final

Zodiac CNAB completed a magnificent run by extending their winning streak to 34 matches, a sequence that culminated in the Champions League trophy after a long 12-year wait. After defeating title-holders FTC in the semis, they edged Pro Recco 17-16 in the highest-scoring final in history, battling back from a three-goal deficit. In the space of 48 hours, they brought down the winners of the previous six editions, making their triumph thoroughly deserved. Earlier, the bronze medal went to FTC, who also showed great resilience. They fought back from two goals down and finished strongly, producing a 7-2 run to overcome Olympiacos. 2025/26 Champions League MenFinal 4, FinalsSaturday 13 June Gold Medal Game Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 17-16 Pro Recco (ITA) (6-6, 5-6, 3-2, 3-2) Bronze Medal Game FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 16-13 Olympiacos SFP (GRE)(5-4, 4-5, 2-2, 5-2) Gold Medal Game Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 17-16 Pro Recco (ITA) (6-6, 5-6, 3-2, 3-2) When CNAB’s Unai Aguirre made his first save in the opening few seconds of the final, experience suggested Recco would find it difficult to beat the Spanish goalkeeper – especially after his team-mates raced into a 2-0 lead. Alberto Munarriz made his first attempt count with a superb lob, before Biel Gomila added a fine goal from the centre. Mateo Iocchi Gratta then found the net after an exclusion and that kick-started Recco’s offence. From that point on, they gave Aguirre little chance, as pinpoint shots repeatedly found their target. The Spaniards managed to keep pace throughout the first period, however, as their own sharpshooters answered with a barrage of goals to produce the highest-scoring opening quarter in a Champions League final, with six goals apiece. It felt as though the first team to string together a couple of saves might gain a decisive advantage. A loose ball during a man-up certainly didn’t help CNAB’s cause as Recco struck twice in 84 seconds to move two goals clear for the first time. Midway through the second period, they had already stretched their lead to three at 7-10 before Marc Valls converted his second man-up opportunity. Fellow Spaniard Alvaro Granados then beat Aguirre on extra to make it 8-11. Still, Barceloneta kept fighting. Gergo Burian and Alessandro Velotto netted back-to-back action goals to cut the deficit to a single goal. Yet CNAB’s defence had no answer to Recco’s six-on-fives, with Francesco Cassia’s strike maintaining their perfect conversion rate at 8-for-8. A fine move and Roger Tahull’s finish from the post brought Barceloneta back to 11-12 by half-time. Even so, this was a very different story for the Spaniards, who had conceded only nine goals against FTC in the semifinals two days earlier. CNAB drew level just 36 seconds into the third period as Unai Biel converted a man-up from the wing for 12-12. What followed was a complete departure from the script. Aguirre produced a save on Rino Buric’s effort from the centre and that gave the Spaniards a huge lift. At the same time, Recco’s confidence began to fade and they failed to score for more than four minutes. Barceloneta took full advantage. Although Gianmarco Nicosia stopped Munarriz’s penalty, a well-worked move found Roger Tahull on the two-metre line during a man-up and he put his side ahead for the first time since 6-5. Condemi ended the Italians’ six-minute scoring drought with a fine finish in a man-up, but CNAB executed their next six-on-five perfectly, with Alejandro Bustos tipping the ball in for 14-13. The Spaniards then killed off a man-down and had an opportunity to double their lead, but Nicosia came up with a big save before Francesco Cassia produced a moment of magic from the centre, a position he rarely occupies. CNAB survived a clear three-on-two situation while a player down and their defensive heroics kept the score locked at 14-14 heading into the final eight minutes. Recco’s shots continued to find blocks and posts in the fourth, while a patient Barceloneta attack earned a penalty. Nicosia saved it, but the rebound fell kindly for the Spaniards, who retained possession, earned a man-up and Biel flashed the ball in for 15-14. Aguirre delivered a crucial stop in the next man-down and CNAB went straight down the other end and earned an exclusion. Following a time-out, they had a chance to move two goals ahead, and after the play developed into a six-on-four, Biel was on target once again. Condemi’s shot then bounced in off Aguirre’s hands during the following man-up, adding another twist to an already gripping contest. CNAB survived the next man-down, but a block also denied the Spaniards in their own six-on-five. Recco attempted to drag the game into a battle of extreme physicality as the Barceloneta players increasingly showed signs of fatigue. Their shots began to lose some sharpness, but through sheer determination they survived another man-down before forcing one of their own. Following a time-out, Burian produced a trademark finish from a near-impossible angle to restore a two-goal lead with 1:39 remaining. Recco responded with full force and Iocchi Gratta’s blistering strike brought them back to 17-16. Then came a turnover foul and a man-up for Recco with 57 seconds left, which also led to the exclusion of CNAB’s Fran Fernandez after a heated reaction to the sequence of calls. However, the Spanish defence produced an enormous effort to end the man-up with a steal. They then had 38 seconds to manage the clock and Valls did everything he could, forcing a corner with 11 seconds remaining. That was all CNAB needed as they closed out the game and completed an outstanding season, extending their winning streak to 34 matches and securing the Champions League trophy for the first time in 12 years. Defeating FTC and Recco, the winners of the previous six editions, within 48 hours is an extraordinary achievement and one that makes this triumph thoroughly deserved. Bronze Medal Game FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) 16-13 Olympiacos SFP (GRE)(5-4, 4-5, 2-2, 5-2) FTC’s current team are not really used to