Olympiacos and Catalunya will contest the first major piece of European women’s club silverware of the new season on Saturday, when the Champions League and Euro Cup holders meet in the European Aquatics Super Cup in Piraeus.
For Olympiacos, it is a return to familiar territory. For Catalunya, it is completely new ground.
The Greek champions will be making their fifth appearance in the Women’s Super Cup and are chasing a fourth title, having previously lifted the trophy in 2015, 2021 and 2022.
Only Sabadell, with five victories, have won the competition more often.
Olympiacos’ record in the Super Cup is particularly impressive on home water. All three of their victories came in Piraeus, beating Plebiscito Padova 10-6 in 2015, Kinef Kirishi 14-11 in 2021 and city rivals Ethnikos 11-4 in 2022.
Their only defeat in four previous appearances came on their debut in 2014, when Sabadell edged them 9-8 in Barcelona.
That result provides one small piece of encouragement for Catalunya: the only team to have beaten Olympiacos in a Women’s Super Cup was Spanish.
Catalunya arrive in Greece following a breakthrough European campaign.
The Barcelona club won the first European trophy in the history of its women’s team last season, defeating CNAB in both legs of the Euro Cup final. A 14-9 first-leg victory was followed by a 13-11 win at CNAB, completing a convincing 27-20 aggregate triumph.
Saturday will therefore mark Catalunya’s first appearance in the Women’s Super Cup.
Olympiacos secured their place after winning a fourth Champions League crown in Malta in June. They defeated FTC in a dramatic final, recovering late in regulation before winning the title in a penalty shootout.
History also heavily favours the Champions League holders.
Across the previous 19 editions of the Women’s Super Cup, the Champions League winners have taken the trophy 14 times compared with five victories for the winners of Europe’s second-tier competition.
The last five Super Cups have all been won by the Champions League representative. The most recent Euro Cup or LEN Trophy winners to break that sequence were Dunaujvaros in 2018 and Orizzonte in 2019.
There is also national history at stake in Piraeus.
Spanish clubs have won six Women’s Super Cups, while Greek and Italian clubs have five each. Victory for Catalunya would move Spain onto seven titles and extend their lead at the top of the national standings.
Olympiacos, meanwhile, can take Greece level with Spain on six.
Spain also arrive with the competition’s current winning streak. Sabadell lifted the trophy in 2023 and 2024 before Sant Andreu defeated De Zaan 17-10 in Barcelona last year.
A Catalunya victory would therefore make it four consecutive Women’s Super Cups for Spanish clubs.
For Olympiacos, Saturday offers the chance to add another trophy to one of the strongest periods in the club’s history and move within one Super Cup of Sabadell’s record.
For Catalunya, a season which already produced their first European title could now bring another piece of history.
The 20th edition of the Women’s Super Cup takes place in Piraeus on Saturday, October 3.
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