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The final round of the LEN Women’s Water Polo Champions League group stage was filled with drama as teams competed furiously for the final quarter-final spot. A series of nail-biting finishes and dominant triumphs on the last day determined which eight clubs would progress. The major story was Alimos NAC Betsson‘s remarkable win in Group C, which propelled them to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, heavyweights such as Astralpool CN Sabadell, Olympiacos SFP, FTC Telekom Waterpolo, and CN Sant Andreu all won their group phase matches, confirming their place as title contenders.
Alimos Secures Last Quarter-Final Spot in Dramatic Fashion (Group C).
Group C had the most exciting race, with three teams competing for the group’s second qualifying slot. Greek underdogs Alimos NAC Betsson, who started the day at the bottom of their group, knowing they needed a regulation win and some help to advance to the quarterfinals. They rose to the challenge admirably, defeating Widex GZC Donk 11-10 in a tough match in Gouda. The game was as close as expected; the two teams had drew 8-8 in their previous meeting in Athens (Alimos won on penalties), and only one goal separated them again. Alimos used tenacity and tight defense in the dying minutes to maintain their narrow lead and collect three points. The victory propelled Alimos to 7 points in the rankings, passing Donk (6 points) into second place.
Crucially, Alimos’ qualifying was only confirmed after Olympiacos SFP played its role in the subsequent Group C fixture. The reigning Greek champions, who had already secured first place, defeated SIS Roma 14-11 in Rome to complete an undefeated group stage season. Olympiacos’ victory meant Roma stayed on 5 points, allowing Alimos to claim the coveted runner-up spot. Donk, who had begun the day “controlling their destiny” for a quarter-final place, was devastated by the close setback; the Dutch side’s aspirations of a one-of-a-kind quarter-final appearance were destroyed at the last hurdle. Alimos, a rookie to the Champions League, celebrates a historic success by reaching the last eight, joining compatriot Olympiacos in propelling Greek ambitions forward.
Group A: Sabadell wins first place with Dunaújváros coming in second.
Astralpool CN Sabadell, the defending champions, won Group A by edging out Vouliagmeni NC 12-11 in a thriller on home water. Sabadell had already secured a quarter-final spot and needed just to avoid a crushing defeat to finish top in the group, but the Spanish powerhouse fought valiantly to maintain their spotless record. Vouliagmeni NC of Greece pushed Sabadell to the brink in a back-and-forth game, reducing a multi-goal deficit to one by the final bell. Finally, Sabadell’s close victory not only maintained their lead (18 points), but also reaffirmed their championship pedigree. Vouliagmeni, who had already qualified prior to this match, finished second in Group A and will meet Sabadell in the quarterfinals.
In Group A, Dunaújváros WPC (HUN) won 10-9 over CN Terrassa (ESP) despite being eliminated. The Hungarian club battled throughout the group stage, but on the last day, they held off Terrassa in a one-goal thriller to claim their first and only win. With this tight triumph, Dunaújváros surpassed Terrassa in the final standings, ending with 4 points instead of 2. Both sides were “playing for pride” in this game, and the finely balanced contest reflected that fierce spirit despite the lack of quarter-final implications. Dunaújváros ended their campaign on a strong note, but Terrassa suffered a close loss and finished winless.
Group B: FTC Finish Strong; Mataró Impresses in Attack
The top two teams in Group B delivered dominating performances on the final day. Hungarian champions FTC Telekom Waterpolo needed only a point to claim first place, and they accomplished considerably more than that, defeating the Polar Bears (NED) by a convincing 19-11 score. Playing in Budapest, FTC (“Fradi”) unleashed a powerful attack from the start and never let up, demonstrating why they are regarded a title contender. The Polar Bears, who had already been eliminated, had no response for FTC’s firepower, finishing the group with only one win. By securing all three points, FTC strengthened their lead in Group B (final total 16 points) and will enter the quarterfinals with an undefeated record (5 victories and 1 shootout loss).
Spain’s Assolim CN Mataró finished the group stage in style, defeating Italy’s Antenore Plebiscito Padova by a dominant 16-9 score. Mataró entered the day still hoping to overtake FTC for top position, and they certainly delivered with a high-scoring road triumph in Padova. The Catalan club’s offense was on fire; three separate Mataró players scored hat-tricks in their previous home game against Padova, resulting in a 16-9 victory. Mataró’s depth and firepower shined through once more, with the team comfortably leading by the third quarter. Ultimately, FTC’s concurrent victory ensured Mataró would remain Group B runners-up, finishing with 14 points, although the Spanish team leaves the group stage full of confidence. Padova and Polar Bears, both of whom suffered heavy losses in this round, finished equal with 3 points, significantly behind the qualified duo.
Group D: Sant Andreu Remains Perfect; Orizzonte and UVSE Finish on Mixed Notes
In Group D, CN Sant Andreu of Spain confirmed their dominance with a 12-8 win over Italy’s Ekipe Orizzonte Catania, completing a clean sweep of their group rivals. Sant Andreu only needed to avoid a seven-goal defeat to claim first place, but the Barcelona club dominated Catania from start to finish. The victory maintained Sant Andreu’s flawless record (6 victories in 6 games) and demonstrates why they are considered a major contender this season. Orizzonte Catania, the proud eight-time European winners, were hoping to overcome a large goal differential and take first place; however, the Italian team struggled to break down Sant Andreu’s formidable defense. With their home loss, Orizzonte finishes as Group D runners-up with 12 points, which is enough to advance easily, though they will need to recuperate before the quarterfinals. Sant Andreu, meanwhile, joins Sabadell as the only teams to finish group play undefeated.
The third Group D meeting featured a Budapest derby between two Hungarian rivals, with UVSE Helia-D defeating BVSC-Manna 13-10. UVSE was expected to “see off BVSC” in this third-versus-fourth matchup, and they delivered, albeit in a closer game than some predicted. UVSE’s win, their first of the group stage, takes their total points to 6, giving them a respectable finish despite being out of quarter-final contention. For BVSC, the defeat condemns them to last place with 0 points, a difficult conclusion in a tough group. The all-Hungarian match was a feisty one; BVSC fought hard to close the gap late, but UVSE’s superior experience and quality showed as they secured the 13-10 victory. Both teams will now concentrate on domestic competition after acquiring significant experience against Europe’s finest throughout this Champions League season.
Quarter-Finals Ahead
The quarter-final bracket has been formed following the conclusion of the group phase. The eight survivors – Sabadell (ESP), Vouliagmeni (GRE), FTC Telekom (HUN), CN Mataró (ESP), Olympiacos (GRE), Alimos NAC Betsson (GRE), CN Sant Andreu (ESP), and Ekipe Orizzonte (ITA) – will face off in four home-and-away quarter-final ties later this month. All eyes will be on these quarter-final matches (first legs slated for March 22), as the contenders compete for a spot in the Final Four and a shot at the Champions League title. The intensity of the group finale hints that the knockout stages of this year’s women’s water polo Champions League will provide even more excitement.
