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.

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.

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).

+Participating teams VK Banja Luka (CL) VK Invictum Sarajevo (CL) SK KVIK Kastrup (CL) SV Ludwigsburg 08 (EC) GS Apollon Smyrnis (EC) NC Ydraikos (EC) ASA Tel Aviv (CL) ZPC Het Ravijn (CL) KVP Nováky (CL) SKP Košice (EC) Triglav Kranj (EC) CN Terrassa (EC) Tenerife Echeyde (EC) Enka Istanbul (CL) Galatasaray (CL)

Schedule

Rounds and dates

Phase Round Round date Group Stage Group Stage 11–13 November 2022Quarter-Finals First Leg 24–25 January 2023 Second Leg 8–18 February 2023Semi-Finals First leg 1 March 2023 Second leg 22 March 2023Final First Leg 19 April 2023 Second Leg 29 April 2023 Draw The draw took place on the 26th of October.

Group Stage

Group A

11–13 November 2022, Novaky, Slovakia.

Group B

12–13 November 2022, Terrassa, Spain.

Group C

11–13 November 2022, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Group D

11–13 November 2022, Kranj, Slovenia.

Knockout Stage The draw for the Knockout Stage was made on the 20 November 2022. Bracket

Quarter-Finals

Tenerife Echeyde won 35–16 on aggregate

GS Apollon Smyrnis won 25–13 on aggregate

CN Terrassa won 31–19 on aggregate

Enka Istanbul won 29–24 on aggregate

Semi-Finals

GS Apollon Smyrnis won 28–19 on aggregate

CN Terrassa won 25–20 on aggregate

Final

GS Apollon Smyrnis won 30–25 on aggregate

See also 2022–23 LEN Champions League 2022–23 LEN Euro Cup 2022–23 Women's Champions League 2022–23 Women's LEN Euro Cup 2022 LEN Super Cup 2022 Women's LEN Super Cup

References

External links

Detailed report on the LEN Challenger Cup Total Water Polo report on the LEN Challenger Cup