Women’s Euro Cup: group stage kicks off as Trieste visits CN Catalunya

On Saturday, November 8, in the first game of the Women’s Euro Cup group stage (Group D), Pallanuoto Trieste will visit CN Catalunya. The match will take place at the Sant Jordi Pool in Barcelona, starting at 4:00 PM, with referees Anne Grandin (France) and Marieke Van Der Berg (Netherlands). The game will be streamed live on European Aquatics TV, and real-time play-by-play coverage will be provided by Microplustiming.

The team sponsored by Samer & Co. Shipping enters the Group Stage with a high-difficulty challenge. The clear midweek victory over Bogliasco restored confidence among the alabardate (Trieste players), who will, however, have to deal with the setback of Morgan McDowall’s suspension, which will force the New Zealand attacker to miss the next two important league matches. She will nevertheless be regularly in the water on Saturday. “Now our focus must be entirely on Catalunya,” explained coach Paolo Zizza. “We’ll face a tough and well-organized team with several players of international caliber. The mental aspect will be crucial — we’re playing a lot in this period, and we absolutely need to be ready. Plus, there’s the variable of the Spanish fans, who are always very passionate, and a pool we’ll need to adapt to quickly.”

CN Catalunya, led by Javier Belmonte Vidal, currently sits seventh in the Spanish División de Honor Femenina, although in their latest match they came close to upsetting league leaders Sant Andreu. Their standout player is undoubtedly goalkeeper Laura Aarts, one of the best in the world in her position and a bronze medalist at the 2024 Olympic Games with the Netherlands. Keep an eye on 2007-born talent Ona Tarrino and the dynamic New Zealander (formerly of Spandau Berlin) Emmerson Joy Houghton, who has already scored 14 goals this season and is the main offensive reference point for the Barcelona-based side.