Euro Cup Women: Last eight teams ready to battle as quarterfinals begin

The race for Euro Cup glory resumes this weekend as the quarterfinals kick off across the continent. Pallanuoto Trieste, runners-up in each of the past two seasons, face a tricky away test against Ethnikos OFPF, while 2024 champions Antenore Plebiscito Padova host BVSC Manna ABC. Elsewhere, last year’s semi-finalists ANC Glyfada iRepair welcome EPlus CN Catalunya, while European newcomers Zodiac CNAB aim to continue their impressive debut campaign against Polar Bears.

2025/26 Euro Cup Women
Quarterfinals, Leg 1
Saturday 14 March
(Local times shown)

17:30: ANC Glyfada iRepair (GRE) v EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP)
18:30: Antenore Plebiscito Padova (ITA) v BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)
12:00: Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v Polar Bears (NED)
19:00: Ethnikos OFPF (GRE) v Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)

17:30: ANC Glyfada iRepair (GRE) v EPlus CN Catalunya (ESP)

Group D winners EPlus CN Catalunya and Group B runners-up ANC Glyfada iRepair are both familiar faces in the latter stages of the Euro Cup.

Last season, both sides reached the quarterfinals, where the Greeks overcame domestic rivals Ethnikos after two low-scoring legs that finished 13-8 on aggregate (5-7 away and 6-3 at home).

“We’re really looking forward to facing Catalunya,” said Glyfada’s Zoi Tzortzakaki. “It’s something we’ve been preparing for in training, and we’re ready to follow our coach’s instructions.

“Despite the two previous losses against BVSC in the Group Stage, we believe those games helped us grow and we’ll be more prepared this time.

“We know Catalunya are very experienced, so it will be a tough challenge for us, but we’re excited and fully motivated for Saturday.”

Catalunya, meanwhile, will be aiming to go at least one step further this year after narrowly losing to fellow Spaniards Tenerife Echeyde 20-19 on aggregate (12-12 away and 7-8 at home).

This will be the first meeting between the two sides since they faced each other in the Champions League qualifiers in October 2024, when Glyfada triumphed 13-11 after opening up a 10-6 lead in the first half.

18:30: Antenore Plebiscito Padova (ITA) v BVSC Manna ABC (HUN)

Antenore Plebiscito Padova may have been crowned Euro Cup champions in 2024, but the side that lifted the trophy so memorably in Trieste has undergone several significant changes.

With a new generation of promising youngsters stepping in, the Italians have turned to youth as they look to replicate that remarkable run to the title two years ago.

Standing between Padova and a place in the last four are BVSC Manna ABC, who were one of only two teams to win all four of their Group Stage matches.

“We face a very strong team, which is what we should expect as this is the Euro Cup quarterfinals,” said Padova coach Stefano Posterivo. “We need to play with a firm determination and leave the pool without any regrets.

“It will definitely be a good game to play, and we need to produce a performance we can be proud of.”

History favours the Italians, as the Hungarians lost all their five previous encounters in Europe with Padova dating back to 2017.

Their most recent meeting came during Padova’s triumphant 2024 Euro Cup campaign, when the Italians swept BVSC aside 15-10 in the semi-finals.

“Out of all the possible opponents we could have faced, I think we got the strongest one,” said BVSC coach Gergely Beres. “But we are really looking forward to this first match. I think it will be a close game.

“I hope we can achieve a good result away, which will allow us to secure qualification at home.”

12:00: Zodiac CNAB (ESP) v Polar Bears (NED)

Zodiac CNAB’s debut European campaign has been nothing short of remarkable.

After surging through the qualification rounds, the Spaniards came unstuck away to Padova on the opening day of the Group Stage, losing 13-11, but responded superbly by winning their next three games.

Head coach Chus Martin also masterminded a 13-11 victory over Padova in the return fixture, gaining revenge and securing top spot in Group C.

“We approach these quarterfinals with great excitement,” said Martin. “For us, it is our first participation in Europe and the team is very motivated to reach the semifinals.

“We know how difficult this tie will be. Polar Bears are a team with more international experience than us, and it will be very important to get a good result at home in order to approach the second leg with confidence.”

CNAB were also the most prolific side in the Group Stage, firing in 80 goals – 12 more than second-highest scorers Ethnikos (68) and 13 more than Padova in third (67).

Polar Bears, meanwhile, were the final team to book their place in the last eight. After suffering two defeats to Ethnikos in Group A, they needed home and away victories over Lille in order to advance.

“I expect a very intense match this weekend,” said Polar Bears’ Karen Haksteen. “Spanish teams often play with a lot of speed and creativity, so we’ll need to stay sharp from the very first moment.

“At the same time, these are exactly the kinds of matches you look forward to as a player.”

19:00: Ethnikos OFPF (GRE) v Pallanuoto Trieste (ITA)

Pallanuoto Trieste still have unfinished business in the Euro Cup after ending the past two seasons as runners-up.

Defeats to Padova in 2024 and De Zaan in 2025 denied the Italians the trophy, and the question now is whether they can finally take the final step in 2026.

So far, the signs have been encouraging. Trieste progressed to the last eight with little trouble, their only setback coming in an away loss to eventual group winners Catalunya.

Ethnikos, meanwhile, arrive with strong momentum. Alongside BVSC, the Greeks were the only other team to emerge from the previous round with a perfect record, winning all four of their matches.

They were also the first side to secure a quarterfinal berth and were only seriously tested once in the Group Stage – away to Polar Bears – by which point their focus was already shifting to the knockout phase.

Ethnikos and Trieste have met once before in Europe, three years ago in the Champions League qualifiers, when the Greeks triumphed 12-9 after leading 8-5 at half-time.

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics

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