Zodiac Atlètic Barceloneta was crowned champion of the 40th edition of the Copa del Rey in Terrassa for the 22nd time in its history and the 14th consecutive time, defeating Club Natació Sabadell 11–5 in the final.
Season after season, Barceloneta solidifies its position as the most dominant force in Spanish water polo. This is a team that knows how to win titles while maintaining the motivation and ambition to keep improving.
The 2025–2026 season marks the first of the “Fran Fernández project,” led by the coach—and former star player—who knows and feels the club inside and out. The team has already won the Catalonia Cup, the Spanish Super Cup, and the King’s Cup. The league and the Champions League remain their primary goals. The best teams on the continent—typically from powerful leagues in countries where the number of licenses and the prominence of water polo are much greater than in Spain—are vying for the European title.
CNAB also won 9-3 in the youth final held alongside the Copa del Rey in Sabadell and is the first champion of this inaugural edition of the Minicopa.
Also worth noting is the women’s team’s outstanding performance this Saturday, March 14, in a truly thrilling match played at the Club against the Polar Bears, corresponding to the first leg of the Euro Cup quarterfinals.
The CNAB players secured a narrow 10-9 victory in an extremely competitive match. After trailing 5-9 at the end of the third period, the team staged a spectacular comeback in the final minutes, displaying grit, intensity, and a remarkable ability to rise to the challenge that left the crowd absolutely captivated.
A highly valuable victory that solidifies the team’s standing in this European competition—which CNAB is competing in for the first time—and demonstrates the growth and ambition of the women’s program.
A historic record
The twenty-two Copa del Rey titles began in 2000 and 2001, continued in 2004, and spanned from 2006 to 2010; then, in 2013, the streak of fourteen consecutive trophies began. Six were won against Sabadell, two against Sant Andreu, two against Terrassa, one against Canoe, one against Mataró, and one against Mediterráneo.
In addition to the Copa del Rey titles, the following titles must be added:
-International: European Cup (Champions League) in 2014, 1 European Super Cup (2014), and multiple third-place finishes in the Champions League (2013, 2015, 2018, 2023, 2025).
-National: 25 División de Honor Leagues, 22 Copa del Rey titles and 20 Spanish Super Cups.
– Regional Titles: 18 Catalan Cups.
Intensity in Barceloneta’s DNA
If there’s one thing that sets this team apart, it’s what could be called “the art of relentless defense.” Complementing the star players on offense, this team’s DNA lies in that defensive intensity even 32 minutes into the game, applying suffocating pressure on the opposing team’s attacks. A style achieved through the participation of world-class players, starting with Unai Aguirre, once again named best goalkeeper of the final, and Unai Biel, recognized as the final’s MVP.
Fran Fernández’s team roster includes: Unai Aguirre, Bernat Sanahuja, Alberto Munárriz, Roger Tahull, Unai Biel, Alex Bustos, Unai Lema, Vince Vigvari, Marc Valls, Gergely Burian, Biel Gomila, Gonzalo Echenique, Alessandro Velot, and Alessandro Velot.
