There will be a new name on the women’s Euro Cup trophy as last season’s silver and bronze medallists—Pallanuoto Trieste and ZV De Zaan—prepare for this year’s exciting final. The first-leg kicks off on Saturday in northern Italy, with the second-leg scheduled for Saturday, April 5th, in the Netherlands.

2024/25 Euro Cup Women Final

First-Leg:
Saturday, 15th March
(Local time)

18:00: Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA) vs ZV De Zaan (NED)

ZV De Zaan returns to Pallanuoto Trieste’s Bruno Bianchi pool seeking redemption for last year’s narrow 10-8 semi-final defeat in the same venue.

“We’re incredibly excited for this game,” De Zaan head coach Mick van den Bree told European Aquatics. “Reaching this final has been our goal ever since we exited the Champions League. We remember the electrifying atmosphere in Trieste and we’re fully prepared to leave everything in the water.”

De Zaan arrives undefeated, winning all eight games played in the competition so far, including an impressive 20-16 aggregate victory over ANC Glyfada iRepair from Greece in the semi-finals.

“As a team, we’re thrilled for the final,” said captain Lieke Rogge, who leads De Zaan with 26 goals in this year’s Euro Cup. “We anticipate another incredible atmosphere in Trieste. It will be a tough match, exactly what a final should be. Our focus is on playing at our absolute best and bringing home the trophy.”

This season marks only the third time a Dutch team has reached the women’s Euro Cup final in the tournament’s 25-year history. De Zaan finished runners-up previously in 2007 (then as Nereus), with Het Ravijn also falling short in the 2011 final.

Standing in their way is home side Pallanuoto Trieste, eager to overcome last year’s narrow 10-8 final defeat to Italian rivals Antenore Plebiscito Padova.

“We know De Zaan well from our encounter last season; they made a lasting impression,” said Trieste head coach Paolo Zizza. “They have strengthened significantly since then, play physically, and have a solid defensive foundation.”

Trieste enters the final with confidence, having won six of their seven Euro Cup games this campaign. Their sole defeat came against fellow Italian side Rapallo Pallanuoto in Qualification Round 2. Despite that setback, Trieste finished top of their group and went on to eliminate Hungary’s III. Keruleti TVE in the quarter-finals and Spain’s CN Tenerife Echeyde comfortably in the semi-finals.

Trieste’s attack has been potent throughout the competition, tallying 81 goals, with Arianna Gragnolati leading their charge with 17 goals.

“The final against De Zaan will be incredibly tight,” Zizza added. “Small details, tactical discipline, determination, and hunger to win will decide this contest.”

Catch the Euro Cup Women final live at www.euroaquaticstv.com.