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Champions League Men: Five takeaways from the Final 4 in Malta

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1. Fran Fernandez’s first season at the helm of Zodiac CNAB couldn’t have played out any better. He swept every domestic title in Spain before leading his side to Champions League glory, all while overseeing a remarkable 34-game winning streak that stretches back to November. Malta seems to be a lucky charm for newly appointed head coaches. Two years ago, Balazs Nyeki achieved exactly the same feat with FTC-Telekom. What makes the comparison even more astonishing is how closely their paths mirrored one another. In 2024, FTC secured a shootout victory over Novi Beograd in the semifinals before defeating Recco 12-11 in the title match. This year, CNAB also claimed a shootout win against Fradi before edging past Recco in the final, 17-16. Remarkably, they achieved this without Vince Vigvari, who still finished as the competition’s top scorer with 43 goals despite playing two fewer matches than the other leading marksmen. All in all, the next challenge for Fernandez and Barceloneta is clear – retaining the title. Fernandez also became the 11th member of an exclusive club of winners who have tasted Champions League success as a player and coach – he was a member of CNAB’s triumphant team in 2014 and has now also coached them to the title. He joins Ivo Trumbic, Dusko Antunovic, Ozren Bonacic, Paolo de Crescenzo, Veselin Djuho, Marco Baldineti, Igor Milanovic, Giuseppe Porzio, Vjekoslav Kobescak and Sandro Sukno. 2. One number captures Recco’s greatness better than any other – this was their 20th Champions League final, including the round-robin tournaments in the competition’s early years, when they either won the title or finished runners-up. That is almost twice as many appearances as the teams ranked second and third on the all-time list – Partizan Beograd with 11 finals and seven titles, and Mladost Zagreb with 10 finals and seven titles. Recco’s overall record in finals now stands at 11 wins and nine defeats, while this marked the first time they have lost back-to-back Champions League finals, following their defeat in 2024. Scoring 35 goals across two matches at a Final Four tournament is an all-time record, yet they still had to settle for silver. In both the semifinal and final, they made blistering starts, scoring 13 against Olympiacos and 12 against CNAB across the opening two periods. However, their output dipped sharply after half-time. While that was understandable in the semis, given their substantial lead, in the gold medal game it was alarming to see them score just two goals in the third and fourth periods after producing six per quarter in the first half. Of course, CNAB’s defence improved significantly. While Recco converted all eight of their man-ups before the middle break, they managed just three goals from 10 attempts afterwards, which proved to be a key factor in their defeat. 3. Several records were set during the Final Four weekend in Malta. Recco and Barceloneta produced the highest-scoring final in competition history with 33 goals, but perhaps the most remarkable achievement belonged to two outstanding players – Alberto Munarriz and Gonzalo Echenique. Both were part of Barceloneta’s title-winning side in 2014 and, 12 years later, lifted the trophy once again. While Echenique only returned to CNAB for this season, Munarriz fought through those long years with Barceloneta before leading his team back to the summit and claiming the MVP Award. At the same time, it remains somewhat astonishing that the Champions League trophy – and European club glory – continues to elude Spain’s brightest star, Alvaro Granados. He has won gold medals at major international tournaments with the national team and played a leading role in many of his country’s greatest triumphs. At club level, however, his journey has been far more frustrating. After a series of semifinal defeats with Barceloneta, he joined Novi Beograd but could only secure silver in 2023 and bronze in 2024. He was due to play for Recco in 2024/25, but because of the club’s financial hardships, he opted to return to CNAB, where he claimed another Champions League bronze, while Recco lifted the Euro Cup trophy. With the financial situation back on track, Granados finally joined the Italian giants, only to finish as runner-up and watch from the pool deck as his former club Barceloneta celebrated the biggest victory of all on the grand stage. 4. Fradi were just one man-up goal away from reaching another final and challenging for a historic three-peat. CNAB, trailing 8-9 and facing that crucial man-down situation, defended superbly to deny the Hungarians the goal that would have sealed the semifinal. The Spaniards then equalised and won the shootout after suffering penalty defeats in 2023 and 2025, while Ferencvaros had to settle for the bronze medal match. This was unfamiliar territory for the Hungarian side. Since Balazs Nyeki took over as head coach in the summer of 2023, they had reached 10 consecutive finals across the Hungarian league and cup, Champions League and Super Cup – winning all 10. At the 11th attempt, they finally fell short and had to regroup to secure the bronze. They did exactly that. While the result may feel like a setback, one astonishing statistic highlights the levels FTC-Telekom have reached over the past three seasons. Across all competitions, they have played 140 matches and lost only two in regular time – to Olympiacos in April 2024 and Recco in March 2026. A truly formidable side, as defeating them within 32 minutes has been virtually impossible for 98.5 per cent of their opponents. 5. Despite boasting an outstanding line-up and welcoming an excellent coach for this season, Olympiacos were never regarded as genuine title contenders heading into the Final Four. Elvis Fatovic has always prioritised defensive excellence – no one could question the work he did over the previous two years, which ultimately contributed to CNAB’s triumph on Saturday – but Olympiacos’ defensive unit remained more vulnerable than those of the other three Final Four participants. Indeed, their overall Champions League campaign had already reflected

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Champions League Women: Five takeaways from the Final 4 in Malta

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1. In four of the six previous occasions when Olympiacos fought for the women’s Champions League title, they faced Europe’s other dominant force, Astralpool Sabadell. Their first major showdown came in 2015, followed by further high-profile encounters in 2019, 2022 and 2024, while last year they produced an unforgettable semifinal. This season, however, the Greeks eliminated their arch-rivals in the quarterfinals, before going on to beat Mataro in the semis and set up a gold medal clash with FTC-Telekom. Facing Hungarian opposition was nothing new for Olympiacos, who had already battled fellow Magyars UVSE and Dunaujvaros in the Group Stage. As a fun fact, they also defeated both teams on their way to lifting the trophy at the 2021 Final Four. It was only the second time in women’s Champions League history that the final was decided by a penalty shootout, after Kirishi upset Sabadell in 2018. This year’s grand final in Malta was an unusual contest. When the goalkeeping statistics show such a vast disparity – 14 saves to two in Olympiacos’ favour – it would normally point towards a comfortable victory. Instead, the figures highlighted two contrasting elements: FTC’s relentless attacking intensity, reflected by a 41-27 advantage in total shots, and the outstanding form of Ioanna Stamatopoulou. The Greek goalkeeper proved instrumental to Olympiacos’ success, while their attack maintained impressive consistency, scoring 14 goals in both matches. Ironically, Olympiacos’ men’s side also recorded identical scoring numbers in Malta, netting 13 goals in each of their matches, although they ultimately finished fourth. Olympiacos are steadily closing the gap on the competition’s two most decorated clubs, eight-time champions Orizzonte and seven-time winners Sabadell. Since 2015, the Greeks have reached seven finals in 11 editions and have now claimed their fourth title. 2. Although Sabadell were absent from the medal matches for the first time since 2021, two other Spanish contenders remained in the mix. However, neither title holders Sant Andreu nor 2023 runners-up Mataro managed to reach the gold medal match. As a result, it was only the fourth time since Sabadell’s emergence in 2011 – across 15 editions – that no Spanish team featured in the final. The only previous occasions came in 2012, 2017 and 2021. 3. Fradi fans in the stands and watching at home experienced a full range of emotions during the Final Four in Malta. Across the women’s and men’s competitions, FTC featured in three consecutive games that all went to shootouts, keeping their supporters on the edge of their seats throughout. As for the women’s side, they won the first to reach the final, but lost the second, which denied them their first European crown. Competing in only their second Final Four, FTC had to come back from 4-1 deficits against both Sant Andreu and Olympiacos. They almost failed in their first comeback attempt, equalising late in the fourth quarter after trailing throughout. In the final, they turned the tide and appeared to have one hand on the trophy, only to concede twice in the final 80 seconds, reopening the door for Olympiacos to seize the title. Still, Fradi’s women have become every bit as formidable as their men’s side. By the end of the season, they were the only team among Europe’s elite not to lose a single match in regular time across all competitions. They played 33 matches and suffered only two shootout defeats – both against Greek teams: Vouliagmeni on the opening day of the Group Stage and Olympiacos in the final. Every other top side recorded at least one defeat in regular time. 4. One thing remained constant throughout Sant Andreu’s three Final Four appearances over the past three editions – they always faced a fellow Spanish team on the second day – and always won. That brought them the title last year with victory over Sabadell and secured bronze medals in both 2024 and this season after defeating Mataro. Three medals from three Final Four appearances is a remarkable achievement for the Barcelona-based side. This year, they finished third despite not losing a single Champions League match in regular time. Yet after completing a flawless Group Stage campaign, they failed to secure a regular-time victory in their next three matches. Even more intriguingly, both quarterfinal encounters against Vouliagmeni and their semifinal against FTC ended 11-11. They prevailed in the first shootout, but lost the second, denying them the chance to contest back-to-back finals. They responded by gaining immediate revenge on Mataro for their defeat in the Spanish league final. However, this bronze medal appears to mark the end of an era for Sant Andreu in the European elite, as the team will look very different next season. Javier Aznar, the coach who guided the club to the summit, has announced his departure, while several players are also set to leave. 5. Mataro were the only team to arrive in Malta with a perfect 10-0 record. The Spaniards came all the way from the qualification rounds, stringing together 10 consecutive victories in regular time. However, defeats to Olympiacos in the semifinals and Sant Andreu in the bronze medal match consigned them to fourth place – the same position they finished during their previous Final Four appearance in 2024. Still, winning the Spanish title is almost the equivalent of lifting a Champions League trophy, meaning Mataro’s season is anything but a disappointment, even if the final brushstrokes on the overall picture are slightly less harmonious than the rest. Watch all the Champions League action on European Aquatics TV For full Champions League fixtures, results, stats and tables, click here or download the European Aquatics app Stay tuned to the European Aquatics Water Polo social media accounts for more news and live updates on Facebook and Instagram Watch water polo highlights and previews on our YouTube channel Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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Barceloneta secure second Champions League title after edging 33-goal thriller with Recco

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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

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European Aquatics reflects on successful 2025/26 water polo season and announces ambitious plans for the future

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Club and National Federation representatives gathered once again during the Champions League Final Four tournaments in Malta for a special meeting on Friday morning, where European Aquatics leaders and staff members offered in-depth overviews of ongoing activities, recent milestones and ambitious plans for the future. At the start of the meeting, European Aquatics President Antonio Silva provided an overview of European Aquatics’ key activities, including an update on the Action Plan, which focuses on promoting all aquatic disciplines, improving accessibility, ensuring the organisation is fit for the future, and strengthening transparency and good governance. According to the report, water polo has benefitted significantly from these initiatives. Every match across all European Aquatics competitions is now live-streamed, while a new scheduling approach has helped create a much stronger television product. The figures reflect this progress, with viewership increasing dramatically not only across Europe but also in North America and Australia. The continental governing body has also placed special emphasis on increasing the number of officials on pool decks. The EA Academy, which educates referees, delegates and jury table officials, will offer additional intermediate certification clinics this year. Another major milestone is the introduction of coaches’ licensing. Only coaches holding an EA-certified licence can receive team accreditation for European Aquatics events. President Silva also reminded club and federation representatives that EA is a signatory to several initiatives promoting sustainability and athlete safety. In 2025, water polo played a leading role in implementing the Sustainability Charter, with five major events, including the Champions League Final Four in Malta, receiving Gold Level certification. EA Sports Director Apostolos Tsagkarakis presented a series of impressive figures, including a total of 558 matches played across all European club competitions. He noted that every competition delivered an outstanding season and exceeded expectations, adding that “the development of the Champions League clubs has really reached new heights.” At the same time, he stressed that there was still room for improvement and encouraged clubs to focus on even small enhancements that could make a significant difference. TWPC Secretary Matjaz Rakovec unveiled the calendar for next season, which will once again be packed with action as all four competitions in both genders return. Cup winners will continue to be offered the opportunity to compete at the next level – Euro Cup winners in the Champions League, Conference Cup winners in the Euro Cup, and Challenger Cup winners in the Conference Cup – although it remains up to each club to decide whether to accept that opportunity. The Conference Cup will also feature a change to its concluding stage, with a Final Eight replacing the current Final Four format. Regarding the calendar, the early start of the 2027 World Championships on 28 June has pushed the season-ending Champions League Final Four tournaments forward to mid-May. The men’s and women’s events will once again be staged jointly, with the grand finale set to take place from 12-15 May. As tradition dictates, the Super Cup finals will open the new season, with the men’s final scheduled for 30 September and the women’s final following on 3 October. European Aquatics Water Polo Manager Renato Zivkovic delivered a presentation on clubs’ financial obligations and highlighted that EA had reduced fees in order to ease the burden on clubs. “As we understood the financial hardships and wanted to help the clubs,” he said, while also noting that these fees are used to cover the travel expenses of referees and delegates appointed to matches. Mr Zivkovic also highlighted the importance of involving specialist experts in areas such as media, television and marketing, particularly for organising clubs bidding to host European Aquatics events. He also praised the high-quality organisation of the 2026 European Championships in Belgrade and Funchal. Furthermore, the Water Polo Manager outlined the qualification pathway for the 2028 European Championships. Depending on the number of entries, qualification tournaments are scheduled for February 2027, while Division One tournaments will be staged in June 2027. The top eight-ranked teams will join the nations that secured qualification through top-eight finishes at the 2026 European Championships. To conclude the meeting, EA TV Manager Toni Zivkovic and EA Marketing Director Kirill Haller-Goncharov presented the encouraging audience figures generated by the Champions League and the recent European Championships. Live broadcasts were available in 19 European countries, as well as in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Africa. The men’s European Championships attracted an average live audience of two million viewers, up from 850,000 in 2024, while the women’s event also recorded significant growth, increasing from 200,000 to 450,000 viewers. The winter European Championships were also a major success across social media platforms. A presentation by EA Communications Director Nick Davies revealed how the two championships generated more than 170 million engagements. Davies also highlighted the impact of the EA Ambassador programme at major events and noted that, in addition to covering all 558 club competition matches with support from the host clubs, the EA Media Team also provides on-site coverage at every final across all competitions. This extensive coverage generated the largest growth ever recorded across EA’s Meta platforms, with an additional 13,700 followers gained during the current season. Reach and mentions also reached record levels during the European Championships, while the Champions League generated 40.6 million views from the qualification rounds through to the Final Four tournaments. To further strengthen water polo’s promotion, clubs have been invited to use EA’s new digital media hub, designed to improve digital cooperation, streamline asset workflows and increase media visibility. EA partner EPAM has also launched a pilot project aimed at digitalising the game itself through the use of high-tech sensors in balls and caps. The technology will generate real-time data, enhancing both broadcast quality and future promotional activities. Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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Olympiacos crowned champions after dramatic shootout victory over FTC, while Sant Andreu take bronze

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Olympiacos lifted the Champions League Women trophy in Malta on Friday night after a breathtaking final full of twists and turns. The Greeks held a three-goal advantage before FTC-Telekom’s relentless attack roared to life in the third period and helped the Hungarians build a two-goal lead in the fourth. Olympiacos refused to surrender, scoring the final two goals in the last 80 seconds to force a shootout, where reserve goalkeeper Britt van den Dobbelsteen produced three sensational penalty saves to secure the club’s fourth European crown. Earlier, Sant Andreu took home the bronze after edging domestic rivals Mataro in another thriller. 2025/26 Champions League WomenFinal 4, FinalsFriday 12 June Gold Medal Game Olympiacos SFP (GRE) *17-14 FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN)(4-3, 3-2, 3-6, 4-3, 3-0P) Bronze Medal Game Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) 9-11 CN Sant Andreu (ESP)(2-2, 2-4, 3-3, 2-2) Gold Medal Game Olympiacos SFP (GRE) *17-14 FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN)(4-3, 3-2, 3-6, 4-3, 3-0P) Olympiacos began the final in commanding fashion as Abby Andrews and Christina Siouti struck superb perimeter goals in the opening two minutes. The Hungarians, with many players appearing in their first-ever Champions League final, seemed slightly overwhelmed by the magnificent atmosphere created by the two large sets of fans. Both sides missed a woman-up before Noa de Vries opened FTC’s account with a spectacular catch-and-finish from centre. Still, the Greeks continued to roll, with Vasiliki Plevritou converting a six-on-five and Foteini Tricha adding another goal from action for a 4-1 lead. Greta Gurisatti responded immediately with an action goal and, after some fine defending, FTC launched three counterattacks, with only the third resulting in a goal as Gurisatti made no mistake with a penalty. Olympiacos then missed an extra before the buzzer and their advantage was down to a single goal after eight minutes (4-3). FTC could have equalised early in the second period, but missed their first six-on-five, while Siouti’s brilliant lob beat both the expiring shot clock and the goalkeeper for 5-3. Rita Keszthelyi then unleashed a long-range effort before Vasiliki Plevritou restored the Greeks’ two-goal cushion following back-to-back turnover fouls. Still, FTC stayed within touching distance. Their own Plevritou, Eleftheria, also scored from action to make it 6-5. A sequence of hectic exchanges followed and a change in the Hungarian goal – Alexandra Kiss entered after the sixth Olympiacos goal – appeared to affect the Greek shooters, whose efforts increasingly missed the target, including from a six-on-five. FTC, however, could not capitalise despite creating several promising opportunities as Ioanna Stamatopoulou produced save after save, and had reached nine by half-time. She needed to be at her best as the shots-on-target count stood at 14-8 in FTC’s favour at the break. Nevertheless, Olympiacos held a 7-5 lead after Eirini Ninou fired a pinpoint shot under the bar with 41 seconds remaining in the half. The Greeks earned a penalty immediately in the third period to move three goals clear and, after successfully killing another woman-down, appeared firmly in control. Perhaps too firmly, as FTC soon found another gear. Captain Gurisatti caught fire, scoring twice, while Tamara Farkas added another as the Hungarians levelled at 8-8 in the space of just 1:40. Olympiacos called a time-out, but their next six-on-five didn’t even produce a shot. FTC, meanwhile, also called a time-out and converted their own six-on-five, once again through Gurisatti, to take their first lead of the match at 8-9. Aussie ace Andrews responded in style. With her team-mates clearing the path in front of her, the lethal left-hander struck twice in 38 seconds to swing the momentum back in Olympiacos’ favour. Yet Eleftheria Plevritou also delivered a huge finish with 1:29 remaining to make it 10-10. That looked set to be the third-period score as FTC’s final extra was running down. Gurisatti had other ideas, sending an extraordinary curling lob into the net from almost on the sideline to hand FTC a 10-11 lead heading into the final quarter. She doubled the advantage 68 seconds into the fourth from a penalty – her seventh goal of the evening. Ninou replied immediately from a six-on-five, before two minutes of fierce defensive battles followed. FTC missed several chances, while Olympiacos repeatedly turned the ball over in attack, before Andrews found another clean finish to level the score at 12-12 with 4:44 left on the clock. Keszthelyi then bundled in a rebound and, after Andrews sent an effort wide, Bea Ortiz struck from the perimeter to stretch FTC’s lead to 12-14 with 3:20 remaining. Olympiacos struggled to find solutions and Kiss came up with a rare save to deny them. FTC still held a two-goal advantage and had possession of the ball as the final two minutes began. However, the Hungarians became increasingly passive, while Olympiacos forced a woman-up and Andrews arrowed in her fifth goal of the night with 1:20 remaining. Eleftheria Plevritou’s long-range attempt was then comfortably gathered, giving the Greeks a chance to level with 49 seconds left following a time-out. It was not the most composed attack, but with two seconds left on the shot clock they managed to feed the ball into centre and earned another six-on-five. Once again the execution was far from perfect, but Stefania Santa drove to the post from the right wing and somehow dunked the ball home from close range with one second of the attack remaining. The equaliser arrived with just 13 seconds left. FTC opted for a seven-on-six after their second time-out and Plevritou took the final shot, but the blocks held firm and the title would be decided by penalties. And the Olympiacos bench produced the ultimate coaching masterstroke. After spending both the semifinal and final on the bench, reserve goalkeeper Britt van den Dobbelsteen was sent in for the shootout – the same specialist role she fulfils for the European champion Dutch national team. She proved decisive, stopping three penalties in succession from Ortiz, Szilagyi and Plevritou. Olympiacos missed one attempt themselves, but with van den Dobbelsteen shutting the door at the

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Champions League Men: CNAB dethrone FTC, while Recco roar past Olympiacos in semifinals

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Zodiac CNAB ruined FTC-Telekom’s bid for a third successive Champions League title as they forced a shootout, where Unai Aguirre crowned a magnificent performance with his 13th save to end Barceloneta’s semifinal and penalty-shootout curse in one stroke. They will now face Pro Recco, who ruthlessly dismantled Olympiacos’ defence in the opening 10 minutes, effectively settling the second semi by half-time, and then cruised to a record-breaking victory. Their 19-goal haul was the highest ever recorded in a Champions League semifinal. 2025/26 Champions League MenFinal 4, SemifinalsThursday 11 June Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 13-11* FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) (9-9 FT)Pro Recco (ITA) 19-13 Olympiacos SFP (GRE) Zodiac CNAB (ESP) 13-11* FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) (3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 2-3, 4-2P) A 32-game unbeaten run over the last seven months on CNAB’s side, and a third monstrous season featuring two title-winning campaigns in the past two years for FTC-Telekom. Against that stood a semifinal curse for the Spanish side, stretching across six occasions since 2014, plus the painful injury that sidelined key winger Vince Vigvari. Fradi, however, were boosted by the return of Edoardo Di Somma after appendicitis had kept him out for several weeks. The Hungarians created some fine chances early on in Thursday’s first semifinal, but CNAB goalkeeper Unai Aguirre denied Szilard Jansik in a six-on-five before charging out of his cage to make a sensational steal as compatriot Miguel del Toro was about to finish a one-on-one. By contrast, one big chance was enough for CNAB to take the lead after three minutes when Alessandro Velotto found the net from their first man-up. Fradi missed their next opportunity as a block denied Vendel Vigvari, while Soma Vogel also came up with a stop on Bernat Sanahuja’s shot in a man-down. Then, after five minutes, Gergo Fekete broke the ice with a powerful 6m blast to level the game. Di Somma sent the ball wide from FTC’s third six-on-five and Gonzalo Echenique punished that miss with a superb goal from the counter attack. The Italian quickly made amends, though, as his fierce skipshot found the net for 2-2. Vogel and Aguirre both produced fine saves before Velotto unleashed a pinpoint rocket under the bar from the perimeter with just six seconds remaining, handing CNAB a 3-2 lead at the first break. Both goalkeepers came up with big saves from centre-shots before Unai Biel doubled CNAB’s advantage with a classy finish from the left wing during the first six-on-five of the second quarter. Fradi then missed their fourth extra, failing to register a proper shot. Jansik’s drive pulled Fradi back within one, but only briefly. Velotto struck his third goal, again from a six-on-five, to make it 5-3 midway through the period. Di Somma rattled the bar to leave Fradi scoreless from their first five extras, while Krisztian Manhercz’s back-to-back efforts caused little trouble. To further sharpen the contrast, Biel’s pinpoint action shot flew straight into the net as Fradi appeared to be heading into the same kind of trouble as their women’s side the night before at 6-3. Limiting last season’s champions to just three goals in the first half was a tremendous feat by CNAB. Whether they could maintain that level was the million-dollar question. They did almost everything right, but luck deserted them during the seventh man-down as Dusan Mandic’s second attempt took a deflection that left Aguirre stranded. Just 26 seconds later, Vigvari finished off a counter-like attack following a steal, lifting the title-holders’ spirits midway through the third period. The Spaniards then missed two extras, while Manhercz finally converted a clean chance from a man-up to bring Fradi level at 6-6. Fradi had the chance to move ahead, but Aguirre made another fine save. Biel then stunned Vogel with a brilliantly timed perimeter effort 55 seconds before the break, restoring CNAB’s advantage at 7-6 heading into the fourth quarter. After the restart, Manhercz quickly converted the next extra for 7-7. Then Vigvari found himself with a clear shooting opportunity, but Aguirre was equal to it once more. CNAB earned a man-up and after a time-out, Biel struck the bar. At the other end, Fradi also earned an extra, and after their time-out, Stylianos Argyropoulos – who had been unusually quiet – finally found the net. Fradi moved ahead for the first time, but not for long. The Spaniards responded immediately in their next man-up with Biel delivering a brilliant pass into the centre and Roger Tahull tipped it home for 8-8 with 4:37 remaining. Manhercz then attempted an audacious finish from Fradi’s next six-on-five, firing in from an impossible angle on the right wing, but the bar denied him. The Spaniards also earned a man-up, but their sharpness wasn’t the same as in the first half. Fekete took full advantage, finishing the ensuing counter-attack to make it 8-9 with 2:15 left on the clock. With two minutes remaining, CNAB earned another extra. Fran Fernandez sensed it might be their final opportunity and called his second time-out. It made little difference as the horn interrupted play before a shot could be taken. With 1:20 remaining, Fradi earned a six-on-five of their own, and after a time-out they effectively had a match ball. However, Fekete’s close-range effort was sensationally blocked by the defenders. That miss proved painful as Velotto delivered yet another outstanding finish on extra to level the contest 34 seconds from time. Fradi couldn’t create a genuine threat during their final possession, sending the match to penalties. This time, CNAB emerged victorious. Mandic struck the bar with his second-round attempt before Fekete’s penalty was superbly saved by Aguirre. At the other end, the Spaniards converted all of their efforts, giving Vogel no chance and securing a place in the final for the first time since 2014. At the same time, they denied Fradi a historic three-peat. Holding FTC to 4-from-13 in man-ups proved decisive, while Aguirre’s 12 saves and string of heroic interventions were paramount to CNAB’s success. After losing their previous two semifinals in shootouts,

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Champions League Final 4 press conference highlights

Leave a Comment / News, Water Polo / Andy

Amidst picturesque settings, a joint men’s and women’s press conference highlighted the historic event in Malta where the 2026 Champions League Final 4 tournaments will be held together this week. The grand water polo spectacle kicks off with the women’s semis on Wednesday. Two trophies on the table, with the sea and the sunset in the background – Malta is ready to offer another outstanding edition of the Champions League Final 4, and this time, not only with the men’s teams gathering on the wonderful Mediterranean island but the top women’s sides too. To highlight the historic milestone European water polo is witnessing, a joint press conference was held on the eve of the great showcase, featuring both the men’s and women’s Final 4 participants. Honouring the golden rule of ‘Ladies first’ – and the schedule too, as Wednesday will see the two women’s semis – representatives of the women’s Final 4 lined up to share their expectations before the start. Javier Aznar, the coach of title-holders CN Sant Andreu, said they were ready, “and well prepared to fight with the best teams in the finals”. Fellow Spanish boss Dani Ballart, in charge of Mataro, insisted: “We trust in our style, the way we play. Claiming the Spanish title gave us great confidence and we are sure we will try to give our best against Olympiacos in our semfinal.” Georgios Ntoskas commented, “I think all the teams are equal here and all have every chance to grab the title,” the Olympiacos head coach said. Mark Matajsz, coach of FTC, is feeling some good vibes in and around his team. “Last year, when the event was held earlier, we were still ahead of our championship finals, where we were supposed to win for the very first time. “That made all of us a bit anxious, and we were newcomers as well. But now it’s different – we claimed all the domestic titles, our thoughts and focus are solely here, on these last two matches. And it would be really nice to celebrate together with our men’s team at the end.” Fradi’s captain Greta Gurisatti offered a very telling image, “Last season, we were a small, new fish in the big sea. It was already a huge thing for us to be in the Final 4. “This year, I hope, we’re getting ready to be a shark and win a medal.” Mataro’s Clara Cambray, reflecting on their previous campaigns, which ended with second and fourth-place finishes, said, “Our team is more balanced this year. We’re approaching the Olympiacos game like it’s a big final, where we need to come up with our best performance.” The Greeks’ captain Vasiliki Plevritou was on the same page. “I think we’ll have very intense and high-quality games here. “We know each other very well and we’re all aware that we need to play at the highest level to achieve something special.” The men’s finals will welcome back the all-time record holders Pro Recco. After being away last season – after overcoming some financial difficulties, they entered only the Euro Cup, which they lifted at the end – the 11-time champions are here again, ready to rock once more. “We are satisfied with our season so far and expecting a really exciting tournament,” Recco’s coach Sandro Sukno said. “Our semifinal opponents Olympiacos are a really well-organised team, just as all teams here are, so I think both semis will be really interesting.” Olympiacos coach Elvis Fatovic thinks there aren’t many secrets between the teams. “I don’t think we can cause a big surprise to the others. With the exception of Recco, which is yet to finish its national league, all the other sides won their domestic titles quite dominantly and that shows the strength these teams represent.” Asked about the good old days when he became the first senior coach of a very young Sandro Sukno back in Dubrovnik, Fatovic responded with a smile. “Coming from the same place, we know each other very well. I have full respect for him and Recco, but we’ll try to do our best to win this semifinal.” Fran Fernandez was part of many Final 4s as a player and as an assistant coach, but this is going to be his debut as head coach of Zodiac CNAB. The Spaniards are looking to end a 12-year trophy Champions League drought. “We want to win, though we know we’re playing against the champions of the last two seasons. “We’ve played well throughout the season and we’re confident we can ruin FTC’s plans.” Asked about the possible solution to replace injured Vince Vigvari, Fernandez gave this reply, “We cannot replace Vince, it’s not possible. What we can do is believe in our team effort.” CNAB’s captain Alberto Munarriz put the emphasis on the mental part. “We try to remain focused for these last two matches. “This is something we’ve prepared for during the season, but we all know everything we’ve achieved so far doesn’t matter now. What matters is the game in front of us, and we’ll try to bring our best effort to the pool.” As last season’s champions were still travelling to Malta, FTC coach Balazs Nyeki sent this statement to European Aquatics ahead of the press conference, “As we got closer to the Final 4, naturally everyone started thinking more and more about the possibility the team and the club could achieve something great. “I think no matter how much the pressure of defending the title might weigh on the players, we feel it would be an incredible achievement to join the narrow elite represented by Pro Recco and Mladost Zagreb, by winning the Champions League three times in a row. “We’d like to belong to that group as well, and if things go our way, we’d like to continue writing our success story. “At this moment, however, we’re only focused on finding deep inside ourselves that feeling, that hunger for success, which led us to our first Champions

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Champions League Men: Meet the Final 4 teams – Olympiacos SFP

Leave a Comment / News, Water Polo / Andy

Olympiacos celebrated their centennial year in 2025, but their water polo teams, to put it mildly, did not contribute in the way they had hoped. The women’s side hosted the Champions League Final 4 but failed to overcome the tough semifinal challenge posed by Sabadell and had to settle for the bronze medal before later falling to Vouliagmeni in the domestic final. The men’s side at least swept the domestic titles, but that offered only limited consolation after missing the cut for Malta. A year later, the picture looks much brighter. Domestic supremacy has been restored on the women’s side as well, and the Greek giants now have two opportunities to achieve something special on the European stage, with both teams reaching the Champions League Final 4. The men’s road was somewhat bumpier, but whenever they needed to rise to the occasion, they did so in commanding fashion. After changing head coaches in the middle of last spring – a rarity in the club’s history – Olympiacos brought another Croatian to Piraeus in Elvis Fatovic, whose impact at Barceloneta had been significant. He inherited an excellent blend of talented young Greeks and experienced veterans, including captain Konstantinos Genidounias and Ioannis Fountoulis, the last two Mohicans from the golden Olympiacos side that produced one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history by beating Recco in the 2018 final in Genova. During that era, the Greeks enjoyed several outstanding campaigns, reaching three finals in four editions, although they fell short in 2016 and 2019. In a way, it mirrored their first breakthrough on the European stage. They were beaten by Jug in 2001 but lifted the trophy for the first time in club history a year later. Then, after Jug defeated them again in 2016, Olympiacos returned to the summit two years later. However, since that successful spell, European success has been much harder to come by. They suffered a heavy quarterfinal defeat to CNAB in 2021, failed to qualify for the Final 8 the following season and then fell again in the quarterfinals, this time to hosts Novi Beograd, in 2023. There was some improvement in 2024 when they secured the bronze medal, but last season was considered disappointing by Olympiacos standards. Then came the new season and a return to the right path under Fatovic, which was anything but a coincidence. His philosophy, built around discipline at every level, began producing results early on. Olympiacos finished first in the Group Stage despite facing demanding challenges from Mladost, Radnicki and Vasas. They lost only once, in Zagreb, under circumstances many considered debatable. The Quarterfinal Stage provided even more drama. Olympiacos opened with a somewhat surprising defeat away to an in-form Novi Beograd side, despite having beaten the stronger Serbians Radnicki twice in the previous stage. That loss placed them under immediate pressure and, after a heavy defeat in Barceloneta – reminiscent of their difficult quarterfinal against CNAB in 2021, as they conceded 20 goals, something rarely associated with a Fatovic-coached team – their situation began to resemble that of the previous season. This time, however, they responded. A strong home performance against Novi Beograd revived their hopes, followed by another thriller in Brescia, with the eventual shootout victory securing their place in the Final 4. Summing up their journey so far, Elvis Fatovic said: “I would say the first part of the season, during the group stage, was when we played really well. “It was probably the toughest group, with Radnicki, Mladost and Vasas, and we performed at a very high level during that period. “We struggled a little after the European Championship because we had to jump straight into the quarterfinal stage. “That was especially true in the first game in Belgrade, which we played just two days after the Greek Cup final. “However, I personally believe we’ve improved as the season progressed and that we’ve played our best water polo when it’s mattered most. “At the beginning of the season, we had three main goals and so far we’ve achieved them all – winning the Cup, winning the National League and qualifying for the Final 4. “And winning our domestic league was not easy this year. “Now, our objective is not just to participate in the Final 4 in Malta, but to compete for the title. We will try to win it, just like the other three teams in the competition.” On paper, Olympiacos’ Quarterfinal Stage record differs from those of the other Final 4 contenders. They managed only two victories in regular time, while CNAB posted a perfect record and both Recco and FTC finished with five wins. Nevertheless, Olympiacos, built around the core of the Greek national team and featuring two world-class centre-forwards in Konstantinos Kakaris and Dimitrios Nikolaidis, as well as Hungarian world champions Daniel Angyal and Gergo Zalanki, cannot be regarded as underdogs when everything is decided in a single match. Zalanki echoed that sentiment heading into Malta. “We had a very hard road to the Final 4,” he said. “Sometimes we made it more difficult when we couldn’t finish the games how we wanted. So we had to fight till the end to make it to Malta. “We had a few very good games, but I think we never showed the full capabilities of this team. “We had two very hard groups that we had to overcome, and we also passed some teams that absolutely deserve to play in the Final 4. “We’ve been busy preparing for our first game against Recco, and hopefully we’ve done enough to make some plays that can be a surprise for them. “It would be amazing, of course, to win the title, but we have a very hard route to the trophy. First, to beat Pro Recco, and that’s not an easy job. “It could be a very good moment for Olympiacos, because both our men’s and women’s teams will be there and there will be lots of fans. The atmosphere will be amazing.” Goalkeeper Emmanouil

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Champions League men’s and women’s Final 4 press conference details

Leave a Comment / News, Water Polo / Andy

As the excitement builds towards this week’s combined men’s and women’s Champions League Final 4 in Malta, members of the media are set to attend the eagerly awaited press conference at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Floriana at 7pm (local time) on Tuesday evening. The captains and coaches from the qualified teams will be present to share their thoughts on the upcoming historic tournament, which will see the men’s and women’s semifinals and finals played in the same venue on consecutive days for the first time. Representatives of European Aquatics and the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta (ASA Malta) will also be present to discuss the main highlight of the club competition season – the Champions League Final 4 events. The press conference will consist of three parts, with European Aquatics Bureau Member Kyriakos Giannopoulos, President of ASA Malta Karl Izzo and European Aquatics Ambassador Maica Garcia Godoy opening proceedings. All four women’s teams – CN Sant Andreu, Olympiacos SFP, Assolim CN Mataro and FTC Telekom Waterpolo – will then take centre stage, followed by three of the men’s finalists, Zodiac CNAB, Olympiacos SFP and Pro Recco. The men’s FTC team have prepared statements in advance, as the squad is only arriving on the Mediterranean island shortly after the press conference has commenced. Here is the full line-up of coaches and captains attending the press conference on Tuesday evening: Champions League Women Final 4 Olympiacos SFP: Head Coach, Georgios NTOSKAS, Team Captain, Vasiliki PLEVRITOU Assolim CN Mataro: Head Coach: Daniel BALLART SANS, Team Captain: Clara CAMBRAY ALVAREZ FTC Telekom Waterpolo: Head Coach: Mark MATAJSZ, Team Captain: Greta KURUCZ-GURISATTI CN Sant Andreu: Head Coach: Javier AZNAR FERNANDEZ, Team Captain: Maria PALACIO LINDE Champions League Men Final 4 Zodiac CNAB: Head Coach: Fran FERNÁNDEZ, Team Captain: Alberto MUNARRIZ Olympiacos SFP: Head Coach: Elvis FATOVIC, Team Captain: Konstantinos GENIDOUNIAS Pro Recco: Head Coach: Sandro SUKNO, Team Captain: Francesco DI FULVIO FTC Telekom Waterpolo: (Statements will be provided by Head Coach Balazs NYEKI and Team Captain Soma VOGEL) Members of the media can find more information about both Champions League Final 4 tournaments by clicking here

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Champions League Men: Meet the Final 4 teams – Pro Recco

Leave a Comment / News, Water Polo / Andy

Pro Recco are back where they belong – among Europe’s elite, competing once again for the most prestigious trophy in club water polo. After all the hardships the club endured in the summer of 2024, which forced them to compete in the Euro Cup – a competition they eventually won – Recco have launched another brilliant Champions League campaign. Their historical record remains unmatched. They top the all-time rankings with 11 titles and have finished runners-up eight times. That runner-up tally alone exceeds the number of championships won by both Mladost and Partizan, who share second place on the wall of champions with seven titles apiece. Recco’s current numbers are just as astonishing. At home, they have beaten every opponent they have faced so far, while on the European stage only title-holders FTC have managed to defeat them, doing so twice – first in the Super Cup and then in the Quarterfinal Stage. Recco therefore arrive in Malta with a remarkable 40-2 win-loss record across all competitions. They are also the only Final 4 participant yet to defend their domestic league title, as the Italian play-offs will resume after the Final 4, unlike in previous seasons. In fact, between those two defeats, Recco beat FTC in Budapest in the opening round of the Quarterfinal Stage. No other team managed such a dominant performance against the Hungarians as the Italians did that day. It was a commanding four-goal victory, 9-13, and to place that result into an even stronger context, FTC played 138 matches over the last three seasons and lost only twice in regular time – first to Olympiacos in Piraeus in April 2024 and then to Recco this March. Furthermore, in the second defeat to FTC on Day 4, Recco recovered from a six-goal deficit and had a chance to equalise with 15 seconds remaining. Some outstanding defending denied them, before a long-range effort into the empty net by Szilard Jansik sealed a memorable contest. Reflecting on those encounters, Giacomo Cannella said: “We’ve only lost one game at home against FTC-Telekom, but when you face teams of that calibre, one bad game over the course of a season can happen. “The away win in Budapest by such a large margin gave us great confidence in our strength, but at the same time, the return match brought us back down to earth. “A defeat hurts, but it also gives you motivation and plenty of things to work on and improve.” To secure top spot in the group, Recco still had to overcome one final challenge in Zagreb against Mladost. It is telling that Francesco di Fulvio highlighted that victory when asked about the key moments of the season. “The win in Zagreb against Mladost was an important one. Everyone saw us as favourites on paper, but both the players and the coaching staff knew it wouldn’t be that simple. “We had to bounce back after the home defeat against FTC and, despite the absences of Condemi and Iocchi Gratta, two very important players for us, we delivered a great performance.” What makes Recco’s journey even more impressive is the extent of the squad overhaul. Comparing the Euro Cup-winning side with the current roster, almost half of last season’s squad changed during the summer. Head coach Sandro Sukno and President Maurizio Felugo spent a fortnight in Singapore attending World Championship matches to ensure they selected the right reinforcements. Although it was a completely new mix, individual quality quickly began to make the difference before the team’s collective game fully came together. As Sukno explained: “Our journey so far has been a positive one. We came through the first phase and then topped the quarterfinal group without ever really putting qualification in danger. “It was our return to the Champions League after a year away, with many new players to integrate into the squad. “The Champions League is a competition filled with top teams that are always highly competitive, so progressing to the next stage can never be taken for granted.” Of course, when you add Alvaro Granados to a squad already featuring US sharpshooter Max Irving, alongside Francesco di Fulvio and Giacomo Cannella from the old guard, scoring goals is rarely a concern. That allows the focus to shift towards building a defensive identity. And that is exactly what Sukno has done. Recco have once again established their trademark defensive approach, giving opponents nothing for free. Every goal must be earned. They concede very few action goals, often preferring exclusion fouls to allowing clear shooting opportunities, and their compact man-down defence then completes the job. They won all but one crucial match despite regularly facing 18-20 man-up opportunities from opponents. Only FTC managed to outplay them on Day 4, when Recco went through a difficult spell defensively and their attack was unable to compensate, as it often does in domestic competition. Di Fulvio acknowledged this reality. “It’s true that there were a few games where we didn’t really shine, partly because of our preparation and partly because of our domestic league commitments, but there were also some excellent performances where we showed water polo of a very high level.” Now those lessons belong to the past and all attention is focused on the Final 4. “Preparation is going well,” Di Fulvio said. “We’re working hard both physically and tactically because we want to be extremely competitive. “It will be two days of the highest level, with incredibly strong teams involved, and winning would be a statement of how strong and united this club is, both in and out of the pool. “Now our focus is on Olympiacos, because it’s going to be a very tough match.” That much can be taken for granted. Olympiacos have upset Recco more than once in the past. Most memorably in 2018, when Recco hosted the Final Six in Genova, only for the Greeks to produce a tactical masterclass that neutralised the tournament favourites and secured a 9-7 victory. A year later they repeated the

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