The most essential information in our report of the fourth round of the 2023 Spanish League is which team lost and not which clubs won the games.
Title-holder Barceloneta left the pool empty-handed, which is very unusual in Spanish water polo.
Barceloneta’s long unbeaten run, which lasted more than five years, has ended.
Sabadell defeated Barceloneta 11:8 in the fourth round of the Spanish League. This was Barceloneta’s first loss in the national championship since May 18, 2017.
Five and a half years ago, Sabadell defeated Barceloneta 13:12 in the second match of the playoffs final of the season 2016/17. Barceloneta won the next game and clinched the title. The third game of 2017 final was the start of Barceloneta’s long unbeaten run. The 2014 European champion was unbeaten in 119 consecutive games in the Spanish Championships between May 2017 and the first weekend of November 2022 (114 wins and 5 draws). The series started with Sabadell and ended with Sabadell. The only difference is that Sabadell beat Barceloneta at home in 2017, and the match of the fourth round in this season was played in Barceloneta’s pool.
Counting all domestic competitions, Barceloneta was unbeaten for more than two years. In October 2020, Sabadell beat Barceloneta in the semifinals of the Spanish Super Cup.
2022/23 Spanish Men’s League, Day 4
Barceloneta – Sabadell 8:11 (4:1, 3:4, 1:4, 0:2)
Barceloneta: Tahull 3, Munarriz 2, Paul 1, Matkovic 1, Larumbe 1
Sabadell: Sanahuja 3, Valera 3, Cabanas 2, Gil 1, Bertran 1, Bustos 1.
Tenerife – Mataro 10:8 (2:2, 2:2, 4:2, 2:2)
Tenerife: Alegre 3, Mercado 2, Salvador 2, Keuning 2, Diaz 1.
Mataro:Daura 3, Cuacos 2, De Weerd 2, Andrade 1.
Rubi – Terrassa 7:8 (1:2, 3:2, 2:2, 1:2)
Rubi:Pina 2, Fenoy 2, Coyle 1, Martins 1, Pina 1
Terrassa: Delgado 3, Riley 2, Flores 2, O.Rodriguez 1.
Barcelona – Sant Andreu 14:11 (3:5, 5:0, 3:4, 3:2)
Barcelona: Ramon 3, Goma 3, Vavic 3, Mallarach 1, Cupido 1, Putt 1, Asensio 1.
Sant Andreu: Frigola 4, Yanez 2, Patchaliev 2, Tenorio 2, Chmyr 1,
Real Canoe – CN Caballa 16:9 (4:1, 5:3, 3:2, 4:3)
Real Canoe: M.J. Gonzalez 4, V.Fernandez 3, Gutierez 3, Romero 3, Jimenez 1, Alcon 1, Blanco 1.
Caballa: Arostegui 2, S.Fernandez 2,Reguera 1, Pardon 1, Leona 1, Molina 1, Caracuel 1
Catalunya – Mediterrani 8:12 (2:3, 2:4, 1:3, 3:2)
Catalunya: Sousa 2, Gomila 1, Quinn 1, S.Gonzalez 1, Alvarino 1, Lopez-Escribano 1, Gomez 1
Mediterrani:Prat 4, Corres 4, A.Garcia 1, Roca 1, Radic 1, J.Perez 1.
Sabadell scored an opening goal in the derby. Sanahuja made it 0:1 already in the first possession. However, Barceloneta responded with four goals and entered the second period leading 4:1. Sabadell reduced the gap with two early goals from Valera and Sanahuja in the second quarter (3:4), but Barceloneta regained a three-goal lead quickly. Marc Larumbe converted a penalty in the 12th minute. Tahull added an action goal 40 seconds after for 6:3. Barcelona had a 7:4 advantage at the finish of the second period. But, Bernat Sanahuja, who played excellently in the derby, beat the buzzer. He converted a man-up in the last second of the first half for 5:7.
Sabadell dominated the second half. The visitors’ defense was superb after the middle break. Sabadell scored four unanswered goals in the third period and turned around a 2-goal deficit to a 9:7 lead (22nd minute). Munarriz stopped Sabadell’s series shortly after, with an action goal for 8:9. However, the hosts couldn’t find the net in the final quarter, while Sabadell scored two goals and celebrated an 11:8 victory.
Sabadell and Barceloneta, two Champions League clubs, played each other for the second time this season. Two weeks ago, Barceloneta defeated Sabadell in the Super Cup (9:8). The LEN Euro Cup winner took revenge and showed that Barceloneta would face demanding challenges in the domestic competitions this season.
There were thrills in other games of the 4th round.
Terrassa defeated Rubi harder than expected. In the second quarter, Rubi built a 4:2 advantage. In the middle of the third, the hosts were two steps ahead of Terrassa again (6:4). But Terrassa tightened its defense, scored four goals in a row and jumped to an 8:6 lead (02:20 minutes before the end). Rubi scored its seventh goal when it was too late – three seconds before the buzzer.
Tenerife defeated Mataro 10:8 and remains unbeaten. It was an even contest, but Mataro led just twice (1:0 and 4:3). In the third quarter, Tenerife built a 2-goal lead for the first time (6:4) and controlled the match in the last quarter and a half.
Barcelona started slowly against Sant Andreu, which led 5:3 after the first quarter. Barceloneta dominated the second period, scoring five unanswered goals for an 8:5 lead. Sant Andreu managed to equalize in the 21st minute – 8:8. But, Barcelona replied with two quick goals, went to 10:8 and didn’t let Sant Andreu level score again.
1. Sabadell 4 – 12
2. Barcelona 4 – 9
3. Mataro 4 – 9
4. Mediterrani 4 – 9
5. Tenerife 3 – 9
6.Barceloneta 3 – 6
7. Terrassa 3 – 6
8. Real 4 – 3
9.Caballa 4 – 3
10.Sant Andreu 3 – 0
11.Rubi 4 – 0
12.Catalunya 4 – 0
