Women’s Champions League Final Four takeaways

1. CN Sant Andreu’s only loss in this season’s Champions League happened in Athens last October against FTC, when the Spanish side played in the Qualification Round. Since then, they staged a remarkable 10-match winning streak that propelled them to the top of Europe, knocking fellow Spanish rivals Sabadell off their throne.

En route, St Andreu also took revenge against FTC for that defeat, in the semis – fittingly also in Athens, where it had happened seven months ago. Then, once more, they proved they could beat Sabadell when the trophy is decided by a single match.

At home, they lifted the Spanish Cup in the last two editions, defeating their arch-rivals in the final and now they did it again on the biggest stage of all.

St Andreu managed to claim the ultimate prize in their second Final Four appearance. Last year, they took the bronze, now they claimed the gold – a fitting storyline for a fairy-tale.

2. The 2025 Champions League final was an incredible encounter, with one of the most dramatic endings ever seen. St Andreu led only once – when just 2.4 seconds remained on the clock. The winning goal was an unbelievable hit by Queralt Anton, whose shot from distance somehow found its way through a sea of arms and ended up in the net.

St Andreu’s miraculous 3-0 rush in the last few minutes was a fitting finalé to an entertaining game – although painful for the title-holders, who led by three on three occasions, including midway through the third quarter.

Still, a few of the Sabadell players who were part of their 2019 triumph – the Ortiz siblings, Maggie Steffens and Paula Leiton – will recall they won the title in similar fashion six years ago. Back in 2019, Olympiacos were heading to victory at 8-11 up with five minutes remaining, but the Spaniards staged a sensational fight-back, firing in five late unanswered goals to win the title (It was something of a resurrection, and the game was fittingly played on Easter Sunday).

3. Many thought the real final was played on Friday evening between the two giants – Sabadell and hosts Olympiacos. The draw set them on a collision course in the semis and indeed the contest was worthy of any gold-medal bout. It was another thriller – women’s water polo at its best – as Sabadell took the upper-hand in the last few minutes, scoring two goals after 13-13 to reach the final.

Still, as it turned out later, this didn’t provide them an easy route to the trophy, as the queens of Europe were dethroned by the underdogs.

St Andreu’s win prevented Sabadell from adding another illustrious chapter to their glittering history. It could have been a record-tying eighth Champions League crown, which would have put them level with Orizzonte Catania at the top of the all-time rankings. A win for Sabadell would have also meant a third title in a row – something only the Italians have achieved in the past.

A Sabadell three-peat would still have been unique, though, as Orizzonte’s wins came in round-robin tournaments between 2004 and 2006 – so the Spaniards would have been the first team to win three straight Champions League finals. At the same time, Sabadell’s struggles to lift the trophy away from home continue, as six of their seven victories came on Spanish soil (the only exception was their third win, in 2014 in Hungary).

4. Hosts Olympiacos had to settle for the bronze medal – a somewhat painful end to the Greeks’ dreams. They were hoping to repeat their 2022 success, when they went all the way in their home pool (and retained the trophy), but Sabadell halted their run at the first hurdle.

Indeed, Olympiacos were the only team to arrive at the Final Four without a single defeat in this season’s Champions League, even though they were pushed all the way by fellow Greeks Vouliagmeni in the quarters.

They fended off that particular tough challenge and were ready to celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary in style.

Sabadell may have spoilt the party, but it still proved to be a memorable occasion, as the Olympiacos fans, who filled the stands on Friday, gave their team a long – and loud – standing ovation after the semi-final loss. It was a special moment, as it was like they had won the match.

The spectators and players still ended up with something to celebrate, though, as they secured the bronze medal with a great win against Ferencvaros on Saturday.

5. Fradi arrived in Athens hoping to replicate what their men’s team achieved in 2019, when they stunned their rivals in the Final Eight and lifted the trophy in their first appearance.

Unfortunately for them, it ended very differently, as they suffered back-to-back defeats – which was especially disappointing for the Hungarians as they hadn’t lost any Champions League games in regular time before the Final Four.

At the same time, this result is not something new for a Magyar participant – while Hungary are considered a water polo powerhouse, their female sides are less successful in the sport’s top club competition.

Szentes are still the only Hungarian women’s team to lift the trophy – in 1993 – so, 32 years later, the nation’s wait for another Champions League win continues.

Gergely Csurka for European Aquatics

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