Zodiac CNAB are champions of Europe for the second time after defeating Pro Recco 17-16 in a remarkable Champions League final in Malta.
The Spanish champions overturned a three-goal first-half deficit before holding their nerve during a tense finish to claim their first European crown since 2014.
With 33 goals between the teams, it was also the highest-scoring Champions League final in the history of the competition.
Pro Recco appeared to have taken control after moving three goals ahead on two occasions during the second quarter, leading 10-7 and 11-8. However, CNAB remained within touching distance and reduced the deficit to 12-11 before half-time.
The match changed completely after the interval. CNAB strengthened defensively, Unai Aguirre began producing important saves and the Spanish side gradually took control of the contest.
Alberto Munarriz was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after captaining CNAB to the title.
A final full of goals
CNAB made an energetic start and quickly established a 2-0 lead before moving 3-1 ahead.
Recco responded through their extra-player attack, converting each of their opening three man-up opportunities to level the score at 3-3.
Munarriz restored CNAB’s advantage from another six-on-five situation, but Nicholas Presciutti replied immediately as Recco continued their perfect start on the power play.
Francesco Di Fulvio then scored Recco’s first action goal of the match, firing home from distance to give the Italian side a 5-4 lead.
Bernat Sanahuja converted a penalty to make it 5-5 before scoring again to move CNAB back in front. Andrea Fondelli ensured the opening quarter ended level, converting an extra-player opportunity with 17 seconds remaining.
The scoring continued at the beginning of the second period. Presciutti put Recco 7-6 ahead before Di Fulvio doubled the advantage on the counterattack.
Marc Valls reduced the deficit from a power play, but Recco began imposing their rhythm and continued converting man-up chances with extraordinary efficiency.
The Italians opened up three-goal leads at 10-7 and 11-8, threatening to pull away before half-time.
CNAB refused to allow the game to escape them, however, cutting the gap to one on two occasions and entering the interval only 12-11 behind.
Recco had scored from all eight of their extra-player opportunities during the opening half, while CNAB converted five of their seven.
CNAB take control
The final became far more defensive after the restart, and the change of pace suited CNAB.
Aguirre, who had struggled to influence the opening two quarters, began making several crucial saves as the Spanish defence limited Recco’s opportunities.
Roger Tahull and Unai Biel helped CNAB turn the match around. Biel converted a man-up chance to level the score at 12-12 before Tahull added another power-play goal to put CNAB 13-12 ahead.
Between those goals, Recco goalkeeper Gianmarco Nicosia saved a penalty from Munarriz.
Recco did not score in the second half until the 21st minute, when Francesco Condemi converted an extra-player opportunity to make it 13-13.
Sergi Bustos and Matteo Cassia then exchanged goals, leaving the teams tied at 14-14 heading into the final quarter.
Nicosia saved another penalty, this time from Sanahuja, early in the fourth period. However, Recco surrendered possession moments later and CNAB immediately punished them.
Biel scored from the resulting man-up to restore the lead before adding another power-play goal in the 28th minute, moving the Spanish champions 16-14 ahead.
Condemi responded quickly to halve the deficit, but CNAB struck again through Gergely Burian with 90 seconds remaining.
Lorenzo Iocchi Gratta replied just 15 seconds later, reducing CNAB’s advantage to 17-16 and setting up a dramatic conclusion.
Sanahuja was excluded for the third time with 57 seconds left, giving Recco one final opportunity to force a penalty shootout.
However, Bustos produced a crucial steal as CNAB survived the man-down situation.
Nicosia saved Valls’ effort with 11 seconds remaining, but the ball went out for a corner and CNAB retained possession until the final buzzer.
A historic second title
CNAB’s victory completed a remarkable Champions League campaign in which they suffered only one defeat, against Marseille during the group stage.
They overcame the two leading favourites at the Final Four in contrasting circumstances.
After defeating defending champions FTC in a penalty shootout following a low-scoring 9-9 semifinal, CNAB beat record 11-time champions Pro Recco in a 33-goal final.
They achieved the feat without injured Hungarian international Vince Vigvari, the leading scorer in the 2025/26 Champions League.
CNAB have now won both Champions League finals they have contested, following their previous triumph in 2014.
For Recco, it was a ninth runners-up finish in Europe’s leading club competition.
Champions League final
Zodiac CNAB 17-16 Pro Recco
Quarter scores: 6-6, 5-6, 3-2, 3-2
CNAB: 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.
Read more about the Women’s Champions League
Read more about the water polo Champions League
Follow Waterpolo 360 on Facebook, Instagram and X