2023–24 LEN Women's Champions League

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

2023–24 LEN Women's Champions League
Barcelona hosted the Final four.
League	LEN Women's Champions League
Sport	Water polo
Duration	21 September 2023 – 21 April 2024
Number of games	92
Number of teams	24 (from 7 countries)
Finals champions	Astralpool Sabadell (7th title)
Runners-up	Olympiacos Piraeus

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.

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

Format

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

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 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

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

Schedule

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

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

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

• 21–24 September 2023, Budapest, Hungary.

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

• 21–24 September 2023, Mulhouse, France.

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

• 21–24 September 2023, Mataró, Spain.

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

• 21–24 September 2023, Rome, Italy.

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

ZF Eger

Ekipe Orizzonte

SIS Roma

Dunaújváros

Catalonia

Budapest

Mulhouse WP

Athens

Athens teams
Alimos NAC Betsson
Ethnikos Piraeus
Vouliagmeni
Olympiacos Piraeus
Budapest teams
FTC Telekom
UVSE Budapest

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.

Sabadell

Terrassa

Mediterrani

Mataró

Barcelona
Mediterrani
Sant Andreu

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

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

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

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

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. NO Vouliagmeni 21–20 UVSE Budapest

Final four

The Final four was held between 20 and 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

	Semi-finals				Final
	20 April
	CN Sant Andreu	9
					21 April
	Astralpool Sabadell	14
					Astralpool Sabadell	16
	20 April
					Olympiacos Piraeus	10
	Olympiacos Piraeus	16
	Assolim CN Mataró	12
					Third place
					21 April
					CN Sant Andreu	8
					Assolim CN Mataró	7

Semi-finals

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

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

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

• 2023–24 LEN Champions League
• 2023–24 LEN Euro Cup
• 2023–24 LEN Challenger Cup
• 2023 LEN Super Cup
• 2023–24 LEN Women's Euro Cup
• 2023–24 LEN Women's Challenger Cup
• 2023 LEN Women's Super Cup

External links

• Official website
• Official statistics of the tournament
• Official playlist

References

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. "Big changes in European water polo club competitions - LEN - European Aquatics". www.len.eu. June 2, 2023.
5. "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".