2024–25 LEN Women's Champions League

For the equivalent women's tournament, see 2024–25 LEN Champions League.
LEN Women's Champions League
2024–25
Tournament information
SportWater polo
DatesQualification round:
3–6 October 2024
Main Round:
26 October 2024 – 1 March 2025
Quarterfinals:
22–29 March 2025
Final four:
2–3 May 2025
TeamsCompetition proper: 16
Total: 30 (from 8 countries)
WebsiteOfficial website

The 2024–25 LEN Women's Champions League is the 37th edition of the water polo competition organised by European Aquatics. The defending champions are Astralpool Sabadell.

Format

After one qualification round (instead of two), sixteen teams will qualify for the main round. The groups in the main round are held in a home and away format. After the main round, the four groups winners and runners-up will qualify for the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, eight teams play in four play offs in a home and away format to advance to the final four and compete in the final four to decide the winners of the LEN Women's Champions League.[1]

Rankings

Countries inside the top 6 of the European Aquatics women's club rankings are eligible to enter 6 clubs into the Champions League, up from 5 which was the limit last season.[1] While countries outside the top 6 can enter their league champion into either the Champions League or Challenger Cup.

Teams

European Aquatics increased the amount of clubs a country can enter, from 5 to 6. German representative, Spandau 04 and Israeli team, Hapoel Yoneam were the only clubs outside the top 6 who decided to enter, starting in the qualifiers. All other clubs and countries below the top six entered the 2024–25 LEN Women's Challenger Cup. Tenerife Echeyde took the place of CE Mediterrani who didn't enter.

Main round
Greece Olympiacos Piraeus (1st) Hungary UVSE Budapest (1st) Italy Ekipe Orizzonte (1st) Spain CN Mataró (1st)
Spain Astralpool Sabadell CL (3rd)
Qualification round
France Lille UC (1st) France Grand Nancy AC (3rd) Germany Spandau 04 (1st) Greece NO Vouliagmeni (2hd)
Greece Alimos NAC Betsson (3rd) Greece Ethnikos Piraeus (4th) Greece ANC Glyfada (5th) Greece Panionios GSS (6th)
Hungary FTC Telekom (2nd) Hungary Digi Eger (3rd) Hungary Dunaújváros (4th) Hungary BVSC-Zugló (5th)
Hungary III. Keruleti TVE (6th) Israel Hapoel Yoneam (1st) Italy Antenore Plebiscito Padova (2nd) Italy SIS Roma (3rd)
Italy Rapallo Pallanuoto (4th) Italy Pallanuoto Trieste (5th) Netherlands ZV De Zaan (1st) Netherlands Widex GZC Donk (2nd)
Netherlands Polar Bears (3rd) Spain CN Sant Andreu (2nd) Spain CN Terrassa (4rd) Spain EPlus CN Catalunya (6th)
Spain Tenerife Echeyde (7th)

Round and draw dates

Schedule

Phase Round Round date[3]
Qualification round 3–6 October 2024
Main round Matchday 1 26 October 2024
Matchday 2 9 November 2024
Matchday 3 23 November 2024
Matchday 4 25 January 2025
Matchday 5 15 February 2025
Matchday 6 1 March 2025
Quarterfinals First leg 22 March 2025
Second leg 29 March 2025
Final four Semifinals 2 May 2025
Final 3 May 2025

Qualification round

Main article: 2024–25 LEN Women's Champions League qualification round

In the qualification round, teams play in a round robin format. The top 2 in every group makes the main round alongside the best third place team. The teams who don't advance drop down to the 2024–25 LEN Women's Euro Cup.[4]

Draw

The draw was on 13 August 2024 in Zagreb. The seeding was decided by the club rankings.[5] H indicates which club is hosting the groups. Teams in bold indicate who advanced.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4 Pot 5

Hungary Dunaújváros
Italy Antenore Plebiscito Padova (H)
Greece NO Vouliagmeni
Italy SIS Roma
Hungary FTC Telekom

Spain CN Terrassa
Greece Ethnikos Piraeus
Greece ANC Glyfada
Spain CN Sant Andreu
France Lille UC

Hungary Digi Eger (H)
Greece Alimos NAC Betsson
Netherlands ZV De Zaan
Hungary BVSC-Zugló
Germany Spandau 04 (H)

Italy Pallanuoto Trieste
France Grand Nancy AC
Spain EPlus CN Catalunya
Spain Tenerife Echeyde
Greece Panionios GSS (H)

Hungary III. Keruleti TVE
Italy Rapallo Pallanuoto
Netherlands Polar Bears (H)
Netherlands Widex GZC Donk
Israel Hapoel Yoneam

Group A

Pos Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Hungary FTC Spain SAN Netherlands ZAAN Greece PAN Italy RAP
1 Hungary FTC Telekom 4 4 0 0 0 48 33 +15 12 Main round — 9–8 17–8 — —
2 Spain CN Sant Andreu 4 3 0 0 1 51 33 +18 9 — — — 16–7 15–10
3 Netherlands ZV De Zaan 4 2 0 0 2 45 46 −1 6 Euro Cup — 7–12 — — 16–10
4 Greece Panionios GSS (H) 4 1 0 0 3 38 54 −16 3 6–10 — 7–14 — —
5 Italy Rapallo Pallanuoto 4 0 0 0 4 45 61 −16 0 11–12 — — 14–18 —
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host

Group B

Pos Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Netherlands POL Hungary ZUG Hungary DUN France LIL France NAN
1 Netherlands Polar Bears (H) 4 3 0 0 1 67 50 +17 9[a] Main round — 21–12 10–14 19–12 17–12
2 Hungary BVSC-Zugló 4 3 0 0 1 62 51 +11 9[a] — — 11–10 17–13 22–7
3 Hungary Dunaújváros 4 3 0 0 1 58 37 +21 9[a] — — — — —
4 France Lille UC 4 1 0 0 3 54 63 −9 3 Euro Cup — — 10–16 — 19–11
5 France Grand Nancy AC 4 0 0 0 4 36 76 −40 0 — — 6–18 — —
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Head-to-head goal difference: Polar Bears +8, Dunaújváros +3, BVSC-Zugló –8. Despite the goal difference, BVSC-Zugló is ranked ahead of Dunaújváros due to the match between them.

Group C

Pos Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Greece ALI Italy PAD Spain TEN Greece ETH Israel HAP
1 Greece Alimos NAC Betsson 4 4 0 0 0 71 38 +33 12 Main round — — — 16–10 18–9
2 Italy Antenore Plebiscito Padova (H) 4 3 0 0 1 55 47 +8 9 10–17 — 13–11 13–8 19–11
3 Spain Tenerife Echeyde 4 2 0 0 2 44 52 −8 6 Euro Cup 9–20 — — — —
4 Greece Ethnikos Piraeus 4 1 0 0 3 43 57 −14 3 — — 9–11 — 16–15
5 Israel Hapoel Yoneam 4 0 0 0 4 45 64 −19 0 — — 10–11 — —
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host

Group D

Pos Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Spain TER Italy ROM Italy TRI Hungary EGER Hungary KER
1 Spain CN Terrassa 4 4 0 0 0 66 46 +20 12 Main round — 14–13 15–9 — —
2 Italy SIS Roma 4 3 0 0 1 57 45 +12 9 — — — — —
3 Italy Pallanuoto Trieste 4 1 1 0 2 51 56 −5 5 Euro Cup — 9–11 — — 14–13
4 Hungary Digi Eger (H) 4 1 0 1 2 52 63 −11 4 10–19 12–15 17–19[a] — 13–10
5 Hungary III. Keruleti TVE 4 0 0 0 4 47 63 −16 0 14–18 10–18 — — —
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host
  1. ^ Match ended 14–14, Pallanuoto Trieste won 5–3 on penalties

Group E

Pos Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Greece VOU Netherlands DON Greece GLY Spain CAT Germany SPA
1 Greece NO Vouliagmeni 4 4 0 0 0 65 35 +30 12 Main round — — 15–11 17–5 —
2 Netherlands Widex GZC Donk 4 3 0 0 1 62 36 +26 9 12–15 — 19–11 14–4 —
3 Greece ANC Glyfada 4 2 0 0 2 49 55 −6 6 Euro Cup — — — — —
4 Spain EPlus CN Catalunya 4 1 0 0 3 32 55 −23 3 — — 11–13 — —
5 Germany Spandau 04 (H) 4 0 0 0 4 34 61 −27 0 7–18 6–17 10–14 11–12 —
Source: European Aquatics
(H) Host

Ranking of third-placed teams

Pos Grp Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B Hungary Dunaújváros 4 3 0 0 1 58 37 +21 9 Main round
2 A Netherlands ZV De Zaan 4 2 0 0 2 45 46 −1 6
3 E Greece ANC Glyfada 4 2 0 0 2 49 55 −6 6
4 C Spain Tenerife Echeyde 4 2 0 0 2 44 52 −8 6
5 D Italy Pallanuoto Trieste 4 1 1 0 2 51 56 −5 5
Source: European Aquatics
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Main round

Main article: 2024–25 LEN Women's Champions League main round
class=notpageimage|
Location of teams of the 2024–25 LEN Women's Champions League group stage.
Red: Group A; Blue: Group B; Yellow: Group C; Green: Group D.

The draw took place on 7 October 2024 in Zagreb, Croatia.[6] The top two advance to the Quarterfinals.

Teams are ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 2 points for a penalty shootout win, 1 point for a penalty shootout loss, 0 points for a loss), and if tied on points, the following tiebreaking criteria are applied, in the order given, to determine the rankings:

  • Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
  • Goal difference in all group matches;
  • Goals scored in all group matches.

Five countries are being represented, with only one difference, France being replaced by Netherlands. Hungary and Spain boast the most clubs with four.

class=notpageimage|
Location of Catalonia teams of the 2024–25 LEN Women's Champions League Main Round.
Red: Group A; Blue: Group B;
Yellow: Group C; Green: Group D.

Group A

Pos Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Spain SAB Greece VOU Spain TER Hungary DUN
1 Spain Astralpool Sabadell 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Quarterfinals — – 10–7 –
2 Greece NO Vouliagmeni 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 11–16 — – 9–8
3 Spain CN Terrassa 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 – 11–16 — 14–13[a]
4 Hungary Dunaújváros 3 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 8–13 – – —
Source: European Aquatics
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
  1. ^ Match finished 10–10. CN Terrassa won 4–3 on penalties.

Group B

Pos Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Hungary FTC Spain MAT Italy PAD[a] Netherlands POL
1 Hungary FTC Telekom 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Quarterfinals — – 9–6 –
2 Spain Assolim CN Mataró 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 11–13 — 16–9 –
3 Italy Antenore Plebiscito Padova[a] 3 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 – – — 15–13
4 Netherlands Polar Bears 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 14–17 17–19 – —
Source: European Aquatics
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
  1. ^ On 1 November 2024, Antenore Plebiscito Padova were disqualified due to breaching the financial requirements of the competition.[7] However, on 5 November, Antenore Plebiscito Padova were reinstated into the competition after positive actions were made by the club.[8]

Group C

Pos Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Greece OLY Italy ROM Netherlands DON Greece ALI
1 Greece Olympiacos Piraeus 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Quarterfinals — 10–3 17–13 –
2 Italy SIS Roma 3 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 4 – — – 11–9
3 Netherlands Widex GZC Donk 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 – 20–19[a] — –
4 Greece Alimos NAC Betsson 3 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 11–12 – 13–11[b] —
Source: European Aquatics
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
  1. ^ Match finished 14–14. Widex GZC Donk won 6–5 on penalties.
  2. ^ Match finished 8–8. Alimos NAC Betsson won 5–3 on penalties.

Group D

Pos Team
 Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification Spain SAN Italy ORI Hungary UVSE Hungary ZUG
1 Spain CN Sant Andreu 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Quarterfinals — 16–10 – 18–5
2 Italy Ekipe Orizzonte 3 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 – — 12–10 –
3 Hungary UVSE Budapest 3 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 10–13 – — –
4 Hungary BVSC-Zugló 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 – 12–16 10–17 —
Source: European Aquatics
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Final four

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third place
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Semi-finals

[ Report] –
Score by quarters: –, –, –, –
[ Report] –
Score by quarters: –, –, –, –

Third place match

[ Report] –
Score by quarters: –, –, –, –

Final

[ Report] –
Score by quarters: –, –, –, –
2024–25 LEN Women's Champions League Champions
N/A

title

See also

References

  1. ^ a b https://www.len.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/REGULATIONS-EUROPEAN-AQUATICS-WATER-POLO-CLUB-COMPETITIONS-1.pdf
  2. ^ "Women Clubs Country Ranking - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu. February 20, 2023.
  3. ^ "Calendar 2024 - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. August 25, 2024.
  4. ^ "Champions League draw – excitements guaranteed - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu. August 13, 2024.
  5. ^ "Women Club Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. February 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Champions League Women draw sets up huge clashes - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu. October 7, 2024.
  7. ^ LEN, Juliana (November 1, 2024). "CS Plebiscito Padova club suspended from European Aquatics Water Polo club competitions for the 2024/2025 season after breaching regulations - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu.
  8. ^ LEN, Juliana (November 5, 2024). "CS Plebiscito Padova to be reinstated to Women's Champions League thanks to positive actions by club - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu.