2024–25 LEN Challenger Cup

LEN Challenger Cup
2024–25
Tournament information
SportWater polo
DatesQualification round:
1–3 November 2024
Knockout stage:
18 January–26 April 2025
TeamsTotal: 16 (from 12 countries)
WebsiteOfficial website

The 2024–25 LEN Challenger Cup was the 3rd edition of a water polo competition organised by European Aquatics. It acts as the third tier, below the LEN Champions League and the LEN Euro Cup. The reigning champions are Galatasaray, but they won't defend their title as they didn't enter.

Format

16 teams are grouped into 4 pools of four clubs. The top 2 from every pool advances to the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and finals.[1]

Rankings

Only teams below the top 12 can enter this competition.

Teams

No countries ranked in the top 12 of the LEN men's club rankings can take part in this tournament.[3]

Participating teams
Belgium Royal Dauphins Mouscronnois Cyprus APOEL Nicosia Cyprus Limassol NC Finland Cetus Espoo
United Kingdom Welsh Wanderers Israel ASA Tel Aviv Israel Hapoel Palram Zvulun Lithuania EVK Zaibas
Malta Sliema ASC Netherlands GZC Donk Netherlands ZV De Zaan Portugal Vitória Sport Clube
Portugal Clube Fluvial Portuense Slovakia KVP Novaky Slovenia AVK Slovan Olimpija Switzerland Carouge Natation

Schedule

Rounds and dates

Phase Round Round date
Qualification round 1–3 November 2024
Quarter-finals First leg 18 January 2025
Second leg 1 February 2025
Semi-finals First leg 22 February 2025
Second leg 8 March 2025
Final First leg 5 April 2025
Second leg 26 April 2025

Qualification round

In the qualification round, teams play in a round robin format. The top 2 in each group advance. Due to the lack of clubs wanting the host the groups, Nováky and Sliema hosted two groups.[4][5]

Draw

The draw was on 16 September 2024.[6] H indicates which club is hosting the groups. Teams in bold advanced to the quarter-finals. The seeding was decided by as follows:

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

Switzerland Carouge Natation
Lithuania EVK Zaibas
Slovakia KVP Novaky (H)
Portugal Vitória Sport Clube

Belgium Royal Dauphins Mouscronnois
Netherlands ZV De Zaan
Israel ASA Tel Aviv
Finland Cetus Espoo

Portugal Clube Fluvial Portuense
Cyprus APOEL Nicosia
Netherlands GZC Donk
Slovenia AVK Slovan Olimpija

United Kingdom Welsh Wanderers
Malta Sliema ASC (H)
Israel Hapoel Palram Zvulun
Cyprus Limassol NC

Group A

Held in Sliema, Malta

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Netherlands DON Portugal VIT Finland CET United Kingdom WEL
1 Netherlands GZC Donk 3 3 0 0 0 58 31 +27 9 Quarterfinals 15–12
2 Portugal Vitória Sport Clube 3 2 0 0 1 50 31 +19 6 13–10 25–6
3 Finland Cetus Espoo 3 1 0 0 2 43 41 +2 3 8–17 25–11
4 United Kingdom Welsh Wanderers 3 0 0 0 3 28 76 −48 0 11–26
1 November 2024
16:00
Report Cetus Espoo Finland 25–11 United Kingdom Welsh Wanderers National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Riccardo Carmignani (ITA), Povilas Sriubas (LTU)
Score by quarters: 6–2, 8–2, 5–4, 6–3
Porobic 6 Goals three players 2
1 November 2024
17:15
Report GZC Donk Netherlands 15–12 Portugal Vitória Sport Clube National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Erkan Turkkan (TUR), Neville Mercieca (MLT)
Score by quarters: 3–1, 3–4, 6–4, 3–3
Veenhuis 4 Goals Ramos 5

2 November 2024
16:00
Report Vitória Sport Clube Portugal 13–10 Finland Cetus Espoo National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Riccardo Carmignani (ITA), Erkan Turkkan (TUR)
Score by quarters: 1–3, 2–2, 4–1, 6–4
Ramos 6 Goals Porobic 3
2 November 2024
17:15
Report Welsh Wanderers United Kingdom 11–26 Netherlands GZC Donk National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Neville Mercieca (MLT), Povilas Sriubas (LTU)
Score by quarters: 5–5, 1–5, 2–8, 3–8
Laxton 6 Goals Van Ijperen 6

3 November 2024
08:30
Report Cetus Espoo Finland 8–17 Netherlands GZC Donk National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Riccardo Carmignani (ITA), Povilas Sriubas (LTU)
Score by quarters: 2–4, 4–3, 0–5, 2–5
Porobic, Vavic 2 Goals Veenhuis, Winkelhorst 5
3 November 2024
09:45
Report Vitória Sport Clube Portugal 25–6 United Kingdom Welsh Wanderers National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Erkan Turkkan (TUR), Neville Mercieca (MLT)
Score by quarters: 8–1, 7–2, 3–3, 7–0
Ferreira Sousa 6 Goals Laxton 4

Group B

Held in Novaky, Slovakia

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Netherlands ZAAN Lithuania ZAI Israel HAP Cyprus APO
1 Netherlands ZV De Zaan 3 3 0 0 0 42 21 +21 9 Quarterfinals 8–7 21–2
2 Lithuania EVK Zaibas 3 2 0 0 1 42 30 +12 6 12–13 12–10 18–7
3 Israel Hapoel Palram Zvulun 3 1 0 0 2 31 31 0 3 14–11
4 Cyprus APOEL Nicosia 3 0 0 0 3 20 53 −33 0
1 November 2024
15:30
Report ZV De Zaan Netherlands 8–7 Israel Hapoel Palram Zvulun National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Robert Prelovsky (SVK), Roberto Guarnieri (BEL)
Score by quarters: 1–1, 2–1, 4–3, 1–2
Bakker 3 Goals Begin 3
1 November 2024
17:15
Report EVK Zaibas Lithuania 18–7 Cyprus APOEL Nicosia National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Branimir Butigan (BIH), Koppany Toth (HUN)
Score by quarters: 5–0, 4–2, 4–1, 5–4
Gostautas 5 Goals Konstantopoulos 3

2 November 2024
19:00
Report EVK Zaibas Lithuania 12–13 Netherlands ZV De Zaan National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Roberto Guarnieri (BEL), Branimir Butigan (BIH)
Score by quarters: 2–3, 4–5, 2–2, 4–3
Jelaca 3 Goals Rempt 3
2 November 2024
20:45
Report Hapoel Palram Zvulun Israel 14–11 Cyprus APOEL Nicosia National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Robert Prelovsky (SVK), Koppany Toth (HUN)
Score by quarters: 5–1, 3–3, 4–2, 2–5
Goldschmidt 4 Goals three players 2

3 November 2024
09:00
Report ZV De Zaan Netherlands 21–2 Cyprus APOEL Nicosia National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Koppany Toth (HUN), Roberto Guarnieri (BEL)
Score by quarters: 7–0, 4–1, 5–0, 5–1
Van Den Dobbelsteen 6 Goals Economides, Robu 1
3 November 2024
10:45
Report EVK Zaibas Lithuania 12–10 Israel Hapoel Palram Zvulun National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Branimir Butigan (BIH), Robert Prelovsky (SVK)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 4–4, 4–1, 2–3
Jelaca 3 Goals Begin, Carmon 3

Group C

Held in Sliema, Malta

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Malta SLI Portugal FLU Switzerland CAR Israel ASA
1 Malta Sliema ASC (H) 3 3 0 0 0 44 20 +24 9 Quarterfinals 15–7 16–5 13–8
2 Portugal Clube Fluvial Portuense 3 2 0 0 1 33 32 +1 6 14–8
3 Switzerland Carouge Natation 3 1 0 0 2 32 35 −3 3 9–12
4 Israel ASA Tel Aviv 3 0 0 0 3 23 45 −22 0 7–18
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
1 November 2024
18:30
Report Carouge Natation Switzerland 9–12 Portugal Clube Fluvial Portuense National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Robert Horvath (SVK), Maxim Gerasimov (GBR)
Score by quarters: 2–1, 2–3, 2–2, 3–6
Gros 3 Goals five players 2
1 November 2024
19:45
Report Sliema ASC Malta 13–8 Israel ASA Tel Aviv National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Polydoros Filippou (CYP), Rok Vehovec (SLO)
Score by quarters: 5–0, 2–3, 2–3, 4–2
five players 2 Goals three players 2

2 November 2024
18:30
Report ASA Tel Aviv Israel 7–18 Switzerland Carouge Natation National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Maxim Gerasimov (GBR), Polydoros Filippou (CYP)
Score by quarters: 2–4, 2–4, 1–4, 2–6
Kolodny, Souva 2 Goals Roscio 6
2 November 2024
19:45
Report Sliema ASC Malta 15–7 Portugal Clube Fluvial Portuense National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Rok Vehovec (SLO), Robert Horvath (SVK)
Score by quarters: 3–1, 5–3, 1–0, 6–3
Zammit 4 Goals Ornelas Pinto, Parati 2

3 November 2024
11:15
Report Clube Fluvial Portuense Portugal 14–8 Israel ASA Tel Aviv National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Maxim Gerasimov (GBR), Rok Vehovec (SLO)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 5–0, 5–3, 2–3
Parati 4 Goals Gal-on, Zonanstern
3 November 2024
12:30
Report Sliema ASC Malta 16–5 Switzerland Carouge Natation National Pool, Sliema
Referees:
Robert Horvath (SVK), Polydoros Filippou (CYP)
Score by quarters: 5–2, 2–2, 4–1, 5–0
Zammit 5 Goals Gros, Melet 2

Group D

Held in Novaky, Slovakia

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Slovakia NOV Slovenia SLO Belgium MOU Cyprus LIM
1 Slovakia KVP Novaky (H) 3 3 0 0 0 51 33 +18 9 Quarterfinals 14–10 18–12 19–11
2 Slovenia AVK Slovan Olimpija 3 2 0 0 1 36 33 +3 6 14–12 12–7
3 Belgium Royal Dauphins Mouscronnois 3 1 0 0 2 43 42 +1 3
4 Cyprus Limassol NC 3 0 0 0 3 28 50 −22 0 10–19
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
1 November 2024
19:00
Report KVP Novaky Slovakia 19–11 Cyprus Limassol NC National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Luis Alves (POR), Tal Shildan (ISR)
Score by quarters: 5–1, 2–3, 7–4, 5–3
three players 4 Goals Chalaris 5
1 November 2024
20:45
Report AVK Slovan Olimpija Slovenia 14–12 Belgium Royal Dauphins Mouscronnois National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Massimo Castrilli (SUI), Jarkko Virtanen (FIN)
Score by quarters: 4–3, 3–2, 4–4, 3–3
Potocnik 7 Goals Mikael 5

2 November 2024
15:30
Report AVK Slovan Olimpija Slovenia 12–7 Cyprus Limassol NC National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Tal Shildan (ISR), Jarkko Virtanen (FIN)
Score by quarters: 2–3, 3–0, 4–1, 3–3
Canc 4 Goals Monioudis 3
2 November 2024
17:15
Report KVP Novaky Slovakia 18–12 Belgium Royal Dauphins Mouscronnois National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Massimo Castrilli (SUI), Luis Alves (POR)
Score by quarters: 5–2, 4–4, 4–3, 5–3
Dittmer, Tisaj 4 Goals Mikael 4

3 November 2024
12:30
Report Limassol NC Cyprus 10–19 Belgium Royal Dauphins Mouscronnois National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Tal Shildan (ISR), Jarkko Virtanen (FIN)
Score by quarters: 5–4, 1–6, 2–5, 2–4
Ioannou, Trusico 2 Goals Grman 5
3 November 2024
14:15
Report KVP Novaky Slovakia 14–10 Slovenia AVK Slovan Olimpija National Water Polo Centre, Nováky
Referees:
Luis Alves (POR), Massimo Castrilli (SUI)
Score by quarters: 5–3, 2–1, 4–2, 3–4
Tisaj 7 Goals Potocnik 3

Knockout stage

Draw

The draw was on 11 November 2024. The seeded and unseeded clubs consist of the teams that finished first and second in the previous round respectively. The only restriction was that clubs from the same group in the previous round could not be drawn against each other.

Seeded Unseeded

Netherlands GZC Donk
Netherlands ZV De Zaan
Malta Sliema ASC
Slovakia KVP Novaky

Portugal Vitória Sport Clube
Lithuania EVK Zaibas
Portugal Clube Fluvial Portuense
Slovenia AVK Slovan Olimpija

Bracket

Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
            
Netherlands ZV De Zaan
Portugal Vitória Sport Clube
 
 
Slovakia KVP Novaky
Lithuania EVK Zaibas
 
 
Netherlands GZC Donk
Portugal Clube Fluvial Portuense
 
 
Malta Sliema ASC
Slovenia AVK Slovan Olimpija

Quarter-finals

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Semi-finals

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Final

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2024–25 LEN Challenger Cup Champions
N/A

First title

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.len.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/REGULATIONS-EUROPEAN-AQUATICS-WATER-POLO-CLUB-COMPETITIONS-1.pdf
  2. ^ "Men Clubs Country Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. August 18, 2024.
  3. ^ "Slovenija po dolgem času s predstavnikom v ligi prvakov". siol.net.
  4. ^ "Vodnopólové Nováky hostia Challenger Cup. Chceme postup z 1. miesta, znie z klubu". sportnet.sme.sk.
  5. ^ Camilleri, Valhmor (October 31, 2024). "Sliema and Sirens target qualification to next round of LEN Challenger Cup". SportsDesk.
  6. ^ LEN, Juliana (September 16, 2024). "Several Exciting Clashes Confirmed For Euro Cup and Challenger Cup Qualifiers - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu.
  7. ^ "Men Club Ranking - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu. September 23, 2024.
  8. ^ "Men Clubs Country Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. September 23, 2024.
  9. ^ "Men Country Ranking - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu. September 23, 2024.