Ferencvaros back at the top of Europe, Marseille just off the podium

The 2024–2025 Champions League Final Four, held in Malta, lived up to all expectations.
Between titanic clashes and French hopes, it was Ferencvaros who ultimately returned to European glory, six years after their last triumph. For the Cercle des Nageurs de Marseille, the adventure ended just short of the podium.

A Bittersweet Semifinal for Marseille

The Marseille dream hit a Hungarian wall. Facing European powerhouse Ferencvaros, CN Marseille was immediately overwhelmed by a thunderous Hungarian start, conceding a harsh 3–0 within minutes. Trailing 6–2 at the end of the first quarter, Milos Scepanovic’s men responded with pride, notably through an outstanding performance by Thomas Vernoux (3 goals). But the Hungarian machine, led by the Mandic–Vamos duo, kept control of the game’s tempo.
Final score: 14–11. A logical defeat but not without flair for Marseille, who showed mental toughness and commendable fighting spirit.

In the other semifinal, Serbian side Novi Beograd edged out Barceloneta in a penalty shootout after a draw in regular time. The match had to be decided by penalties, where the Serbs emerged victorious.

Marseille Falls in the 3rd Place Match

Against Barceloneta in the bronze medal match, Marseille had a good shot at claiming a European podium. But the reigning French champions couldn’t shake off their semifinal loss. The same scenario played out in the first quarter, with the Spaniards taking the lead (6–2) after just eight minutes. Less impactful in their play, Marseille couldn’t bounce back, and CNAB surged ahead to a 10–3 lead by halftime.
The game was essentially over, and Barceloneta never looked back, securing third place in the 2024–25 Champions League campaign.

Although they leave without a medal, Marseille can find many reasons to be proud. Reaching the Champions League Final Four two years in a row is an achievement in itself. CN Marseille proved they have what it takes to compete with Europe’s best. The experience gained in Malta will be invaluable for future campaigns.

Thanks to Marseille, French water polo continues to sit at the table of the sport’s elite—and hopefully, this is only the beginning of a new era.

Ferencvaros, Kings of Europe

In the final, Ferencvaros confirmed their dominance by defeating Novi Beograd in a fierce and intense battle. Neck and neck for most of the game, the Hungarians broke away in the third quarter with three goals in under two minutes (7–10).

Final result: 13–11.
With this win, Ferencvaros claims their second Champions League title, following their 2019 triumph. It’s a crowning achievement for a team built around disciplined teamwork, a solid defense, and a goalkeeper, Vogel, who was often unbeatable at key moments.

Results

Ferencvaros – Marseille: 14–11 (6–2, 3–3, 2–2, 3–4)
Ferencvaros scorers: Mandic 2, Manhercz 1, Nagy 2, Vamos 2, Di Somma 1, Argyropoulos 2, Molnar 1, Vigvari 1, Jansik 1, De Toro 1
Marseille scorers: Crousillat 1, Prlainovic 3, Vernoux 3, Marion-Vernoux 1, Bodegas 3

Novi Beograd – CN Barceloneta: 15–14 (3–3, 2–1, 1–3, 4–3, 5–4 in penalties)
Beograd scorers: Skoumpakis 2, Martinovic 2, Cuk 2, Gladovic 1, Dimitrijevic 1, Perkovic 1
Barceloneta scorers: Granados 5, Munarriz 1, Sanahuja 1, Vigvari 1, Burian 2

Barceloneta – CN Marseille: 19–9 (6–2, 4–1, 6–4, 3–2)
Barceloneta scorers: Farera 3, Granados 6, Munarriz 1, Sanahuja 1, Vigvari 2, Gomila, Burian 1, Tahull 1, Biel 2, Bustos 1
Marseille scorers: Angyal 1, Prlainovic 1, Vernoux 3, Marion-Vernoux 2, Bodegas 1

Novi Beograd – Ferencvaros: 11–13 (3–3, 2–2, 3–5, 3–3)
Beograd scorers: Skoumpakis 1, Martinovic 2, Perkovic 1, Vlachopoulos 1, Lukic 6
Ferencvaros scorers: Mandic 1, Manhercz 6, Vamos 1, Di Somma 1, Fekete 2, Argyropoulos 1, Jansik 1

Photo credit – WP Inside