Teams representing four nations reached the quarters and after the first leg one side of each country has come a bit closer to the Final Four. Sabadell (ESP), three-time winner in recent years got the closest so far.
Last year’s finalists, Spain’s CN Sabadell and Greece’s Olympiacos Piraeus earned multiple-goal advantage respectively before the second leg of the quarters. Sabadell beat Szentes (HUN) more or less decisively. Though the visitors wished to neutralise the Spaniards’ great centre-forward Maica Garcia but they weren’t that successful – Garcia scored 6 goals (the best individual effort in the QFs), helping her side winning 15-10.
Title-holder Olympiacos Piraeus managed to widen the gap step by step against Uralochka (RUS). Although no Italian side qualified to the best eight for the first time in ages, still, the country had something to be proud of as Gulia Emmolo and 2015 LEN Award winner Roberta Bianconi, playing for Olympiacos, led the charge against the Russians, they netted 4 goals apiece. A great game ended in a great 13-10 win for the Greeks who can be optimistic about going through.
In the other Greek–Russian encounter the landscape seemed to be the same after three periods as Vouliagmeni led 9-6 – but it ended absolutely differently. Kinef staged a simply amazing last eight minutes stunning the hosts with a 0-4 rush. Tatiana Zubkova had 4 goals to her name and now Kinef sits in the driving seat (9-10) and keeps its dream alive to win the trophy at last after losing five finals in previous years.
Playing on Thursday, Mataro had the example set by fellow Spanish side Sabadell a day earlier in sight but their opponent, UVSE was definitely stronger than the other Hungarian club. Still, the hosts could hold the Magyars – featuring six freshly crowned European champions in their line-up – on a draw. What’s more, they were close to an upset by coming back from 1-3 and 4-5 down and jumping to a 7-5 lead. UVSE remained ‘silent’ for 10:14 minutes, then with two action goals in 1:41 minutes – one came from Belgrade top scorer Rita Keszthelyi who netted 3 here as well – the visitors levelled the score. They denied two Spanish man-ups in the last minute (7-7) and look for returning to the F4.
Euro League, Quarter-finals, 1st leg
Olympiacos Piraeus (GRE) v Uralochka Zlatoust (RUS) 13-10
CN Sabadell (ESP) v Hungerit-Szentes (HUN) 15-10
Vouliagmeni Athens (GRE) v Kinef Surgutneftegas Kirishi (RUS) 9-10
CN Mataro La Sirena (ESP) v UVSE Budapest (HUN) 7-7
Second legs are due on 27 February.
Winners will play for the Euro League title while the losers will meet in the LEN Trophy Final Four tournament.
