Last year, FTC-Telekom and Olympiacos Piraeus fell in their respective semifinals at the Champions League Women Final Four. Twelve months on, both teams have gone one step further and will now battle for the title after emerging victorious in the last four. Fittingly, the two sides met in the bronze-medal match a year ago. Fradi prevailed in a dramatic chase, overcoming Sant Andreu in a penalty shootout after fighting back from a three-goal deficit in the fourth period. Olympiacos, meanwhile, defeated the other Spanish contenders, Mataro. A decisive 3-0 rush after the score stood at 7-7, just before half-time, proved crucial and the Greeks successfully resisted their rivals’ comeback attempts thereafter. A key penalty save in the fourth period ultimately sealed the outcome as the three-time champions secured their place in the final.
2025/26 Champions League Women
Final 4, Semifinals
FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 15-14* CN Sant Andreu (ESP)
(1-4, 2-2, 4-3, 4-2, 4-3P)
The reigning champions, Sant Andreu, got off to a flying start against FTC in the first semifinal. Martina Terre produced a fine save to deny Rita Keszthelyi’s effort in the first woman-up and, at the other end, Gisella Farre gained enough advantage to finish and put the Spaniards ahead.
Soon after, Fradi thought they had levelled from a fine counter through Vanda Valyi, but a VAR review revealed Elena Ruiz’s shot, despite what looked like a great save by Boglarka Neszmely, had crossed the virtual line, so instead of 1-1, the scoreboard showed 0-2.
And Fradi’s struggles continued. They missed two more six-on-fives and another counter opportunity, while the Spaniards punished them with a third goal from a ‘re-counter’, via Elena Ruiz.
With 13 seconds left in the opening period, FTC’s Szonja Kuna finally broke the ice from their next extra, but there was still enough time for the title-holders to force a penalty and Elena Ruiz buried it with 0.9 seconds remaining.
It brought back memories of last season’s semifinals between the same two sides, when Sant Andreu had also stormed into a 1-4 lead inside eight minutes and never looked back.
At the start of the second period, Dora Leimeter pulled one back from another woman-up, but Queralt Anton responded by beating the buzzer at the end of a six-on-five to make it 2-5.
Dorottya Szilagyi also converted from an extra to keep Fradi within touching distance.
The Hungarians had a chance to move even closer, but a fine block denied Tamara Farkas in a promising action, while Robin Jutte found a way through a forest of arms to restore the three-goal gap at 3-6 with 2:27 to go.
That remained the half-time score. Fradi continued to miss chances, while the Spanish perimeter efforts failed to cause further damage.
Yet, with Terre and her defenders delivering a splendid defensive display, St Andreu were more than happy to keep control of the contest.
The first Spanish block was in place in Fradi’s opening woman-up after the restart, but Keszthelyi reacted quickest to a rebound and tipped the ball in at the post just 27 seconds into the second half.
A poor pass ruined Sant Andreu’s next six-on-five, but a block also denied FTC’s extra and that proved far more costly as Elena Ruiz struck brilliantly from the wing, outsmarting the defence with both precision and composure.
Still, Fradi refused to go away. They hit twice in the space of 36 seconds as Szilagyi and Eleftheria Plevritou both finished counter-like attacks to close the gap to 6-7.
The Hungarians then had a golden opportunity to draw level, forcing an extra after another fast break, but could not convert and Maria Palacio punished them immediately with a perimeter strike to restore the two-goal cushion.
Fradi missed another six-on-five after a time-out, though Plevritou converted the next one. However, Elena Ruiz was simply unstoppable and her fourth goal, a pinpoint finish from the back in a woman-up, handed Sant Andreu a 7-9 lead heading into the last eight minutes.
The Spaniards opened the fourth with yet another excellent finish, this time from Nona Perez on extra, for 7-10, a significant margin given how the game had unfolded.
Bea Ortiz replied, with a touch of fortune, pushing the ball home from close range after a rebound in a six-on-five. Then VAR took centre stage again.
A Spanish goal was disallowed as the ball left the shooter’s hand after the buzzer, while Plevritou reduced the deficit to a single goal from yet another extra.
A 2m violation ended Sant Andreu’s next six-on-five, but Terre came up with another important save to keep out Plevritou’s next attempt before Perez once more found the target from distance for 9-11.
Fradi missed an extra, then successfully killed a crucial woman-down before Plevritou – who else? – converted another extra for her fourth goal of the evening.
A crucial block denied Sant Andreu what looked like a match-winning opportunity in a six-on-five and, with 52 seconds remaining, Noa de Vries somehow squeezed the ball through Terre’s hands from close range, on extra, to level the score for the first time since 0-0.
Neither side could find a winner in the remaining seconds, sending the opening semifinal to penalties.
Both goalkeepers opened the shootout with saves – Terre denying fellow Spaniard Ortiz – but thereafter the shooters took control.
Then came Alexandra Kiss. The reserve goalkeeper for Fradi stepped up with a decisive stop on Queralt Anton’s attempt, leaving Leimeter with the chance to send FTC into history.
She made no mistake, firing home the winning penalty and booking FTC’s place in their first-ever Champions League final.
Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) 12-14 Olympiacos SFP (GRE)
(4-4, 3-6, 4-3, 1-1)
One goal apiece in the opening 46 seconds set the tone for the second semifinal, which quickly turned into a shooting contest.
Defenders and goalkeepers could barely get a say as the attackers galloped to 4-4 by the end of the first quarter.
Mataro moved ahead from time to time, but Foteini Tricha and Abbey Andrews each struck twice for the Greeks to keep everything level.
Little changed early in the second period as the first four possessions also ended in goals.
Tilly Kearns netted a fine effort from the centre, Eirini Ninou replied from the perimeter, Queralt Bertran answered from action, but Ninou converted a six-on-five for 6-6.
Another goal arrived at each end before Vasiliki Plevritou buried a penalty and Andrews converted an extra 53 seconds later to give Olympiacos a two-goal lead for the first time in the match.
That advantage soon grew to three, as the Greeks successfully killed a woman-down and Christina Siouti finished the ensuing counter for 7-10.
The Spaniards looked stunned, missing another extra, with Olympiacos tightening up defensively and shutting out Mataro during the final five minutes before half-time.
It was quite a turnaround after the Wild West-style shootout that had produced 14 goals before the score reached 7-7.
However, the Greeks could not build further on their 0-3 rush.
After some early battling in the third quarter, Jewel Roemer finally ended Mataro’s eight-minute scoring drought and, just 46 seconds later, Martina Claveria reduced the gap to a single goal at 9-10.
This time it was Olympiacos who were struggling offensively, but Tricha delivered at a crucial moment, converting a six-on-five to provide a major boost.
Soon after, Stefania Santa restored the three-goal cushion with a brilliant finish from the centre for 9-12.
The overseas stars continued to shine. US sharpshooter Roemer fired home a big perimeter effort, but Australian left-hander Williams answered from an extra to keep the gap intact.
Yet Kearns, another Australian in Mataro’s ranks, received a superb pass in a six-on-five and converted to make it 11-13 with 25 seconds left in the period.
In sharp contrast to the opening 10 minutes, which had produced seven goals for each side, the scoring gradually dried up in the second half – and especially in the fourth period.
Andrews missed from an extra that could have restored a three-goal lead for the Greeks, but Mataro squandered even bigger opportunities.
Roemer’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Ioanna Stamatopoulou, then the American’s effort was blocked during a woman-up.
The Spaniards ended up paying a heavy price.
Tricha hit the post during a counter, collected her own rebound and, despite having a defender between herself and the goal, still managed to find the net for 11-14 with 2:25 remaining.
It proved to be the decisive blow.
Clara Espar pulled one back from action immediately afterwards, but Mataro wasted their final opportunity too, a six-on-five after a time-out.
Olympiacos expertly ran down the remaining time to reach yet another final.
The Greeks will now play for the title for the sixth time in the last nine editions, underlining their powerhouse status once again.
