OC Barcelos and Oliveirense joined Valongo in the group stage of the Champions League, whose second and final qualifying stage only excluded HC Braga, relegated to the WSE Cup.
In the revamped Champions League group stage, Portugal will be represented by six teams, with OC Barcelos, Oliveirense and Valongo lining up alongside Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting, who qualify directly, with no need to resolve the qualifying rounds. The list of teams waiting for the rest is completed with the Spanish Liceo and Barcellona, in which there are Hélder Nunes and João Rodrigues, the French Saint Omer and the Italians Sarzana and Trissino, the latter European champion and led by João Mustang Pinto. The Spanish Calafell and Noia and the Italian Forte dei Marmi also pass.
The runner-up, Valongo, confirmed his first place in Group D with the victory over the French La Vendéenne, 2-6, with braces from Miguel Moura and Facundo Bridge. In the service of Lodi, in second place, Filipe Fernandes also entered the group stage.
Oliveirense secured first place in Group A after beating Italian Grosseto with a Lucas Martinez hat-trick and 7-4 at the end. Diessbach, coached by goalkeeper Carlos Silva, ends this second qualifying phase with defeats in all three matches.
In group B, with two Portuguese teams, OC Barcelos passes and HC Braga remains behind, bent on defeat with the Spanish Reus, leader of the poule, for a small goal difference, 2-3, projecting him by virtue into the WSE Cup of third place. While OC Barcelos managed to climb to second place with the victory against the Italian Valdagno, 2-1.
