There were no surprises in the 2026 Spanish Cup, as Zodiac CN Atlètic Barceloneta once again underlined their dominance in Spanish water polo. The Barcelona club lifted its 22nd Copa del Rey title—and an incredible 14th consecutive crown—after defeating CN Sabadell 11–5 in the final of the Final Eight tournament held in Terrassa.
The latest triumph extended Barceloneta’s extraordinary run in the competition and marked the fifth consecutive Spanish Cup final between Barceloneta and Sabadell, a rivalry that has defined the modern era of Spanish men’s water polo.
Barceloneta cruise to the final
Barceloneta had little trouble reaching the final. Fran Fernández’s side began the tournament with a commanding 19–3 victory over Mediterrani in the quarterfinals, before dismantling Sant Andreu 18–5 in the semifinals. In both matches, the reigning champions showcased their offensive depth and defensive solidity, leaving no doubt about their status as favourites.
Sabadell survive tough route
Sabadell’s path to the final was far more demanding. Their quarterfinal against CN Barcelona developed into one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament.
Barcelona held a 5–2 lead midway through the second quarter, but Sabadell responded with an impressive 8–1 run, turning the match around and building a 10–6 advantage early in the fourth period. With a minute and a half remaining, Sabadell led 12–8, but Barcelona launched a late comeback with three quick goals. Despite the late pressure, Sabadell held on for a 12–11 victory to reach the semifinals.
In the next round, Sabadell defeated host club Terrassa 11–7. The contest was close early in the second half, with Sabadell holding a narrow 6–5 lead midway through the third period. However, Sabadell then scored five consecutive goals to pull away to 11–5, effectively sealing their place in the final.
Strong start decides the final
Barceloneta’s fast start proved decisive in the championship match. The defending champions stormed to a 3–0 lead in the opening quarter, immediately placing Sabadell under pressure.
The teams exchanged goals throughout the middle stages of the match, with Sabadell cutting the deficit to two goals on three occasions, but never managing to close the gap further. With two minutes remaining in the third quarter, Barceloneta led 6–3, before Alejandro Bustos and Unai Biel added goals to extend the advantage to 8–3 heading into the final period.
Barceloneta maintained control in the last quarter, stretching the lead to six goals. The final highlight came ten seconds before the buzzer, when goalkeeper Unai Aguirre scored to set the final score at 11–5, putting the finishing touch on another dominant cup campaign.
Final score
Barceloneta – Sabadell 11:5
(3:0, 2:2, 3:1, 3:2)
Barceloneta: Vigvári 2, Biel 2, Bustos 2, Aguirre 1, Valls 1, Sanahuja 1, Burian 1, Gomilla 1
Sabadell: Barroso 2, Panerai 1, Cabanas 1, Averka 1
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