The Women’s Champions League kicks off this weekend, and the top contenders are set for tough challenges away from home.
Since only clubs representing the Big Five countries – Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain – have made the cut for the Group Stage of the 2024/25 women’s Champions League, all six rounds promise the very best of action.
The reigning champions, Astralpool Sabadell, begin their title defense in Hungary, where they face Dunaujvaros. Last season, Sabadell narrowly escaped with a 9-8 victory in a fiercely contested match at this same venue. Sabadell, fresh off a dominant win in the Super Cup final, enter as favourites but will need to be at their best against a team that knows how to push them to their limits.
Olympiacos, the runners-up from last season, will take on Alimos NAC Betsson in an all-Greek affair. While Olympiacos are strong favourites, Alimos have bolstered their squad with talented foreign players, hoping to close the gap and challenge their domestic rivals. The pressure will be on Olympiacos to assert their dominance, but Alimos will be eager to prove they belong at the top level.
Meanwhile, CN Mataro travels to the Netherlands to take on Polar Bears. This fixture brings added excitement as several players from both teams were involved in this summer’s Olympic semi-final between Spain and the Netherlands. Mataro, packed with superstars, will look to get their campaign off to a winning start, but Polar Bears will aim to use home advantage to cause an upset.
In Group C, Italian champions SIS Roma head to the Netherlands to face GZC Donk, while in Group D, Orizzonte Catania will host Hungarian powerhouse UVSE in a battle between two traditional Champions League contenders.
The opening round of fixtures is set to deliver plenty of drama, with all teams eyeing crucial points to gain an early advantage in the race for the quarter-finals. With only the top two teams from each group advancing, every match will be fiercely contested, setting the stage for an exciting edition of the Women’s Champions League.
Day 1 Fixtures (all times CET):
- Group A: CN Terrassa (ESP) v Vouliagmeni (GRE) – 18:00
- Group A: Dunaujvaros (HUN) v Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) – 18:00
- Group B: FTC-Telekom Budapest (HUN) v Plebiscito Padova (ITA) – 18:00
- Group B: Polar Bears (NED) v CN Mataro (ESP) – Sunday 27 Oct, 13:00
- Group C: GZC Donk (NED) v SIS Roma (ITA) – 14:00
- Group C: Alimos NAC Betsson (GRE) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) – 17:00
- Group D: Orizzonte Catania (ITA) v UVSE-Helia D (HUN) – 15:00
- Group D: Sant Andreu (ESP) v BVSC-Manna ABC (HUN) – 17:00
Watch all the Women’s Champions League action live on www.euroaquaticstv.com.