Barceloneta has reached the European throne for the second time in history.
In the final of the 2026 Champions League in Malta, Barceloneta narrowly defeated Pro Recco 17:16 in the highest-scoring Champions League final ever.
The match featured two distinct halves. Pro Recco set the pace early on, establishing a three-goal lead twice in the first sixteen minutes (10:7 and 11:8). However, Barceloneta managed to close the gap before halftime, trailing by just one goal at 11:12. In the second half, Barceloneta found its rhythm, while both teams showcased stronger defensive performances.
This final was Barceloneta’s second appearance in the championship match, and the second victory. Meanwhile, Pro Recco added its ninth silver Champions League medal to its collection but remains the record holder with 11 consecutive titles.
Even though games with high scores have become common due to the new rules in water polo, few could have predicted that the scoring record would be surpassed by the third quarter of the duel in Malta. Previously, the highest-scoring Champions League final was in 2022, when Pro Recco faced Novi Beograd, with a total of 26 goals. After a 13:13 tie, Recco secured the title in a penalty shootout.
The 26th goal in this evening’s final came in the 21st minute when Condemi equalized at 13:13.
There were 25 goals in the 2024 final (Pro Recco – Novi Beograd 14:11).
All in all, the title is well-deserved for Barceloneta. The Spaniards suffered only one loss in the season (to Marseille in the Group Phase) and defeated the two biggest favorites at the Final Four with different tactics. The Spaniards edged Ferencvaros after a penalty shootout in a low-scorin game (9:9), and this evening, downed Pro Recco in a 33-goal game.
Barceloneta’s captain Alberto Munarriz was voted the MVP of the tournament.
Don’t forget, Barceloneta played at F4 without injured Vince Vigvari, the best scorer od the 2026 Champions League.
2026 Champions League Final
(quarters 6:6, 5:6, 3:2, 3:2)
Barceloneta: Burian 3, Biel 3, Tahull 2,Valls 2, Sanahuja 2, Munarriz 2, Velotto 1, Bustos 1, Gomila 1.
Pro Recco: Condemi 3, Iocchi Gratta 3, Di Fulvio 2, Granados 2, Fondelli 2, Presciutti 2, Cassia 2.
Barceloneta started strong, taking an early lead of 2:0 and then 3:1. Pro Recco managed to convert all three of its initial man-up opportunities, leveling the score at 3:3 by the fifth minute. However, Munarriz responded with a goal during a 6-on-5 situation. Recco then forced an exclusion in its next possession and maintained a perfect conversion rate, with Nicholas Presciutti making it 4:4.
In the sixth minute, Recco scored its first action goal of the game when Francesco Di Fulvio launched a shot from a distance, giving his team a 5:4 lead. The scoring gestival continued, and Sanahuja equalized for Barceloneta at 5:5 with a penalty shot. He then put Barceloneta ahead once more, but Recco’s Fondell equalized for Recco with a goal during an extra player situation 17 seconds before the first break.
Recco’s Nicholas Prescutti made it 7:6 early in the second period. After a few missed chances at both ends, Di Fulvio doubled the Italians’ advantage from a counterattack (8:6). Recco’s defense, commanded by Gianmarco Nicosia worked better and better, but Recco’s goalkeeper couldn’t stop a power play shot from Valls (7:8). But Recco imposed its rhythm, and thanks to a fascinating conversion of powerplay shots, the Italians built a 3-goal lead (10:7, 11:8). Barceloneta cut its deficit to one goals twice (10:11 and 11:12)
Recco had eight man-up possessions in the first half and scored as many goals. Barceloneta converted five out of seven man-up shots.
Alberto Munarriz (Barceloneta) Photo by Slobodan Sandic
After the middle break, the final turned into a defensive battle, and that rhythm suited Barceloneta, which imposed its tempo and slowly, steadily moved toward the win.
Barceloneta consolidated its defense in the second half. Unai Aguirre, who had a poor performance in the first 16 minutes, posted one save after another. Biel converted a man-up in the 17th minute to level the score at 12:12. Tahull added another powerplay goal, putting Barceloneta in front, 13:12 (between these two goals, Gianmarco Nicosia saved a penalty shot from Munarriz). Pro Recco got on the scoresheet in the second half only in the 21st minute (Condemi with a man-up for 13:13). Bustos and Cassia exchanged goals until the end of the quarter, and the teams were tied at 14:14 before the final period.
At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Gianmarco Nicosia saved a penalty from Sanahuja, but Recco lost the ball in its next possession, Barceloneta forced an exclusion, and Biel hit the back of the net from a 6 on 5 (15:14). Biel added another powerplay goal in the 28th minute for 16:14, but Condemi replied with an extra player goal immediately.
A minute and a half before the final buzzer, Burian made it 17:15. Fifteen seconds later, Iocchi Gratta halved the gap. Bernat Sanahuja committed a turnover foul with 57 seconds left and received his third personal foul, but Recco wasted that man-up opportunity, Bustos stole the ball, and Barceloneta started its final possession. Nicosia saved a shot from Valls with 11 seconds to go. However, the ball went to the corner, and Barceloneta kept it until the end.
All winners
1963/1964 Partizan Belgrade (YUG)
1964/1965 Recco (ITA)
1965/1966 Partizan Belgrade (YUG)
1966/1967 Partizan Belgrade (YUG)
1967/1968 Mladost Zagreb (YUG)
1968/1969 Mladost Zagreb (YUG)
1969/1970 Mladost Zagreb (YUG)
1970/1971 Partizan Belgrade (YUG)
1971/1972 Mladost Zagreb (YUG)
1972/1973 OSC Budapest (HUN)
1973/1974 MGU Moskow (USSR)
1974/1975 Partizan Belgrade (YUG)
1975/1976 Partizan Belgrade (YUG)
1976/1977 CSK VMF Moscow (USSR)
1977/1978.Canottieri Naples (ITA)
1978/1979 OSC Budapest (HUN)
1979/1980 Vasas Budapest (HUN)
1980/1981 Jug Dubrovnik (YUG)
1981/1982 Barcelona (ESP)
1982/1983 Spandau Berlin (FRG)
1983/1984 Stefanel Recco (ITA)
1984/1985 Vasas Budapest (HUN)
1985/1986 Spandau Berlin (FRG)
1986/1987 Spandau Berlin (FRG)
1987/1988 Sisley Pescara (ITA)
1988/1989 Spandau Berlin (FRG)
1989/1990 Mladost Zagreb (YUG)
1990/1991 Mladost Zagreb (YUG)
1991/1992 Jadran Koteks Split (CRO)
1992/1993 Jadran Koteks Split (CRO)
1993/1994 Ujpest Budapest (HUN)
1994/1995. Catalunya Barcelona (ESP)
1995/1996 Mladost Zagreb (CRO)
1996/1997 Posillipo Naples (ITA)
1997/1998 Posillipo Naples (ITA)
1998/1999 POSK Splitska Banka (CRO)
1999/2000 Becej (YUG)
2000/2001 Jug Dubrovnik (CRO)
2001/2002 Olimpiacos Piraeus (GRE)
2002/2003 Pro Recco (ITA)
2003/2004 Honved Budapest (HUN)
2004/2005 Posillipo Naples (ITA)
2005/2006 Jug Dubrovnik (CRO)
2006/2007 Pro Recco (ITA)
2007/2008 Pro Recco (ITA)
2008/2009 Primorac Kotor (MNE)
2009/2010 Pro Recco (ITA)
2010/2011 Partizan Belgrade (SRB)
2011/2012 Pro Recco (ITA)
2012/2013 Crvena Zvezda Belgrade (SRB)
2013/2014 Barceloneta (ESP)
2014/2015 Pro Recco (ITA)
2015/2016 Jug Dubrovnik (CRO)
2016/2017 Szolnok (HUN)
2017/2018 Olimpiacos Piraeus (GRE)
2018/2019 Ferencvaros Budapest (HUN)
2019/2020 season was canceled
2020/2021 Pro Recco (ITA)
2021/2022 Pro Recco (ITA)
2022/2023 Pro Recco (ITA)
2023/2024 Ferencvaros Budapest (HUN)
2024/2025 Ferencvaros Budapest (HUN)
2025/2026 Barceloneta (ESP)
Titles by clubs – 11: Pro Recco, 7: Mladost and Partizan, 4: Spandau and Jug, 3: Posillipo, Ferencvaros, 2: OSC, Vasas, Jadran Split, Olympiacos, Barceloneta 1: MGU Moscow, CSK VMF Moscow, Canottieri Naples, Barcelona, Pescara, Ujpest, Catalunya, POSK, Becej, Honved, Primorac, Crvena Zvezda, Szolnok.
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