Dominant Performances in Women's CEV Champions League Round 3 First Leg

The first leg of Round 3 in the Women's CEV Champions League 2025 delivered a series of decisive victories, showcasing the strength of teams vying for a spot in the Group Phase. Keeping in mind that the five winners of these matchups will be in the next round, there's everything to play for next week.

FC Porto vs Hidramar Gran Canaria

FC Porto's commanding 3-0 win over Hidramar Gran Canaria sent a clear message that the Portuguese side is not here to make up the numbers. From the first whistle, Porto demonstrated clinical efficiency, with sharp serves and an unrelenting attack that overwhelmed the visitors. Porto’s blockers were exceptional, consistently frustrating Gran Canaria’s efforts to gain any momentum. This dominant performance suggests that Porto is poised to be a serious contender in the return leg.

Skopje vs CSO Voluntari

Romania’s CSO Voluntari made light work of Skopje in a sweeping 3-0 win. Voluntari’s cohesion and composure shone through, as they expertly nullified any threat posed by the North Macedonian side. Skopje struggled to break through Voluntari’s well-structured defense, while Voluntari exploited every gap with precision. The Romanians  now look overwhelmingly favorites to progress.

Herceg Novi vs Budowlani Lodz

Poland’s Budowlani Lodz traveled to Montenegro and left no room for surprises, comfortably winning 3-0 against Herceg Novi. Lodz’s relentless attacking game, coupled with their high success rate on service, left Herceg Novi scrambling for answers. Despite home support and very good moments of play throughout the match, the Montenegrin side was unable to withstand the power and speed of the Polish attack, as Lodz took full control of the game from start to finish. Still all to play for in this dynamic matchup.

Beveren vs Tent Obrenovac

Serbian club Tent Obrenovac managed a 3-1 away win against Belgium’s Beveren, showing their ability to dig deep in a tricky contest. Beveren fought hard to take a set, but Obrenovac’s resilience prevailed. With aggressive hitting and smart play at the net, the Serbian side maintained their composure under pressure, pulling ahead in the decisive moments to secure a crucial victory on foreign soil.

Swisslion Takovo vs Mladost Zagreb

Croatia’s Mladost Zagreb secured a 3-1 win against Swisslion, despite some strong resistance from the Bosnian side. Swisslion managed to take the first set, energizing the crowd, but Zagreb’s experience and tactical discipline ultimately saw them through. 

The first-leg results paint a clear picture: teams like Budowlani Lodz and CSO Voluntari have established themselves as front-runners, while others like Tent Obrenovac and FC Porto will be looking to consolidate their positions in the second legs. With several teams showing their quality early on, next week's matches promise to be thrilling as clubs fight for coveted spots in the group phase.

Each team’s resolve will be tested in the second leg, where margins are slim, and the stakes are high.