Yesterday, after the draw for the LEN Champions League Qualifications, LEN confirmed that the League would be played in a new format, in efforts to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading.
Ten rounds will be played in three stages using two venues for each occasion. The venues haven’t been determined yet. LEN will make decisions on the venues depending on the situation with the pandemic.
LEN published a new Champions League calendar. The first stage of the main round will be played in December, the second is scheduled for March, and the last one will be held in April.
The dates of the Final Eight weren’t changes. The final tournament will be played in June (3 – 5)
The new dates for the LEN Euro Cup are also determined.
Champions League
QUALIFICATION ROUND (November 11 – 15, 2020)
Group A (Syracuse)
Group A1: Ortigia Syracuse (Italy), Barcelona (Spain), Steaua Bucharest (Romania), Jadran Split (Croatia), Primorac Kotor (Montenegro).
Group A2: Szolnok (Hungary), Mladost Zagreb (Croatia), Pays d’Aix (France), Ydriakos (Greece).
Group B (Budapest, Hungary)
Group B1: OSC Budapest (Hungary), Sintez Kazan (Russia), KVK Radnicki (Serbia), Terrassa (Spain), Tourcoing (France).
Group B2: Vouliagmeni (Greece), Brescia (Italy), ENKA Istanbul (Turkey), Oradea (Romania).
PRELIMINARY ROUND
Round 1 (1st – 3rd match)
Group A: December 14 – 17, 2020
Group B: December 15 – 18, 2020
Round 2 (4th – 7th match)
Group A: March 1 – 5, 2021
Group B: March 1 – 5, 2021
Round 3 (8th – 10th match)
Group A: April 19 – 22, 2021
Group B: April, 20 – 23, 2021
FINAL EIGHT
June 3 – 5, 2021 (Hannover)
LEN Euro Cup
The competition format of the LEN Euro Cup wasn’t changed. After two qualification rounds, the knockout phase starts with eight finals.
But, the dates were changed. The LEN Euro Cup starts in November (13-15). According to the originally determined calendar, the first round was scheduled for October.
That means that the 16 teams eliminated from the Champions League Qualification will continue their European season in the second round of the LEN Euro Cup (December 4 – 6).
The finals will be played on April 24 and May 8
QUALIFICATION ROUND 1: November 13 – 15, 2020
QUALIFICATION ROUND 2: December 4 – 6, 2020
EIGHT-FINALS: February 27 and March 6, 2021
QUARTERFINALS: March 17 and 24, 2021
SEMIFINALS: April 3 and 10, 2021
FINALS: April 24 and May 8, 2021
