Wikipedia

2023–24 LEN Women's Champions League

For the equivalent men's tournament, see 2023–24 LEN Champions League.

The 2023–24 LEN Women's Champions League is the 36th edition of the water polo competition organised by the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN). This is the first season under the new changes made by LEN.[1] The defending champions are Astralpool Sabadell.

2023–24 LEN Women's Champions League
Barcelona hosted the Final four.
LeagueLEN Women's Champions League
SportWater polo
Duration21 September 2023 – 21 April 2024
Number of games92
Number of teams24 (from 7 countries)
Finals championsSpain Astralpool Sabadell (7th title)
  Runners-upGreece Olympiacos Piraeus
LEN Women's Champions League seasons

The Spanish side successfully defended their title with a win against Olympiacos Piraeus in the final.[2][3]

Format edit

This season, the format has undergone some changes. After one qualification round (instead of two), sixteen teams will qualify for the main round. For the first time ever, the groups in the main round are held in a home and away format. After the main round, the four groups winners will compete in the final four to decide the winners of the LEN Women's Champions League.[4]

Rankings edit

Starting this season, LEN also started a club rankings. Countries inside the top 6 of the new LEN women's club rankings are eligible to enter teams 5 clubs into the Champions League.[4][5] While countries outside the top 6 can enter their league champion into either the Champions League or Challenger Cup.

Rank[5] Association Points Teams
1   Spain 105,597.5 5
2   Greece 91,125
3   Hungary 84,842.5
4   Italy 76,410 4
5   France 24,127.5 3
6   Russia 53.38 0
7   Netherlands 49.300 1
8   Slovakia 5,145 0
9   Germany 4,620 1
9   Portugal 4,620 0
11   Malta 3,940
12   Israel 2,500
13   Croatia 1,012.5

Teams edit

Alongside the new changes, LEN increased the amount of clubs a country can enter, from 4 to 5. German representative, Spandau 04, was the only club outside the top 6 who decided to enter, starting in the qualifiers. While on the other hand, despite being in the top 6, Russia was banned and Netherlands took the sixth-place spot. All other clubs and countries below the top six entered the 2023–24 LEN Women's Challenger Cup.

Main round
  Olympiacos Piraeus (1st)   ZF Eger (1st)   Ekipe Orizzonte (1st)   Astralpool Sabadell CL (1st)
Qualification round
  Lille UC (1st)   Mulhouse WP (2nd)   Grand Nancy AC (3rd)   Spandau 04 (1st)
  NO Vouliagmeni (2hd)   Ethnikos Piraeus (3rd)   ANC Glyfada (4th)   Alimos NAC Betsson (5th)
  Dunaújváros (2nd)   FTC Telekom (3rd)   UVSE Budapest (4th)   BVSC-Zugló (5th)
  SIS Roma (2nd)   Antenore Plebiscito Padova (3rd)   Pallanuoto Trieste (4th)   ZV De Zaan (1st)
  Assolim CN Mataró (2nd)   CN Sant Andreu (3rd)   CE Mediterrani (4th)   CN Terrassa (5th)

Round and draw dates edit

Schedule edit

Phase Round Round date[6][7]
Qualification round 21–24 September 2023
Main round Matchday 1 7–8 October 2023
Matchday 2 21 October 2023
Matchday 3 4 November 2023
Matchday 4 25 November 2023
Matchday 5 9 March 2024
Matchday 6 23 March 2024
Final four Semifinals 20 April 2024
Final 21 April 2024

Draw edit

The draw was on 10 August 2023.[8] The seeding was decided by the new LEN club rankings.[9] H indicates which club is hosting the groups.

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4 Pot 5

  Dunaújváros
  Assolim CN Mataró (H)
  UVSE Budapest (H)
  Antenore Plebiscito Padova

  NO Vouliagmeni
  CE Mediterrani
  SIS Roma (H)
  FTC Telekom

  ANC Glyfada
  Ethnikos Piraeus
  CN Terrassa
  Lille UC

  BVSC-Zugló
  CN Sant Andreu
  Spandau 04
  Mulhouse WP (H)

  ZV De Zaan
  Grand Nancy AC
  Alimos NAC Betsson
  Pallanuoto Trieste

Qualification round edit

In the qualification round, teams play in a round robin format. The top 3 in every group makes the main round, while the fourth and fifth placed teams in the groups drop down to the 2023–24 LEN Women's Euro Cup group stage.[10][11]

Group A edit

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification   UVSE   ALI   FTC   GLY   SPA
1   UVSE Budapest (H) 4 4 0 0 0 59 34 +25 12 Main round — 12–7 11–9 21–11 15–7
2   Alimos NAC Betsson 4 3 0 0 1 51 43 +8 9 — — — — —
3   FTC Telekom 4 2 0 0 2 55 40 +15 6 — 13–14 — 17–8 16–7
4   ANC Glyfada 4 1 0 0 3 37 63 −26 3 Euro Cup — 9–19 — — 9–6
5   Spandau 04 4 0 0 0 4 29 51 −22 0 — 9–11 — — —
Source: Report
(H) Host

Group B edit

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification   MUL   ETH   MED   TRI   PAD
1   Mulhouse WP (H) 4 4 0 0 0 48 37 +11 12 Main round — 13–10 14–12 10–9 11–6
2   Ethnikos Piraeus 4 2 1 0 1 44 42 +2 8 — — 17–15[a] 12–9 9–7
3   CE Mediterrani 4 1 0 2 1 55 50 +5 5 — — — 17–10 15–17[b]
4   Pallanuoto Trieste 4 1 0 0 3 42 51 −9 3 Euro Cup — — — — —
5   Antenore Plebiscito Padova 4 0 1 0 3 38 47 −9 2 — — — 12–14 —
Source: Report
(H) Host
  1. ^ Match ended 13–13, Ethnikos Piraeus won 4–2 on penalties
  2. ^ Match ended 13–13, Antenore Plebiscito Padova won 4–2 on penalties

Group C edit

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification   MAT   VOU   TER   BVSC   ZAAN
1   Assolim CN Mataró (H) 4 4 0 0 0 68 36 +32 12 Main round — 15–9 20–7 18–9 15–11
2   NO Vouliagmeni 4 3 0 0 1 46 37 +9 9 — — 11–6 12–8 14–8
3   CN Terrassa 4 2 0 0 2 42 57 −15 6 — — — — 16–15
4   BVSC-Zugló 4 0 1 0 3 39 54 −15 2 Euro Cup — — 11–13 — 16–14[a]
5   ZV De Zaan 4 0 0 1 3 45 56 −11 1 — — — — —
Source: Report
(H) Host
  1. ^ Match ended 11–11, BVSC-Zugló won 5–3 on penalties

Group D edit

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification   SAN   ROM   DUN   LIL   NAN
1   CN Sant Andreu 4 4 0 0 0 62 32 +30 12 Main round — — — — 22–3
2   SIS Roma (H) 4 3 0 0 1 48 36 +12 9 9–15 — 9–8 9–8 21–5
3   Dunaújváros 4 1 1 0 2 51 36 +15 5 9–11 — — — 24–6
4   Lille UC 4 1 0 1 2 50 42 +8 4 Euro Cup 11–14 — 10–13[a] — —
5   Grand Nancy AC 4 0 0 0 4 23 88 −65 0 — — — 9–21 —
Source: Report
(H) Host
  1. ^ Match ended 10–10, Dunaújváros won 3–0 on penalties

Main round edit

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams of the 2023–24 LEN Women's Champions League group stage.
  Red: Group A;   Blue: Group B;   Yellow: Group C;   Green: Group D.

The draw took place on 26 September 2023 in Barcelona, Spain.[12] The four group winners advance to the final four.

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.


This is the first time that this round is being held in a home and away format. Five countries are being represented, with Spain boasting the most clubs with five.

class=notpageimage|
Location of Catalonia teams of the 2023–24 LEN Women's Champions League Main Round.
  Red: Group A;   Blue: Group B;
  Yellow: Group C;   Green: Group D.





Seeding

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

  Astralpool Sabadell
  Olympiacos Piraeus
  Ekipe Orizzonte
  ZF Eger

  UVSE Budapest
  Mulhouse WP
  Assolim CN Mataró
  CN Sant Andreu

  Alimos NAC Betsson
  Ethnikos Piraeus
  NO Vouliagmeni
  SIS Roma

  FTC Telekom
  CE Mediterrani
  CN Terrassa
  Dunaújváros

Group A edit

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification   SAN   TER   ORI   ROM
1   CN Sant Andreu 6 5 1 0 0 75 57 +18 17 Final four — 15–9 13–9 10–9
2   CN Terrassa 6 3 0 0 3 59 67 −8 9 6–11 — 10–8 13–10
3   Ekipe Orizzonte 6 2 0 0 4 68 65 +3 6 10–11 15–9 — 16–11
4   SIS Roma 6 1 0 1 4 63 76 −13 4 14–15[a] 8–12 11–10 —
Source: Report
  1. ^ Match ended 10–10, CN Sant Andreu won 5–4 on penalties

Group B edit

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification   SAB   ALI   MUL   DUN
1   Astralpool Sabadell 6 6 0 0 0 91 55 +36 18 Final four — 14–7 18–10 18–12
2   Alimos NAC Betsson 6 3 0 0 3 69 76 −7 9 8–13 — 12–15 14–10
3   Mulhouse WP 6 1 1 0 4 77 94 −17 5 10–19 13–16 — 18–16[a]
4   Dunaújváros 6 1 0 1 4 70 82 −12 4 8–9 11–12 13–11 —
Source: Report
  1. ^ Match ended 15–15, Mulhouse WP won 3–1 on penalties

Group C edit

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification   MAT   ETH   FTC   EGER
1   Assolim CN Mataró 6 6 0 0 0 93 36 +57 18 Final four — 18–8 13–5 18–6
2   Ethnikos Piraeus 6 2 0 1 3 67 83 −16 7 4–13 — 15–13 14–11
3   FTC Telekom 6 2 0 0 4 64 68 −4 6 8–13 12–11 — 18–7
4   ZF Eger 6 1 1 0 4 54 91 −37 5 5–18 16–15[a] 9–8 —
Source: Report
  1. ^ Match ended 11–11, ZF Eger won 5–4 on penalties

Group D edit

Pos Team Pld W PSW PSL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification   OLY   VOU   UVSE   MED
1   Olympiacos Piraeus 6 6 0 0 0 84 47 +37 18 Final four — 12–7 15–8 21–7
2   NO Vouliagmeni 6 3 0 0 3 62 65 −3 9[a] 9–14 — 13–11 14–9
3   UVSE Budapest 6 3 0 0 3 62 62 0 9[a] 6–7 9–8 — 10–7
4   CE Mediterrani 6 0 0 0 6 55 89 −34 0 10–15 10–11 12–18 —
Source: Report
Notes:
  1. ^ a b NO Vouliagmeni 21–20 UVSE Budapest

Final four edit

The Final four was held between 20 to 21 April 2024.[13] The draw was held in Barcelona on 26 March 2024.[14][15] On 12 April, the Nova Escullera pool in Barcelona was announced as the host.[16][17][18]

Bracket edit

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
20 April
 
 
  CN Sant Andreu9
 
21 April
 
  Astralpool Sabadell14
 
  Astralpool Sabadell16
 
20 April
 
  Olympiacos Piraeus10
 
  Olympiacos Piraeus16
 
 
  Assolim CN Mataró12
 
Third place
 
 
21 April
 
 
  CN Sant Andreu8
 
 
  Assolim CN Mataró7

Semi-finals edit

20 April 2024
12:00 		Report CN Sant Andreu   9–14   Astralpool Sabadell Nova Escullera pool, Barcelona
Referees:
Alessia Ferrari (ITA), Michiel Zwart (NED)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 3–6, 3–2, 1–4
Pérez, Ruiz 3 Goals González 5
20 April 2024
14:00 		Report Olympiacos Piraeus   16–12   Assolim CN Mataró Nova Escullera pool, Barcelona
Referees:
Nora Debreceni (HUN), Boris Margeta (SLO)
Score by quarters: 2–2, 3–4, 6–2, 5–4
Elefteriadou 7 Goals Van de Kraats 3

Third place match edit

21 April 2024
12:00 		Report CN Sant Andreu   8–7   Assolim CN Mataró Nova Escullera pool, Barcelona
Referees:
Alessia Ferrari (ITA), Michiel Zwart (NED)
Score by quarters: 1–2, 4–1, 1–2, 2–2
Ruiz 3 Goals Kestzthelyi 3

Final edit

21 April 2024
14:00 		Report Astralpool Sabadell   16–10   Olympiacos Piraeus Nova Escullera pool, Barcelona
Referees:
Alessia Ferrari (ITA), Boris Margeta (SLO)
Score by quarters: 2–1, 5–3, 6–3, 3–3
Giustini 5 Goals Plevritou 3


2023–24 LEN Women's Champions League Champions
 
Astralpool Sabadell
Seventh title

See also edit

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ Spencer-Boyce, James (June 2, 2023). "Changes to European competitions reinforced in Belgrade".
  2. ^ "Sensational Sabadell storm to seventh Champions League title - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu. April 21, 2024.
  3. ^ "CAMPIONES D'EUROPA PER SETENA VEGADA!!".
  4. ^ a b "Big changes in European water polo club competitions - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. June 2, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Women Clubs Country Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. February 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Calendar 2023 - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. December 16, 2022.
  7. ^ "Calendar 2024 - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. March 31, 2023.
  8. ^ Curcic, Ivan (August 10, 2023). "Women's Champions League Qualifications: Hungarian derby in Budapest".
  9. ^ "Women Club Ranking - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. February 20, 2023.
  10. ^ "Women's club season kicks off with spectacles - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. September 20, 2023.
  11. ^ "Mulhouse upsets Padova - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. September 22, 2023.
  12. ^ "Draws for Group Stage in three cup competitions - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. September 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "Olympiacos aiming to spoil the Spanish party - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu. April 19, 2024.
  14. ^ "Water polo draw marathon set to commence in Barcelona - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu. March 25, 2024.
  15. ^ "Draw marathon sets up exciting showdowns - European Aquatics®". www.len.eu. March 26, 2024.
  16. ^ "Una altra cita amb la història de la Champions. L'Assolim busca regnar a Europa. - CN Mataró". www.cnmataro.cat. April 12, 2024.
  17. ^ "Roda de premsa de presentació de la Final Four de la Champions - CN Mataró". www.cnmataro.cat. April 16, 2024.
  18. ^ "CAP DE SETMANA DE CHAMPIONS FEMENINA".
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