| 2022–23 LEN Challenger Cup | |
|---|---|
| League | LEN Challenger Cup | 
| Sport | Water Polo | 
| Duration | 11 November 2022 – 29 April 2023 | 
| Number of games | 35 | 
| Number of teams | 15 (from 11 countries) | 
| Finals champions | |
| Runners-up | |
The 2022–23 LEN Challenger Cup was the inaugural edition of a water polo competition organised by the Ligue Européenne de Natation (LEN). It acts as the third tier, below the LEN Champions League and the LEN Euro Cup. GS Apollon Smyrnis of Greece became the first champions, defeating CN Terrassa of Spain in the final.[1][2]
Creation
In June 2022, LEN announced the introduction of the LEN Challenger Cup. This tournament was designed to help developing countries and club grow and play more European club games.[3][4]
Format
Fifteen teams, who had been eliminated from the Champions League and Euro Cup, were divided into three groups of four and one group of three. The groups were held in one country. At the end of the group stage, the top two teams advanced to the Knockout Stage. In the Knockout Stage, the ties were played in a home and away format.
Composition of teams
(CL: Eliminated in Champions League; EC: Eliminated in Euro Cup).
Schedule
Rounds and dates
| Phase | Round | Round date | 
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | Group Stage | 11–13 November 2022 | 
| Quarter-Finals | First Leg | 24–25 January 2023 | 
| Second Leg | 8–18 February 2023 | |
| Semi-Finals | First leg | 1 March 2023 | 
| Second leg | 22 March 2023 | |
| Final | First Leg | 19 April 2023 | 
| Second Leg | 29 April 2023 | 
Draw
The draw took place on the 26th of October.[5]
Group Stage
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 30 | +10 | 9 | Knockout Stage | — | 15–11 | — | — | ||
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 30 | +12 | 6 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 49 | −5 | 3 | 11–14 | 15–18 | — | — | |||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 44 | −11 | 0 | 9–12 | 6–13 | 18–19 | — | 
| 11 November 2022  17:00  | 
NC Ydraikos  | 
11–14 | Novaky, Slovakia   Referees: Ralf Mueller (GER), Ghislain Dehon (FRA)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 3–4, 3–4, 2–3, 2–2 | |||||
| Suzuki 3 | Goals | Magana 4 | |||
| 11 November 2022  18:30  | 
KVP Nováky  | 
6–13 | Novaky, Slovakia   Referees: Lukasz Krol (POL), Blaz Radonjic (SLO)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 0–1, 1–3, 2–4, 3–5 | |||||
| Tasaj 2 | Goals | Destici 5 | |||
| 12 November 2022  17:00  | 
NC Ydraikos  | 
15–18 | Novaky, Slovakia   Referees: Ralf Mueller (GER), Lukasz Krol (POL)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 4–4, 3–3, 3–8, 5–3 | |||||
| Rompopoulos 7 | Goals | Senemoglu 5 | |||
| 12 November 2022  18:30  | 
KVP Nováky  | 
9–12 | Novaky, Slovakia   Referees: Ghislain Dehon (FRA), Blaz Radonjic (SLO)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 3–3, 2–1, 3–5, 1–3 | |||||
| Bielik 3 | Goals | Lifante 4 | |||
| 13 November 2022  09:30  | 
Tenerife Echeyde  | 
15–11 | Novaky, Slovakia   Referees: Ralf Mueller (GER), Blaz Radonjic (SLO)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 2–3, 5–3, 6–3, 2–2 | |||||
| Lifante, Lopez 4 | Goals | Destici 4 | |||
| 13 November 2022  11:00  | 
KVP Nováky  | 
18–19 | Novaky, Slovakia   Referees: Lukasz Krol (POL), Ghislain Dehon (FRA)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 4–5, 3–5, 7–5, 4–4 | |||||
| Zatovic 5 | Goals | Rompopoulos 7 | |||
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 17 | +11 | 6 | Knockout Stage | — | 16–13 | 12–4 | ||
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 3 | — | — | — | |||
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 26 | −18 | 0 | — | 4–14 | — | 
| 12 November 2022  10:00  | 
CN Terrassa  | 
12–4 | Terrassa, Spain   Referees: Karel Dvoracek (CZE), Alexandros Chatzigoulas (GRE)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 2–0, 4–1, 4–2, 2–1 | |||||
| Baches 4 | Goals | four players 1 | |||
| 12 November 2022  18:00  | 
CN Terrassa  | 
16–13 | Terrassa, Spain   Referees: Robert Prelovsky (SVK), Karel Dvoracek (CZE)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 6–3, 3–3, 4–3, 3–4 | |||||
| Baches 5 | Goals | Gottmaker 3 | |||
| 13 November 2022  10:30  | 
ASA Tel Aviv  | 
4–14 | Terrassa, Spain   Referees: Robert Prelovsky (SVK), Alexandros Chatzigoulas (GRE)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 1–6, 1–4, 1–2, 1–2 | |||||
| Schlein 2 | Goals | Wouters 5 | |||
Group C
- 11–13 November 2022, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 22 | +52 | 9 | Knockout Stage | — | 22–10 | 19–6 | 33–6 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 59 | 36 | +23 | 6 | — | — | 21–6 | 28–8 | |||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 52 | −23 | 3 | — | — | — | 17–12 | |||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 78 | −52 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 
| 11 November 2022  19:00  | 
VK Invictum Sarajevo  | 
17–12 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina   Referees: Oriol Jaumandreu (ESP), Tomas Kaseta (LTU)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 7–5, 3–2, 4–3, 3–2 | |||||
| Hadzic 7 | Goals | Djugum, Cosic 3 | |||
| 11 November 2022  21:00  | 
Enka Istanbul  | 
22–10 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina   Referees: Martin Sand Kristensen (DEN), Maxim Gerasimov (GBR)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 6–2, 6–5, 6–2, 4–1 | |||||
| Baskaya, Obradovic 4 | Goals | Motyl 4 | |||
| 12 November 2022  18:00  | 
VK Invictum Sarajevo  | 
6–19 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina   Referees: Maxim Gerasimov (GBR), Tomas Kaseta (LTU)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 1–7, 0–3, 2–5, 3–4 | |||||
| Hadzic 2 | Goals | Alkan, Kaner 4 | |||
| 12 November 2022  20:00  | 
SKP Kosice  | 
28–8 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina   Referees: Oriol Jaumandreu (ESP), Martin Sand Kristensen (DEN)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 7–1, 4–3, 7–1, 10–0 | |||||
| Orem 6 | Goals | Ganic 3 | |||
| 13 November 2022  09:00  | 
Enka Istanbul  | 
33–6 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina   Referees: Martin Sand Kristensen (DEN), Tomas Kaseta (LTU)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 9–1, 4–1, 11–2, 9–2 | |||||
| Albayrak, Duzenli 7 | Goals | Kojcinovic, Vujkovic 2 | |||
| 13 November 2022  11:00  | 
VK Invictum Sarajevo  | 
6–21 | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina   Referees: Oriol Jaumandreu (ESP), Maxim Gerasimov (GBR)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 4–5, 2–7, 0–5, 0–4 | |||||
| Hadzic 2 | Goals | Dily, Orem 4 | |||
Group D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 20 | +48 | 9 | Knockout Stage | — | 11–10 | — | 37–4 | ||
| 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 28 | +13 | 6 | — | — | — | — | |||
| 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 30 | 42 | −12 | 3 | 6–20 | 11–13 | — | 13–9 | |||
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 68 | −49 | 0 | — | 6–18 | — | — | 
| 11 November 2022  18:30  | 
GS Apollon Smyrnis  | 
11–10 | Kranj, Slovenia   Referees: Robert Horvath (SVK), Eurico Silva (POR)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 5–2, 2–2, 2–5, 2–1 | |||||
| Hernandez 4 | Goals | four players 2 | |||
| 11 November 2022  20:15  | 
Triglav Kranj  | 
13–9 | Kranj, Slovenia   Referees: Alper Ozerengin (TUR), Sander Ransjean (NED)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 3–1, 3–4, 3–3, 4–1 | |||||
| Troppan 5 | Goals | Koska 5 | |||
| 12 November 2022  18:00  | 
GS Apollon Smyrnis  | 
37–4 | Kranj, Slovenia   Referees: Eurico Silva (POR), Sander Ransjean (NED)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 8–1, 11–2, 9–2, 9–0 | |||||
| Myrilos 9 | Goals | Koska 2 | |||
| 12 November 2022  20:15  | 
Triglav Kranj  | 
11–13 | Kranj, Slovenia   Referees: Alper Ozerengin (TUR), Robert Horvath (SVK)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 3–2, 0–5, 4–1, 4–5 | |||||
| Justin 4 | Goals | Hernandez 4 | |||
| 13 November 2022  10:00  | 
SK KVIK Kastrup  | 
6–18 | Kranj, Slovenia   Referees: Eurico Silva (POR), Alper Ozerengin (TUR)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 1–5, 2–2, 2–4, 2–7 | |||||
| Lange 4 | Goals | Andelic, Dzaja 3 | |||
| 13 November 2022  11:45  | 
Triglav Kranj  | 
6–20 | Kranj, Slovenia   Referees: Robert Horvath (SVK), Sander Ransjean (NED)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 5–4, 1–5, 0–5, 0–6 | |||||
| Justin, Lah 2 | Goals | Bogdanovic, Goniotakis Korderas 4 | |||
Knockout Stage
The draw for the Knockout Stage was made on the 20 November 2022.[6]
Bracket
| Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||||||
| 22 | 13 | 35 | |||||||||||||||
| 8 | 8 | 16 | |||||||||||||||
| 11 | 8 | 19 | |||||||||||||||
| 10 | 18 | 28 | |||||||||||||||
| 9 | 16 | 25 | |||||||||||||||
| 5 | 8 | 13 | |||||||||||||||
| 12 | 18 | 30 | |||||||||||||||
| 11 | 14 | 25 | |||||||||||||||
| 16 | 15 | 31 | |||||||||||||||
| 7 | 12 | 19 | |||||||||||||||
| 15 | 12 | 27 | |||||||||||||||
| 12 | 8 | 20 | |||||||||||||||
| 14 | 15 | 29 | |||||||||||||||
| 8 | 16 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Quarter-Finals
| 25 January 2023  20:15  | 
Tenerife Echeyde  | 
22–8 | Tenerife, Spain   Referees: Erkan Turkkan (TUR), Philip Uhlig (GER)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 4–1, 8–1, 3–2, 7–4 | |||||
| Lifante 7 | Goals | three players 2 | |||
| 8 February 2023  20:00  | 
SKP Kosice  | 
8–13 | Kosice, Slovakia   Referees: Spyridon Achladiotis (GRE), Tomi Kavcic (SLO)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 0–2, 3–3, 2–5, 4–3 | |||||
| Haluska, Muzhychuk 3 | Goals | Lopez 5 | |||
Tenerife Echeyde won 35–16 on aggregate
| 25 January 2023  20:00  | 
GS Apollon Smyrnis  | 
9–5 | Athens, Greece   Referees: Sander Ransjean (NED), Vuk Milovic (SRB)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 3–0, 2–1, 3–4, 1–0 | |||||
| Gardikas 3 | Goals | Colak, Destici 2 | |||
| 18 February 2023  20:15  | 
Galatasaray  | 
8–16 | Istanbul, Turkey   Referees: Mihai George Balanescu (ROU), Boris Obradovic (MNE)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 1–4, 2–2, 1–5, 4–5 | |||||
| Acar 3 | Goals | Bogdanovic 4 | |||
GS Apollon Smyrnis won 25–13 on aggregate
| 24 January 2023  19:30  | 
SV Ludwigsburg 08  | 
7–16 | Ludwigsburg, Germany | ||
| Score by quarters: 2–4, 2–3, 1–4, 2–5 | |||||
| Bauer 3 | Goals | Alarcon Tevar 4 | |||
| 8 February 2023  20:00  | 
CN Terrassa  | 
15–12 | Terrassa, Spain   Referees: Haldun Toygarli (TUR), Rajmund Fodor (HUN)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 3–3, 4–3, 6–3, 2–3 | |||||
| Baches, Martinez 4 | Goals | Blazevic, Hernandez 3 | |||
CN Terrassa won 31–19 on aggregate
| 25 January 2023  18:30  | 
Enka Istanbul  | 
14–8 | Istanbul, Turkey   Referees: Julien Bourges (FRA), Levan Berishvili (GEO)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 3–0, 4–4, 2–2, 5–2 | |||||
| Obradovic 6 | Goals | Muller, Wouters 3 | |||
| 8 February 2023  18:00  | 
ZPC Het Ravijn  | 
16–15 | Het Ravijn, Netherlands   Referees: Luca Castagnola (ITA), Alex Marquez (ESP)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 5–3, 3–4, 3–3, 5–5 | |||||
| Loos 6 | Goals | Obradovic 5 | |||
Enka Istanbul won 29–24 on aggregate
Semi-Finals
| 1 March 2023  20:15  | 
Tenerife Echeyde  | 
11–10 | Tenerife, Spain   Referees: Daniele Bianco (ITA), Hajmund Fodor (HUN)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 1–3, 3–1, 4–3, 3–3 | |||||
| Lifante, Lopez 4 | Goals | Gardikas 5 | |||
| 22 March 2023  20:00  | 
GS Apollon Smyrnis  | 
18–8 | Athens, Greece   Referees: Peter de Jong (NED), Veselin Miskovic (MNE)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 6–1, 3–3, 5–2, 4–2 | |||||
| Bogdanovic, Gardikas 4 | Goals | Magana 3 | |||
GS Apollon Smyrnis won 28–19 on aggregate
| 1 March 2023  20:00  | 
CN Terrassa  | 
15–12 | Terrassa, Spain   Referees: Andreja Stanojevic (SRB), Gernot Haentschel (GER)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 5–1, 4–6, 2–3, 4–2 | |||||
| Fernandez 5 | Goals | Ozbek 3 | |||
| 22 March 2023  18:30  | 
Enka Istanbul  | 
8–10 | Istanbul, Turkey   Referees: Gabor Vogel (HUN), Julien Bourges (FRA)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 2–3, 2–2, 3–3, 1–2 | |||||
| Obradovic, Ozbek 3 | Goals | Fernandez 5 | |||
CN Terrassa won 25–20 on aggregate
Final
| 19 April 2023  19:45  | 
GS Apollon Smyrnis  | 
12–11 | Athens, Greece   Referees: Tamas Kovacs-Csatlos (HUN), Julien Bourges (FRA)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 3–2, 3–4, 4–2, 2–3 | |||||
| Bogdanovic, Gardikas 4 | Goals | Fernandez, Tevar 3 | |||
| 29 April 2023  18:00  | 
CN Terrassa  | 
14–18 | Terrassa, Spain   Referees: Raffaele Colombo (ITA), Andreja Stanojevic (SRB)  | ||
| Score by quarters: 3–4, 4–4, 4–7, 3–3 | |||||
| Baches 4 | Goals | Vickovic 5 | |||
GS Apollon Smyrnis won 30–25 on aggregate
| 2022–23 LEN Challenger Cup Champions  | 
|---|
![]() GS Apollon Smyrnis 1st title  | 
See also
References
- ↑ Boado, Carlitos. "Apollon stun Terrassa, claim historical trophy".
 - ↑ "LEN Challenger Cup Season 2022-2023". len-ws.microplustimingservices.com.
 - ↑ Curcic, Ivan (June 16, 2022). "New system of LEN competition for clubs; first Challenger Cup starts in season 2022/23".
 - ↑ Curcic, Ivan (July 18, 2022). "LEN Challenger Cup - opportunity for everyone".
 - ↑ "Teams Ready To Rock In LEN's New Challenger Cup Competition". SwimSwam. October 27, 2022.
 - ↑ Curcic, Ivan (November 20, 2022). "LEN Challenger Cup, quarterfinals draw: Greek-Turkish derby - Total Waterpolo".
 
