
Plebiscito Padova – SIS Roma (12:30)
Group D (Verona)
Day 1 (February 4)
no matches
Day 2 (February 5)
Dunaujvaros – Sabadell (16:00)
Day 3 (February 6)
Vouliagmeni – Sabadell (16:00)
Day 4 (February 7).
Dunaujvaros – Vouliagmeni (10:00)
