Malta once again proved to be a lucky charm for Ferencváros, as the Hungarian powerhouse successfully defended their Champions League crown — a historic first time in their rich history.
In a fiercely contested final, the Magyars edged past a determined Novi Beograd side 13-11 to clinch their second title on Maltese soil, while shattering the Serbian club’s dream of lifting the trophy for the first time.
Novi, appearing in their fourth final, were once again left heartbroken as their wait for European glory continues.
Earlier in the day, Barceloneta secured the bronze medal in dominant fashion, routing Marseille 19-9 in the playoff.
A full house and electric atmosphere set the stage for the final, as Malta – hosting the Final Four for a second time – delivered yet another spectacle for the waterpolo faithful.
Around 3,000 passionate fans packed the stands, embracing the drama and intensity of European waterpolo at its finest.
The clash between Ferencváros and Novi lived up to its billing, a titanic showdown worthy of the occasion and the setting.
After some initial tussling, Novi star Nikola Lukic drew first blood in the second with a blast from position four.
Novi’s defence did well in the first man-up but then, Kristian Manhercz sent the ball home from Ferencvaros’ second.
However, the next two numerical advantage for both sides ended up in the net, with Lukic’s close push somehow bouncing off, then, as they were denied the last man-up situation of the first period.
The first quarter ended with the teams level, at 3-3.
As the battle continued in the water, the Hungarians had a healthy five on seven reading of the man-up sets but Lukic was having a field day, ending the early session with four goals as the sides changed ends 5-5 .
In contrast, Novi’s man-up situations didn’t go well in the third session, missing three in four.
The Hungarians took full advantage of the situation to go 10-7 ahead before the young Montenegrin Perkovic threw a lifeline to Novi as the third session ended 10-8 for FTC.
After the break, Krisztián Manhercz came to the fore as he scored his fifth goal early in the last session to restore Ferencvaros’s three-goal cushion.
Novi finally converted a man-up situation after missing two in a row, only to see Marton Vamos make it 12-9.
Angelos Vlahopoulos let a pinpoint shot fly for 12-10. Meanwhile, Manhercz buried his sixth goal of the evening. Martinovic scored for the Serbians.
This boosted their morale before killing another man-up.
At the end, Ferencvaros prevailed, and there were jubilant scenes as they successfully defended the title for the first time in their history.
Earlier on, Barceloneta were back on the podium in an emphatic fashion, dismantling Marseille in a one-sided bronze medal clash.
For Marseille, a bronze would have been a fairytale ending to this historic campaign.
Making their debut in the Final Four, a medal would have surely provided a fitting finale.
But overcoming the Spaniards was always going to be a huge challenge – and Barceloneta made sure of that, defeating the French side for the third time this season after already upending them twice in the Group Stage.
The Spaniards made an explosive start, racing to a commanding 6–2 lead in the opening quarter, with Álvaro Granados spearheading the charge, netting four goals to stun the French defence.
Marseille’s young stars, including Thomas Vernoux and Alexandre Bouet, showed flashes of resistance, but Barceloneta’s firepower was relentless.
Famera, Kopencova, and Vigvari continued to pile on the goals, sealing a resounding 19–9 victory and securing third place in dominant style.
VK NOVI BEOGRAD 11
FERENCVAROS 13
(3-3, 2-2, 3-5, 2-3)
Novi Beograd: M. Glusac, B. Gbadamassi , D. Skoumpakis 1, V. Martinovic 1, M. Cuk , L. Gladovic , D. Vucinic, M. Dimitrijevic, M. Perkovic 1 , A. Vlahopoulos 1, N. Lukic 6, D. Trtovic, F. De Michelis.
Ferencvaros : D. Szakonyi, D. Mandic 1 , K. Manhercz 6, A. Nagy , M. Vamos 1 , E di Somma 1, G. Fekete 2, G. Argyropoulos 1, E. Molnar, V. Vigvari , S. Jansik 1 , M. De Toro Dominguez , S. Vogel.
Refs: Georgios Stavridis (Greece), Raffaele Colombo (Italy).
BARCELONETA 19
MARSEILLE 9
(6-2, 4-1, 6-4, 3-2)
Barceloneta: U. Aguirre, M. Famera Kopencova 3, A. Granados 6, A. Munarriz 1, B. Sanahuija 1, V. Vigvari 2, B. Gomila 1, G. Burian 1 , R. Tahull 1, F. Perrone, U. Biel Lara 2, A. Bustos Sanchez 1, N. Porter.
Marseille: P. Tesanovic, D. Angyal 2, U. Crousillat , V. Spaic. A. Prlainovic 1 , T. Vernoux 2 , M. Larumbe, A, Bouet 1, R. Vernoux 2 , M. Bodegas 1 , P. Vanpeperstraete 1, A. Velotto, A. Hovhannysian.
Referees Michiel Zwart (Netherlands), Frank Ohme (Germany).
