Champions League Women: Epic Sabadell and Olympiacos showdown awaits as quarterfinals begin

The women’s Champions League enters its most cruel phase, the quarterfinals where two legs decide which four teams can go for the trophy, while for the others the journey will end abruptly. The absolute highlight is the clash of seven-time winners Sabadell and Greek giants, 3-time champions Olympiacos – while they have been regular participants in the Final Four in recent years, now only one of them can make the cut.

2025/26 Champions League Women
Quarterfinals, leg 1
Saturday 11 April 2026
(Local times shown)

12.00: Astralpool CN Sabadell (ESP) v Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE)
13.00: Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) v SIS Roma (ITA)
20.00: FTC-Telekom (HUN) v UVSE-Helia D (HUN)
20.30*: Sant Andreu (ESP) v CN Vouliagmeni (GRE)
*To be played Friday 10 April

The big question before the quarterfinals remains the same – is anyone going to stop the Spanish?

It’s a legitimate thing to ask, especially considering the last three editions of the Final Four. In 2023 and 2025, we saw an all-Spanish final, and in 2024, Olympiacos managed to reach the gold medal game – in the company of three Spanish teams.

Now we have the ‘usual suspects’ lining up for the F4 berth from the Mediterranean superpower – 7-time winners Sabadell, the title-holders Sant Andreu and CN Mataro, runners-up three years ago.

Ironically, based on the impressions in the current season, Sabadell seem to have the least chance to make the top flight.

Not only because they are looking more vulnerable than any time in the last couple of years, but they face the Greek giant Olympiacos in the quarters.

Sabadell, having advanced to the final in 11 out of the last 13 F4s, won only two matches in regular time in the Group Stage.

One of the missing years is 2021, when they met Olympiacos at the same stage, in the quarters and fell to the Greeks.

Their most recent clash saw the Spanish side upset Olympiacos in the semis last year, in Piraeus, however, that was then – now Olympiacos look stronger and more composed.

Still, if it’s Sabadell and Champions League, one thing is for sure – one can never count them out.

And they have a Greek player, Athina Giannopoulos, who had to say this before the big match: “The fun time of the season has arrived.

“We are playing in the quarterfinals against Olympiacos. The first game is going to be here at home, we will have the support of our people. I’m very excited. We have been preparing with the team and the coaches all of the season for this game.

“I am sure that if we stick to our plan and stick to the work we have been doing, everything will be just fine.”

“We are to play the first leg of the quarters against a team that has been a leading force in European water polo in recent years” Olympiacos coach Giorgos Doskas said. “It’s a difficult venue, but we are ready to go there, fight for the win, and take the first step toward qualifying for the Final Four.”

Olympiacos’ Christina Siouti thinks defence will be the key in Sabadell: “The first quarterfinal game against Sabadell will be a very demanding match against a very strong team, and we are fully aware of that.

“We need to approach it with absolute seriousness and concentration, especially since it is the first leg away from home.

“We have worked very well in our preparation over the past few days, and we are ready to give our best in the water. Our goal is to go there and secure the win, taking the first step toward qualification.

“The key for us will be defence. We must stay fully focused, disciplined in our game plan, and show the necessary intensity throughout the entire match.”

The other Spanish v Greek clash is just as exciting, even though Sant Andreu and Vouliagmeni might have not made the headlines as many times as the other two sides.

Still, Sant Andreu are the title-holders and Vouliagmeni also have some history in this event, lifting the trophy twice (in 2009 and 2010), though their last F4 appearance dates back to 2019.

While the Spanish stunned everyone last year when they beat Sabadell in the final, this season they are constantly proving that success was not out of the blue.

They have the depth and quality and remained one of the two sides to keep a perfect record in the Group Stage.

At the same time, Vouliagmeni are also keen to deliver upsets, like winning in the home of Ferencvaros (as they did in the previous phase), or to end Olympiacos’ winning streak in the Greek league after 12 years.

In Sant Andreu they are very much aware of the challenge they face.

“This will be a very tough series against a great team that’s performing exceptionally well in the Champions League and is led by a fantastic coach who has the team in top form” coach Javi Aznar said.

“We know we’ll have to play our absolute best if we want to make it to the Final Four. The team is ready and eager to get the series started. These are going to be two thrilling games!”

The Greek camp are also full of optimism. “The match against Sant Andreu is a major challenge for us, as they are the reigning European champions” coach Kiki Liosi said.

“We fully respect their quality, but we have prepared thoroughly and are ready to give our best. We believe in our team and will fight until the very end for the win.”

“Reaching the Champions League Final Four has been one of our goals since the start of the season” Vouliagmeni’s Evangelia Karytsa added.

“We are well prepared, as due to our many consecutive competitive commitments, the team is in excellent form and rhythm.

“We want to return from Spain with the best possible result.”

Mataro were the other team to finish 6/6 in the Group Stage and they are all set to return to the finals after being absent year ago (they were 2nd in 2023 and 4th in 2024).

Italy’s last hope SIS Roma are standing in their way – they have never been part of the show, but a historical F4 debut would require something big from the Italians as they are definitely the underdogs here.

In fact, the once ruling nation of women’s water polo, Italy, saw the last trophy lift back in 2012, by Recco.

“These will be fascinating games to watch and play properly” Roma coach Marco Capanna said. “We’re facing a great team, but we want to reach the Final Four, knowing that no one is happy to face us. Working on every set of all eight quarters will be important.

“We have worked hard to get ready for Saturday’s match and we are very happy to have the opportunity to play this kind of match” Lavinia Papi from Roma said.

“We know that Mataro are a very good team, they have always played hard matches like the one we face, but we will try to do our best.

“The most important thing for us is to be ready from the first second of the match, trying to not waste opportunities. We are sure it will be a very good match.”

Another powerhouse, Hungary, can be sure that it would send one team to Malta this June as Budapest arch-rivals FTC and UVSE have been paired for these quarter-finals.

In fact, these two rule the domestic landscape as they clashed for all the big titles at home (and also in the Euro Cup two years ago).

For a while, UVSE had the upper hand, but last season Fradi turned the tide and now they can look back on a winning streak of six matches.

Even without Rita Keszthelyi, who is sidelined with an injury, FTC are the heavy favourites to make the F4 once more – while UVSE would need something big to make the cut once more after five years.

“A place in the final four of the Champions League is at stake,” Fradi’s Eleftheria Plevritou said. “It’s really important for us this first leg. Of course, it will be a hard and stressful game, especially since we are the two main rivals in Hungary. We are ready and we will fight until the end for this win.”

UVSE coach Marton Benczur commented, “We’re really looking forward to the quarterfinal – it’s great to be back among the top eight teams in the Champions League.

“I don’t think there’s anyone who isn’t aware of how strong an opponent we’re facing, a team whose clear goal is to win the competition.

“Ferencváros have outstanding players in every position and don’t really have any weak points.

“They are clearly the favorites in this match-up, but of course we will do everything we can. It will be a very valuable test for both our players and the team’s development.”

“As we prepare to face Ferencváros, I know we’re up against one of the strongest teams in Europe,” UVSE goalie Szonja Golopencza added.

“Matches like these are what we train for every day. As the goalkeeper for UVSE, my focus is on staying sharp, reading their shooters, and giving my team confidence from the back.

“Ferencváros have incredible attacking power, so communication and discipline in defence will be key for us.

“I’m ready to give everything in the water, make crucial saves, and help the team fight for every possession. We respect our opponents, but we’re not afraid, we’re here to compete and show what we can do.”

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Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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