Courtesy: LEN
The premium club competition of women’s water polo kicks off this week: the qualification round of the Euro League starts on Thursday – at this stage no bigger upsets are in the cards, since the top three advance from each group.
Group A may even see some drama since one of the four stronger sides will fall at the end of the tournament: Uralochka (RUS), Glyfada (GRE), Terrassa (ESP) and Verona (ITA) need to be on top to go through. The other three groups all have three teams apiece representing the top nations, in Group B and C the French clubs needs to claim a miraculous win to stir up the ranks.
While qualifying will never be in question for the top three in Group D, Porto should witness some brilliant action since two giants were drawn together – 5-time champion Sabadell (ESP) and 8-time winner Orizzonte (ITA) entertained each other in recent editions too (and played for the Super Cup in 2019), their clash is perhaps the most awaited game in this round.
As for the next stage, Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE), Dunaujvarosi Foiskola (HUN), UVSE Budapest (HUN) and Kinef Kirishi (RUS) will join the advancing 12 teams in the prelims, scheduled for December. Women’s Euro League – Qualification Round
Women’s Euro League Qualification Round (18-21) November.
Group A – Athens (GRE) Dynamo Uralochka Zlatoust (RUS), NC Glyfada (GRE), CN Terrassa (ESP), SSN Verona (ITA), ASA Tel Aviv (ISR)
Group B – Rome (ITA) FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN), Lille UC (FRA), SIS Roma (ITA), CN Mediterrani Barcelona (ESP), Sirens Malta (MLT), ZVL 1886 Tetteroo (NED)
Group C – Berlin (GER) Vouliagmeni NC (GRE), BVSC-Zuglo (HUN), Olympic Nice (FRA), Plebiscito Padova (ITA), Spandau 04 Berlin (GER), CN Mataro (ESP)
Group D – Porto (POR) CN Sabadell (ESP), Orizzonte Catania (ITA), Ethnikos Piraeus (GRE), C.A. Pacense (POR), SK Olimpia Kosice (SVK)
