While FTC and Olympiacos seem to have already done enough in the first leg to enjoy some easy cruising this time, when the return legs of the Champions League Women quarterfinals are played this weekend, title-holders St Andreu will face a thrilling do-or-die duel at Vouliagmeni after the first game ended in a stalemate. Fellow Spanish side Mataro are on their way to the Final Four with a four-goal advantage in hand, but Roma will do their best to produce a miracle.
2025/26 Champions League Women
Quarterfinals, Leg 2
Saturday 16 May 2026
(Local times shown & Leg 1 scores)
15:00: CN Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Sant Andreu (ESP) (11-11)
18:00: UVSE-Helia D (HUN) v FTC-Telekom (HUN) (9-16)
19:00: Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP) (17-12)
20:00: SIS Roma (ITA) v Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) (9-13)
15:00: CN Vouliagmeni (GRE) v Sant Andreu (ESP) (11-11)
The most thrilling encounter kicks off this weekend’s judgement day, when the Final Four berths will be decided.
Unlike the other three duels, this one is wide open and even though the draw from the first leg may suggest Vouliagmeni have the better chances to go through, that game showed that in this match-up everything is possible.
The Greeks played some amazing water polo to take a 2-7 lead, but the title-holders fought themselves back and at the end only a missed penalty prevented them from winning the game.
Since five weeks have passed since that clash, it’s hard to predict the actual shape of the two sides.
For sure, the Greeks have to overcome their utter disappointment from the World Cup Division One tournament where they failed to qualify for the finals, while the Spaniards enjoyed some fine moments and many players from St Andreu were part of the show.
“We face a major challenge against one of Europe’s top teams,” said Vouliagmeni coach Kiki Liosi. “We know it will be a highly demanding match, but we have great confidence in our team, and we will give everything to earn our place in the Final Four.”
Despina Kalogeropoulou thinks the same: “This is one of the most important matches of the season. We have worked hard all year for this moment, and we are ready to give our best. Qualifying for the Champions League Final Four is our big goal, and we will fight until the very last second to achieve it.”
And Vouliagmeni’s heart and soul Elena Xenaki is also confident. “We are highly motivated to secure victory and return to the Champions League Final Four for the first time in many years.
“It is a match that, in my opinion, every athlete competing at a high level looks forward to playing. If we follow our game plan, I believe we will be the winners.”
Sant Andreu’s boss Javi Aznar is not worried at all. “We have a great chance to qualify for the Final Four, and we’re treating this game like a true final.
“Our opponents showed in the first quarterfinal match that they’re a very strong team, and it’s going to be very difficult to beat them on their home turf. We’ll have to play at our best if we want to make it to Malta.”
Philipa Pedley added: “It will be a tough game, starting level, and in Vouliagmeni’s home pool. Both teams will give everything to win and go to Malta.
“The important thing for our team will be to get off to a good start and play with confidence and trust in our abilities.”
18:00: UVSE-Helia D (HUN) v FTC-Telekom (HUN) (9-16)
This match is much more about UVSE’s attempt to restore some pride as their poor April wasn’t just the bad loss to Fradi, as they also failed to make the league final, falling to underdogs BVSC.
Erasing a seven-goal deficit feels like a mission impossible, but their coach Marton Benczur hasn’t written off his team.
“It’s clear the result of the first game reduced our chances of advancing to a minimum, but on paper our opponents are a much stronger team,” he said.
“We won’t be looking at the scoreboard – we’ll give everything we have! It would take a miracle for us to go through, but anything can happen in sports, and we never give up!”
UVSE’s Kata Hajdu’s approach is the same: “We are expecting a very difficult match. We have a seven-goal deficit to overcome, and we will do everything we can to make it happen.
“We would like to finish our last home Champions League match with a victory.”
At the same time, Fradi are getting ready to join the men’s team in Malta – and to get in top shape for the domestic finals too.
“Winning the first game by seven goals, I think we are playing really well so far, but we have to be careful because UVSE are a really good team,” Fradi’s Bea Ortiz said.
“They have really good players, and for sure they want to be in the Final Four too.
“I think it’s going to be a tough game, but also a physical game. They always play physically and on the limit.”
19:00: Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP) (17-12)
While Olympiacos’ women, similarly to FTC, are all set to travel to Malta, the inevitable is nearing for Sabadell. That is, to miss the Final Four for only the third time since 2012.
This is the 15th edition of the Champions League since the Spaniards lifted the trophy for the first time in 2011, but they have missed the top flight only twice, in 2012 and in 2021, but since the first leg, the writing is already on the wall.
Losing by five to the Greeks’ brilliant team has left them with a huge mountain to climb, even if the second leg was in Sabadell.
But travelling to Piraeus and starting a game from five goals down is something Sabadell’s title-winning sides will find difficult to overturn.
The current roster seems to lack its usual depth and quality – while Olympiacos look strong enough to go all the way.
Sabadell’s long-serving coach David Palma seems to be realistic about his team’s chances.
“We know the match in Greece is going to be very difficult,” he said. “Not least because the five-goal lead is very significant. In any case, I’ve asked the team to focus on competing and playing as a team. From here, we’ll see where the match takes us.”
Sabadell’s Irene González is approaching the game the same way. “We’ve played many Champions League matches and we know that Olympiacos’ pool is a very difficult place to win, especially when we have to overcome such a significant deficit.
“Nevertheless, we’re approaching the match with a strong desire to show that the first leg was just a fluke and we want to do much better.”
20:00: SIS Roma (ITA) v Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) (9-13)
Mataro are indeed the only team in the Champions League with a perfect record this season (not even in the men’s edition will you find a team with only wins).
The Spanish side had two victories in the qualifications, added six more in the Group Stage and beat Roma convincingly in the first leg.
Still, the Italians showed some great moments in the away game and even if the four-goal gap looks really tough to bridge, the last standing Italian side will definitely go to the pool with an all-in and nothing-to-lose mentality.
This is exactly what Lavinia Papi was talking about before the game. “After a month off for the World Cup, returning directly to the Champions League quarterfinals against Mataró won’t be easy, but the team is eager to get back in the game.
“We know the situation very well: we’ll need a five-goal win to advance, or four to send us to penalties. It’s a tough match against strong opponents, but there’s great confidence in the locker room.
“The team has worked hard in recent weeks, both physically and mentally, because matches like this require a great mindset during the preparations.
“We’ll have to go into the game with intensity from the first minute, without calculating and without being afraid of taking risks.
“We know it will take a near-perfect performance, but we believe in the team, in the work we put in every day, and in the support of our fans.
“The goal is to give it all until the very last play and emerge from the game without regrets. The result will then tell if we’ve done enough, but one thing is certain: on Saturday we’ll fight until the end.”
Roma coach Marco Capanna offered this statement: “We’re facing a strong team for whom we have a lot of respect.
“We think we can play an intelligent, tenacious, superb game and win by the best possible margin.
“We’ll try to maintain consistent consistency and bring maximum intensity to everything, as this match and the stakes demand.”
In the Mataro camp, they are aware that it won’t be an easy ride in the Eternal City.
“The key will be to play more with our heads than with our hearts,” Mataro coach Dani Ballart said. “We need to enjoy the match while ignoring what I expect will be a pool full of fans.
“The first match we played against them is already history, and we must focus on trying to win on Saturday, forgetting the previous result. Being aggressive in attack could be the key.”
“We’re arriving in a good moment as a team, with our objectives very clear and ready to fight for them no matter what it takes,” added Mataro’s Queralt Bertran. “We know it will be a very tough match.
“Roma will play their game and come out very strong, but we’re prepared for that and focused on playing our own match.
“Making the Final Four would mean that we achieved one of our main goals this season, especially after missing out last year. We’re more motivated than ever.”
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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics
