The draw for Round 2 of the men’s and women’s Conference Cup was conducted this morning in Zagreb, setting up an exciting set of tournaments across Europe as teams battle for progression deeper into continental competition.
Men’s Conference Cup – Round 2 (20–22 February)
Eighteen clubs remain in the men’s competition. This stage features the top two teams from each Round 1 group, joined by eight clubs that were eliminated from the Euro Cup qualifications.
The draw produced four groups — two of which contain five teams — with only the top two sides in each group advancing to the Quarter-Finals. As in Round 1, one group once again features two former European champions.
Group D: Posillipo to Host Crvena Zvezda Showdown
Group D headlines this phase, with Posillipo hosting the tournament in Naples.
The three-time European champion (1997, 1998, 2005) advanced by winning its Round 1 group and now welcomes:
- Crvena Zvezda, 2013 Champions League winner
- Dinamo Tbilisi
- Sète
- Mataró, currently unbeaten in the Spanish League with a 6–0 record
Group C: Montpellier’s Highly Competitive Five-Team Pool
Montpellier (FRA) hosts the second five-team group, welcoming:
- De Akker Bologna
- Primorje Rijeka, the 2012 Champions League runner-up and resurgent Croatian contender
- Honvéd, a former European champion
- Sport Management (GEO), the Georgian title holders
Group A: Greek Duo Meets European Royalty
German side OSC Potsdam hosts Group A, where:
- Apollon Smyrnis, winner of the inaugural Challenger Cup
- Panionios
- Partizan, the seven-time European champion
all clash in what looks like a balanced four-team bracket.
Group B: Mornar Split the Favourite at Home
Croatian hosts Mornar Split enter as favourites in Group B, where they are joined by:
- Rapid Bucharest
- ZV De Zaan
- Tenerife
Men’s Draw – Groups & Hosts
(Hosts marked with *)
Group A: Apollon Smyrnis (GRE), OSC Potsdam (GER)*, Panionios (GRE), Partizan (SRB)
Group B: Rapid Bucharest (ROU), ZV De Zaan (NED), Mornar Split (CRO)*, Tenerife (ESP)
Group C: Sport Management (GEO), Montpellier (FRA)*, De Akker (ITA), Primorje Rijeka (CRO), Honvéd (HUN)
Group D: Crvena Zvezda (SRB), Dinamo Tbilisi (GEO), Posillipo Naples (ITA)*, Sète (FRA), Mataró (ESP)
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Quarter-Final Round, which will again be played in a tournament format with two groups.
Women’s Conference Cup – Round 2 (27 February – 1 March)
Thirteen teams remain in the women’s competition, drawn into four groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Final Eight, while the remaining five sides will play for positions 9th–13th.
Women’s Draw – Groups & Hosts
(Hosts marked with *)
Group A: Bogliasco (ITA), Sant Feliu (ESP), Unirea Alba Iulia (ROU)*
Group B: Panionios (GRE)*, Cosenza (ITA), PAOK (GRE)
Group C: Vojvodina Novi Sad (SRB)*, Tenerife (ESP), Chania (GRE), Blau Weiss Bochum (GER)
Group D: Galatasaray (TUR)*, Mladost (CRO), Brizz Nuoto (ITA)
Read more about the Conference Cup
Follow Waterpolo 360 on Facebook, Instagram and X