Last year’s runners-up in the ETTU Champions League Women, Metz TT, are ready to begin a new campaign from Stage 2. The French club, seeded No. 2, will compete in Group 2 alongside Italy’s ASD Quattro Mori Cagliari and Poland’s PGE Fibrain KU AZS Politechnika Rzeszów, with two quarterfinal places at stake. “After a strong start to the domestic season, we are eager to kick off our new Champions League journey. Having reached two finals in the past three years, expectations are high among our fans and partners,” said Sport Director Loïc BELGUISE. The French vice-champions once again have their sights set high. “Our immediate goal is to finish among the top two and reach the quarterfinals. Looking further ahead, we aim to qualify for the Final Four,” BELGUISE added. Metz will rely on a powerful lineup led by Charlotte LUTZ (No. 18 in Europe), Egypt’s 17-year-old prodigy Hana GODA (World No. 23), Adina DIACONU of Romania, Sarah DE NUTTE of Luxembourg, Russia’s Mariia TAILAKOVA, and France’s Charlène LESTIENNE. “Our team is even stronger this year with Hana joining us,” said Adina DIACONU. “She’s full of energy and positivity, and she brings a great atmosphere to the group. We’ve won all our league matches so far, but the French League is very competitive this season, so we need to stay focused.” The draw has set up a balanced and demanding group. “Playing against Rzeszów and Quattro Mori will be a real test. Every match will count. We open away in Poland before hosting Quattro Mori in December, and the whole team is excited for this new European adventure,” said BELGUISE. DIACONU added her view on the Champions League challenge: “It’s a tough group. We start as the top seed, but surprises can always happen, in this competition, anything is possible. Berlin remains the team to beat, but if we get the chance, we want our revenge for last season’s final. Step by step, every match will matter.” As for her personal ambitions, DIACONU concluded: “I want to dream big to defend our French League title and reach another ETTU Champions League final. It will be a long, demanding season, but we’re ready to fight.”

On November 11, Last year’s Europe Cup winners, French side Saint-Denis TT 93 will host reigning ETTU Champions League champions ttc berlin eastside in the opening leg of Stage Two, Group 3. Unlike the German powerhouse, which joins the competition directly at this stage, the French club had to earn its place through Stage One. In September in Novi Sad, without Prithika PAVADE, the trio of Jie LI, Hana ARAPOVIĆ, and Agathe AVEZOU topped their group to secure qualification for the next phase. According to coach Qiwen XIAO, the team is now in stronger form: “Our team is in good shape and everyone is healthy. In the French Pro A league we are currently in fourth place, and both Jie and Hana have been performing excellently recently, especially at the European Team Championships. Prithika also played very well in recent WTT events.” Facing the six-time ETTU Champions League winners will be a formidable challenge. “We lost in the group stage last year, so this season our goal is to reach the next round. We know the competition will be tough, especially with strong teams like club from Berlin in our group, but we’ll fight hard in every match. The Champions League is very important for us this season, and we’ll do our best to advance.” Saint-Denis TT 93, who lifted the Europe Cup title in 2021 and 2025, are confident yet realistic. Coach XIAO analyzed her squad’s dynamics: “The atmosphere is very positive, and we’re all looking forward to the upcoming group stage. Our biggest strengths are our team spirit and consistency, though we still want to improve our ability to handle key points under pressure. I’d also like to thank all our supporters; their energy and encouragement make us even more excited and motivated on court.”