OH Leuven has secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Serbian runners-up Bačka Topola in the UEFA Women’s Champions League qualifiers, keeping alive their ambitions of repeating last season’s run to the tournament’s top tier.
Leuven Dominates Bačka Topola in Qualifier Opener
The Belgian side opened their European campaign in convincing fashion at home, dismantling Bačka Topola with four unanswered goals. Conijnenberg broke the deadlock before halftime, netting the opener to settle any early nerves for the hosts. Shortly after the interval, an own goal by the Serbian visitors doubled Leuven’s advantage and effectively put the match out of reach.
Conijnenberg struck again later in the encounter to seal her brace, while substitute Janssen added a fourth to cap off the 4-0 rout. The victory advances Leuven to the mini-tournament final, where a much sterner test awaits against Turkish champions Fenerbahçe.
Fenerbahçe Awaits in the Mini-Tournament Final
Fenerbahçe booked their spot in Saturday’s decisive showdown by defeating Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv 2-1 in their own semifinal fixture. The Turkish champions present the final hurdle for Leuven in this preliminary round. A victory on Saturday would propel the Belgian club into the final qualification phase.
Should Leuven clear the Fenerbahçe hurdle, they will face a two-legged playoff against either another mini-tournament group winner or Sparta Prague. A spot among the 18 teams in the League Phase hangs in the balance, with clubs such as PSV Eindhoven potentially looming in the next bracket.
Building on Last Season’s European Breakthrough
Last May, OH Leuven captured their second Lotto Super League title, securing their entry into the continental preliminary rounds. Their campaign in the format yielded an impressive run, passing through the qualification rounds to reach the 18-team League Phase and subsequently breaking into the top 12. Arsenal ultimately halted their journey in the knockout playoff round, but the campaign established a new benchmark for the club.
While domestic rivals Union SG face an uphill battle in their quest for European qualification after a 3-3 home draw against Norway’s Bodø/Glimt, Leuven has maintained its early momentum. The decisive clash against Fenerbahçe takes place on Saturday, determining whether the Belgian side advances toward another group-stage appearance.
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