Champions League Women's Knockout Stage: Ekipe Orizzonte Faces Ferencvaros
The thrill of knockout football is upon us as the first leg of the Women's Champions League quarter-finals kicks off tomorrow. Among the teams competing is Ekipe Orizzonte, the sole Italian side to have made it into the prestigious top eight in Europe. They’ll be going head to head against Ferencvaros, a club that has recently reinstated itself as a top-tier competitor in men’s football and has now set its sights on bolstering its women's squad by signing some of the finest talent in Hungary and beyond.
Leading the charge for Ferencvaros is Valeria Palmieri, captain of Italy’s national team during the recent Paris 2024 Olympics. Palmieri, who spent 14 commendable seasons with Orizzonte, racking up an impressive haul of 6 league titles, 5 Coppa Italia trophies, an Euro Cup, and a Super Cup, has embarked on her first overseas venture after making the transition in the summer. This match carries particular significance for her, especially as her former colleague Tania Di Mario may also feature for Orizzonte, a player who once held the captaincy.
Ferencvaros boasts a formidable lineup with key players including the talented Greek Eleftheriadou, ex-Plebiscito star Vanda Valyi, the left-handed Leimeter, Dutch sensation De Vries, and the prolific scorer Gurisatti. Their strength lies in athleticism, having achieved remarkable consistency this season with 17 victories and a single defeat in the Hungarian league, placing them firmly at the summit, while they secured 16 out of 18 points in the Champions League group stage without a loss.
“It’s going to be brilliant to play the first leg of the quarter-finals at home,” said Bronte Halligan, the Australian standout for Orizzonte. “Ferencvaros has many strong players, but we feel ready and focused for this challenge. We must maintain our alertness and aggression throughout the match, playing as a cohesive unit. If we can achieve that, we could have the opportunity for a memorable game, which is what I’m hoping for us. We’re definitely hoping for a packed pool tomorrow, with all our supporters in the stands, as they always give us a huge boost.”
Women's Champions League - Quarter-Finals - First Leg (Tomorrow, March 22, return leg March 29)
Live streaming available on EuroAquaticsTv.com
SABADELL-ALIMOS (12:30, Quarter 2)
OLYMPACOS-VOULIAGMENI (16:45, Quarter 1)
SANT ANDREU-MATARO (17:30, Quarter 3)
EKIPE ORIZZONTE-FERENCVAROS (17:30, Quarter 4)
Semifinals
WINNER OF QUARTER 1 vs WINNER OF QUARTER 2
WINNER OF QUARTER 3 vs WINNER OF QUARTER 4
