Courtesy: LEN
The first draws of the new club season have been conducted in Sibenik (CRO) during the women’s U17 European Championships. The opening round of the qualifications already promises some fierce battles in the Champions League and in the Euro Cup too.
Though the tournaments will be held in line with the LEN sanitary protocols (bubble events with regular testing – spectator attendance depends on the respective organisers), both series can return to its original formats with three qualification rounds in the Champions League and two in the Euro Cup.
That widens the horizon and this season already welcomes sides from Switzerland, Lithuania, Portugal and Poland besides the traditional circle of entrants. The draw set up a tough group in the Champions League, as four former CHL participants (OSC, Split, Herceg Novi, Kazan) and Greece’s Apollon will clash for the four available qualifying spots. Group A offers less excitements since four favourites and two underdogs were drawn together.
The opening round of the Euro Cup will be even more thrilling since only the top two will go through and there are more than two favourites in each of the four groups. Especially Group C and D promise outstanding battles in the first weekend of October.
Champions League, Qualification – Round 1 22-26 September 2021
Group A – Savona (ITA) RN Savona (ITA), CN Terrassa (ESP), Montpellier Water Polo (FRA), Primorac Kotor (MNE), AZS UW WP Warsaw (POL), Vitoria Guimaraes (POR)
Group B – Podgorica (MNE) OSC Budapest (HUN), Jadran Split (CRO), Apollon Smyrnis (GRE), Jadran Herceg Novi (MNE), Sintez Kazan (RUS), EVK Zaibas (LTU), Enka Istanbul (TUR)
The top four ranked sides will advance from both groups.
Euro Cup, Qualification – Round 1 30 September-3 October 2021
Group A – Sibenik (CRO) Shturm Ruza (RUS), Solaris Sibenik (CRO), Carouge Natation Geneve (SUI), St Andreu (ESP), Telimar Palermo (ITA)
Group B – Siracusa (ITA) GS Peristeriou (GRE), Team Strasbourg (FRA), Ludwigsburg 08 (GER), CC Ortigia (ITA)
Group C – Utrecht (NED) VK Sabac (SRB), ASC Duisburg (GER), Vasas Budapest (HUN), EN Tourcoing (FRA), UZSC Utrecht (NED)
Group D – Novi Sad (SRB) BVSC Zuglo (HUN), CN Sabadell (ESP), Vojvodina Novi Sad (SRB), AE Konstantinoupoleos (GRE)
The top two ranked sides from each group advance.