Twelve months after falling in their respective semifinals, FTC-Telekom Waterpolo and Olympiacos SFP have both gone one step further. The two sides, who battled for bronze last year, will now face off for the continental crown after emerging victorious in a pair of dramatic 2025/26 Champions League Women semifinals at the National Pool Complex.

🇭🇺 FTC Telekom 15–14 CN Sant Andreu 🇪🇸 (After Penalties)

Quarter Scores: 1–4, 2–2, 4–3, 4–2 | Shootout: 4–3

Reigning European champions CN Sant Andreu stormed out of the blocks, echoing last year’s semifinal by establishing an identical 1–4 lead in the first period. Elena Ruiz was lethal for the Spaniards, executing a clinical VAR-confirmed strike and capitalising on a penalty just before the buzzer.

Despite stellar defensive play from Sant Andreu’s goalkeeper Martina Terre, Hungary’s “Fradi” chipped away at the deficit. Trailing 7–10 in the final period, FTC staged a relentless comeback. Eleftheria Plevritou netted her fourth goal of the night to pull FTC within one before Noa de Vries squeezed a shot past Terre with just 52 seconds remaining, leveling the match at 11–11 to force a penalty shootout.

After Terre stopped Bea Ortiz’s opening penalty, FTC reserve goalkeeper Alexandra Kiss stepped up to make a critical save against Queralt Anton. Dora Leimeter then converted the final shot to send FTC into their first-ever Champions League final.

🇬🇷 Olympiacos SFP 14–12 Assolim CN Mataró 🇪🇸

Quarter Scores: 4–4, 6–3, 3–4, 1–1

The second semifinal opened as an absolute shootout, with both teams trading goals at an unrelenting pace to finish the first quarter deadlocked at 4–4.

The turning point arrived late in the second period with the score tied at 7–7. Driven by precision perimeter shooting from Eirini Ninou and a dynamic offensive performance by Abbey Andrews, Olympiacos executed a decisive 3–0 scoring run. A final counter-attack goal from Christina Siouti pushed the Greek lead to 7–10, shutting out Mataró for the final five minutes of the half.

Mataró fought back fiercely in the third period. Backed by their international stars, including American sharpshooter Jewel Roemer and Australian center Tilly Kearns, the Spanish side narrowed the gap to a single goal at 9–10. However, clutch goals from Foteini Tricha and Stefania Santa allowed the three-time European champions to keep Mataró at arm’s length, eventually drying up the scoring in a tense defensive fourth quarter to book their spot in the grand final.

📅 Upcoming Schedule

The stage is officially set for the final block of matches at the National Pool Complex:

• Bronze Medal Match: CN Sant Andreu (ESP) vs. Assolim CN Mataró (ESP)
• Champions League Final: FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) vs. Olympiacos SFP (GRE)