| Between 6 and 10 May, the Portuguese city will host a historic moment for European rink hockey, bringing together the continent’s best men’s and women’s teams at the Dr. Mário Mexia
Between 6 and 10 May, the city of Coimbra will establish itself as the European capital of rink hockey by hosting the finals of the WSE Champions League, for both men and women. For the first time, the finals of both competitions will take place simultaneously, at the same venue and during the same competitive period, with the Dr. Mário Mexia Multisport Pavilion serving as the epicenter of an unprecedented event in the sport.
In the men’s competition, the Final Eight format returns, bringing together the eight best European clubs in a concentrated format, reviving the competitive format of the 2022/23 season. The reigning European champions, Óquei de Barcelos, lead the Portuguese contingent, accompanied by FC Porto, Sporting CP and SL Benfica. From Spain come historic powerhouses such as FC Barcelona, Reus Deportiu and Deportivo Liceo, whilst Italy will be represented by Hockey Trissino.
The quarter-finals promise high-level competitive clashes, pitting FC Porto against Liceo and Benfica against Reus, with these matches scheduled for the 6th. The following day will see Barcelona face Sporting, and Óquei de Barcelos take on Trissino, in a line-up that promises European ambition.
In the women’s Final Four, SL Benfica takes on the role of the sole Portuguese representative, facing strong Spanish competition comprising Gijón HC, CP Vila-Sana and CP Fraga, teams seeking to succeed HC Palau Plegamans, who were eliminated in the group stage of this edition.
The women’s semi-finals will see SL Benfica take on Gijón HC on 8 May, whilst CP Vila-Sana will face CP Fraga, determining the finalists of a competition that is becoming increasingly competitive and high-profile on the European stage.
The venue for all the decisive matches will be the Dr Mário Mexia Multisport Pavilion, opened in 2005 and with a capacity of 2,239 spectators, which will witness a historic moment by hosting the men’s and women’s final stages simultaneously for the first time. |
