As the women’s 2025/26 Euro Cup Group Stage kicks off on Saturday, huge clashes await, including 2024 champions Antenore Plebiscito Padova taking on newcomers Zodiac CNAB. The opening weekend also sees EPlus CN Catalunya face 2024 and 2025 runners-up Pallanuoto Trieste, Lille UC meet Ethnikos OFPF, and BVSC Manna ABC welcome Israel’s Hapoel Yoqneam, who are also making their debut European campaign.
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
20:00: Lille UC (FRA) v Ethnikos OFPF (GRE)
After crashing out of September’s Champions League qualifiers following defeats to Spandau (12-18) and Alimos (11-21), Lille UC face another tough task this weekend in their opening Euro Cup fixture against Ethnikos OFPF, who won this competition in 2022 when it was called the LEN Trophy.
History is also on the Greeks’ side, as the last time these two sides met on the international stage was in the Euro League preliminaries back in 2019, when Ethnikos ran out comfortable 14-5 winners.
With Ethnikos flying high in their domestic league – they’re level with Olympiacos at the top of the table on 18 points after six successive wins – Lille will have to be at their very best to avoid a repeat of that scoreline from six years ago.
“We’re very motivated to begin our European journey and measure ourselves against high-level teams,” said Ethnikos’ Foivi Chatzikyriakaki. “Even though we’re playing away, it only strengthens our focus and determination. We’re ready to work hard together and are aiming for our first win.”
“On Saturday, the most wonderful journey begins for our team,” added Ethnikos coach Salachas Orestis. “And we are ready.”
The third team in this group are Netherlands’ Polar Bears, who finished top of their qualifying group after victories over Bogliasco (10-9) and Galatasaray (22-6). They will join the action on day two, when they face Ethnikos away on Saturday 29 November.
Group B
16:00: BVSC Manna ABC (HUN) v Hapoel Yoqneam (ISR)
In the qualifiers, Hapoel Yoqneam made history by becoming the first Israeli team to reach the Euro Cup group stage, thanks largely to sinking Kerulet in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Now, Hapoel arrive on the main stage looking to upset another Hungarian side – BVSC Manna ABC, who currently sit seven points above Kerulet in the domestic standings.
BVSC enter this opening fixture on the back of three successive OB I league defeats – to FTC (15-11), UVSE (10-15) and Eger (19-18 after penalties) – so they will be keen to return to winning ways on Saturday afternoon.
The Hungarians will also be looking to put their European struggles from last season behind them, as they lost all six of their Champions League group games.
“We’re really excited to play this European match,” said BVSC coach Gergely Beres. “I’m glad we can start it in our home pool. Our opponents qualified for our group ahead of Kerulet, so we’re expecting a competitive game, but we’re confident we can secure a home win.”
BVSC’s Dobi Dorina added: “We’ve been training hard for this opening clash. It’s always a pleasure to play European games and test ourselves against teams from other countries, so we’re excited for the weekend.”
Also in this group are Greece’s ANC Glyfada iRepair, who battled hard in the Champions League qualifiers, nearly upsetting Eger before a fourth-quarter collapse saw them fall just short of reaching the continent’s top-tier competition.
Glyfada’s first game in the group will be on day two away at Hapoel Yoqneam on Saturday 29 November.
Group C
17:30: Antenore Plebiscito Padova (ITA) v Zodiac CNAB (ESP)
“We’re starting this tournament knowing it’ll be different from previous ones,” said Padova coach Stefano Posterivo, who guided his team to the top of the podium in 2024. “We’re a team that needs to grow and develop at a European level, playing tough matches like the one we have coming up on Saturday.
“It’s always exciting to play international matches, and I want my players to approach them with peace of mind, but with a strong desire to compete.”
In the Italian league, Padova have won three and lost three of their six games so far this season, and their recent 9-8 loss to leaders Rapallo – in which British star Amelie Perkins scored three – will still have given them some confidence, despite conceding the decisive goal in the final seconds.
Standing in their way this week are newcomers Zodiac CNAB, who impressed in the qualification round, beating Panionios and Mladost with ease.
“We’re very pleased about qualifying for the next round, and now we want to keep moving forward in this competition,” explained CNAB coach Chus Martin. “To do that, we’ll have to take it game by game, and in this case, this first match in Italy against strong rivals like Padova will allow us to see our real potential.
“We know it will be a tough game in a challenging pool, but the team is ready for this first big challenge.”
“It’s a new competition for the club, and that gives us extra motivation for Saturday’s game,” added CNAB’s Nerea Martín. “We know Padova are a strong team with experience in European competitions, but we’re working hard every day to give our best. I believe we’re well-prepared and very confident, and these matches will help us improve and grow as a team.”
Domestically, the Spaniards have had a tricky run of games recently against Terrassa (15-12), Sant Andreu (16-9), and Sabadell (9-17), losing all three but having good spells in each.
French side Grand Nancy AC – who lost all four of their games in this competition last season – are the third team in this group, and their first match will be at home against Zodiac CNAB on Saturday 29 November.
Group D
16:00: EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP) v Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)
Pallanuoto Trieste head into this season’s Euro Cup looking to go one better after finishing runners-up in the past two years. Seven months ago, in April, they lost 24-16 over two legs to De Zaan, and in 2024 they were defeated in their home pool by Padova 10-8 in a tense one-off gold medal game.
Their hopes of competing in the Champions League this season were dashed in September when they lost on penalties to domestic rivals Rapallo in the qualifiers, but despite that setback, Trieste coach Paolo Zizza remains in a confident mood.
“European matches always have a special charm,” he told European Aquatics. “We’re facing an excellent team with some players of great technical quality. After all, the Spanish school is among the best in the world. We’ll need to be mentally ready.”
Trieste also strengthened in the summer, signing the likes of New Zealand star Morgan McDowall, USA’s Malia Allen and France’s Aurelie Battu.
EPlus CN Catalunya, meanwhile, had a fairly successful 2024/25 Euro Cup campaign, reaching the last eight, where they were narrowly defeated 20-19 over two legs by CN Tenerife Echeyde.
The Spaniards – who bolstered their ranks by signing Dutch goalkeeper Laura Aarts from Sabadell in June – have had a mixed start to the season so far, winning two and losing three of their league games, while Trieste have won four from five and sit second in the Italian A1.
Hungarian outfit III Keruleti TVE – who scraped through to this stage as the best runners-up in the qualification round – complete Group D and will enter the competition on day two, when they travel to Trieste on Saturday 29 November.
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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
