The 2025/26 Women’s Euro Cup Group Stage begins this Saturday, bringing together some of Europe’s top and emerging clubs in a weekend full of compelling fixtures. The headline tie sees defending champions Antenore Plebiscito Padova host Spanish newcomers Zodiac CNAB, while runners-up from the last two seasons, Pallanuoto Trieste, travel to Spain to face EPlus CN Catalunya.
Elsewhere, France’s Lille UC open their campaign against 2022 champions Ethnikos OFPF, and BVSC Manna ABC welcome Israeli debutants Hapoel Yoqneam, who made history by becoming the first team from Israel to reach this stage of the competition.
2025/26 Euro Cup Women
Group Stage – Day 1
Saturday 8 November 2025
(Local times shown)
Group A
20:00 – Lille UC (FRA) v Ethnikos OFPF (GRE)
Group B
16:00 – BVSC Manna ABC (HUN) v Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR)
Group C
17:30 – Antenore Plebiscito Padova (ITA) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
Group D
16:00 – EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP) v Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)
Group A
Lille UC (FRA) v Ethnikos OFPF (GRE) – 20:00 local time
After falling short in September’s Champions League qualifiers, Lille UC turn their focus to the Euro Cup, where they face a difficult opening match against Ethnikos OFPF. The Greek side are familiar with success in this competition, having lifted the trophy in 2022 when it was known as the LEN Trophy.
Ethnikos are in strong domestic form, tied with Olympiacos at the top of the Greek league after six consecutive wins. History also favours the visitors, who defeated Lille 14–5 in their previous European encounter in 2019.
The group’s third team, Polar Bears of the Netherlands, will play their first match on Day 2, away to Ethnikos on 29 November.
Group B
BVSC Manna ABC (HUN) v Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR) – 16:00 local time
Hapoel Yoqneam enter the competition as history-makers, becoming the first Israeli club to reach the Euro Cup group stage after a dramatic qualifying victory against Kerület. They now face BVSC Manna ABC, a side determined to recover from a difficult run of three consecutive league defeats to FTC, UVSE, and Eger.
BVSC will be eager to improve on last season’s European performance, which saw them finish without a win in the Champions League group stage. The Hungarians hold a strong home record and will look to make that count against an opponent full of confidence after their qualification campaign.
ANC Glyfada iRepair complete the group and will meet Hapoel Yoqneam on 29 November in Israel.
Group C
Antenore Plebiscito Padova (ITA) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP) – 17:30 local time
Reigning champions Padova open their title defence against Zodiac CNAB, a club making its debut in the women’s Euro Cup after an impressive qualification round that included victories over Panionios and Mladost.
Padova have endured a mixed start to their domestic season, winning three and losing three of their opening six Serie A1 fixtures. Their narrow 9–8 defeat to league leaders Rapallo demonstrated both their competitiveness and the fine margins that separate Italy’s top sides.
CNAB have been tested in Spain’s Division de Honor, with recent matches against Terrassa, Sant Andreu, and Sabadell providing valuable experience ahead of their European debut. The Barcelona-based side enter this match with confidence and the ambition to establish themselves quickly at continental level.
Grand Nancy AC are the third team in Group C and will host Zodiac CNAB on 29 November.
Group D
EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP) v Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA) – 16:00 local time
Pallanuoto Trieste begin another European campaign intent on ending their sequence of near-misses after finishing runners-up in the last two editions of the Euro Cup. The Italian side fell to De Zaan in the 2025 final and to Padova in 2024, but their consistency in reaching the latter stages underlines their quality and ambition.
Trieste’s attempt to qualify for this season’s Champions League ended in September with a penalty-shootout loss to Rapallo, but they have started their domestic campaign strongly, winning four of their opening five matches in Serie A1.
EPlus CN Catalunya reached the quarter-finals last season, narrowly losing to Tenerife Echeyde over two legs. They strengthened during the summer with the signing of Dutch goalkeeper Laura Aarts and continue to develop a balanced side capable of challenging at this level.
III Kerületi TVE of Hungary complete the group and will make their first appearance on Day 2, travelling to Trieste on 29 November.
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