Barceloneta won its 17th Spanish Cup. Today, Barceloneta defeated Barcelona in the final (9:3 ) and clinched its 9th consecutive trophy in this competition.
The Final Eight was played in Barcelona, from Friday to Sunday. The venue was Sant Andreu’s “Pere Serrat” pool.
2020/21 Spanish Cup, Final Eight
Quarterfinals
Barceloneta – Mataro 14:4 (4:0, 3:0, 3:1, 4:3)
Zodiac CNA Barceloneta: Biel 3,Famera 2, Bodegas 2, Larumbe 2, Munarriz 1, Fran Fernandez 1, De Toro 1, Perrone 1, Bustos 1
Quadis CN Mataro: Corbalan 1, Codina 1, Guimaraes 1, Yanez 1.
Catalunya – Sabadell 4:10 (1:4, 2:1, 1:2 ,0:3)
CN Catalunya: Prat 2, Andrade 2.
Astralpool CN Sabadell: Ubovic 3, Cabanas 3, F. Valera 2, Bertran 1, Asensio 1.
Terrassa – Mediterrani 11:7 (2:4, 1:1, 2:2, 6:0)
CN Terrassa: Gutierrez 3, De Lera 3, Alegre 2, Prieto 1, Barroso 1, Chico 1.
CE Mediterrani: Álvaro García 2, Gorría 1, Frigola 1, Corres 1, Roca 1, Guillem García 1.
Sant Andreu – Barcelona 5:11 (2:0, 1:2, 2:5, 0:4)
CN Sant Andreu: Paul 2, Gracia 1, Tenorio 1, Bofill 1.
CN Barcelona: Flores 3, Goma 3, Duric 1, Esteller 1, Delgado 1, Estrany 1, Ramon 1.
Semifinals
Barceloneta – Sabadell 10:8 (3:2, 3:2, 2:3, 2:1)
Barceloneta: Granados 3, Perrone 3, Munarriz 2, Bodegas 1, Aleksic 1.
Sabadell: Cabanas 2, Gabriel 2, Asensio 1, Valera 1, Bertran 1, Ubovic 1.
Terrassa – Barcelona 7:11 (1:4, 2:3, 1:2, 3:2)
Terrassa: Gutierrez 3, Alarcon 1, Barroso 1, Pericas 1, Chico 1.
Barcelona: Flores 2, Duric 2, Delgado 2, Valls 1, Van den Burg 1, Power 1, Tahull 1, Sesen 1.
FINAL
Barceloneta – Barcelona 9:3 (2:0, 2:1, 3:1, 2:1)
Barceloneta: Granados 2, Munarriz 2, Bodegas 1, Larumbe 1, Aleksic 1, De Toro 1, Perrone 1.
Barcelona: Flores 2,Goma 1.
Both finalists passed their quarterfinal hurdles with ease. Barceloneta ran over Mataro (14:4). Barcelona started slowly, but it beat host Sant Andreu convincingly (11:5).
In the semifinals, Barceloneta faced Sabadell, which won the Spanish Super Cup at the start of the season (after beating Barceloneta in the semifinal and Barcelona in the final). Barceloneta controlled the match, but Sabadell kept close to the rival and the match had an exciting finish. Sabadell equalized twice in the first half (2:2, 4:4). Barceloneta scored two goals in the last 45 seconds of the second quarter (Munarriz and Perrone) for a 6:4 lead at halftime. Alvaro Granados opened the third quarter with an action goal and the difference was three goals for the first time (7:4). However, Sabadell responded with three straight goals and leveled the score (7:7). Felipe Perrone gave Barceloneta a 9:7 lead early in the fourth quarter. Asensio halved the distance 90 seconds before the end (8:9), but Milan Aleksic closed the match 49 seconds from time by converting a man-up for 10:8.
Barceloneta opened the second semifinal match with a 4:0 blast, and Terrassa didn’t recover from that shock. Early in the second quarter, Terrassa came close (2:4). However, Barcelona responded with two goals for 6:2. From that point on, the distance was never smaller than three goals. Barcelona secured the final match with an 11:7 victory.
No excitement in final
The final match lacked excitement. Barceloneta recorded a convincing win (9:3), easier than expected. The excellent defensive play was the key to success. Barceloneta’s goalkeeper Dani Lopez did a great job and he was voted the MVP of the final game.
Barceloneta gained a 3:0 lead by the middle of the second quarter. Barceloneta got on the scoreboard in the 13th minute, when Flores Fernandez scored for 1:3. But, the reigning champion regained a three-goal lead before the middle break (4:1). Felipe Perrone found the net in the 18th minute, and Barceloneta went up 5:1.
After the third period, Barceloneta led 7:2. Alberto Munarriz converted a man-up on Barceloneta’s first possession in the final quarter for 8:2, and there was no way back for Barcelona, which hasn’t won the Spanish Cup since 2011.
Interestingly, ten years ago, Barcelona convincingly defeated Barceloneta in the final of the Spanish Cup (7:3). But, today, the outcome was completely different. Besides, Barcelona didn’t reach the final game between 2011 and 2021. Sabadell won the trophy in 2012 (with an 11:10 win over Barceloneta). In 2013, Barceloneta’s series started.
