Pro Recco successfully defended the winning trophy in the Serie A1. In the third match of the playoffs final, Recco defeated Brescia very convincingly – 9:5 – and clinched its 37th title in the Italian Championships (the just-ended season was the 106th edition of the Italian League).
As for the third game, everything was practically decided in the first 16 minutes. Recco led 7:1 at halftime.
Since 2006, Pro Recco has won 18 titles in the Italian League. It failed to reach the throne only twice – in 2020 (the season was canceled) and in 2021, when Brescia became the champion for the second time.
After four interesting matchups between Brescia and Recco this season—two in the regular season and two in the finals—the third encounter in the final quickly became one-sided.
Recco played without Francesco Di Fulvio, while Balzarini wasn’t on Brescia’s roster.Both were red-carded in the previous match.
Gonzalo Echenique kicked off the scoring by converting a man-up opportunity in the 4th minute. By the end of the first quarter, Recco had added two more power-play goals, entering the second period leading 3:0. Echenique opened the second quarter with another goal from a 6-on-5 situation. Shortly after, Francesco Condemi converted a penalty shot following a foul by Brescia’s Del Basso, who received a red card for brutality, so Brescia played with one fewer man in the following four minutes. During that suspension, the visitors scored one goal. Echenique scored his third goal, to bring the score to 6:0 in the 10th minute. Thirty seconds later, Brescia finally got on the scoreboard when Dolce converted a penalty shot. In the following minutes, Recco’s attack slowed down, but Brescia continued struggling on offense. Young Hungarian player, Haverkampf, closed the first half with a goal, once again during a man-up situation, making it 7:1 for Recco at halftime.
Recco’s man-up conversion in the first half was excellent. The visiting team scored five goals in its seven man-up opportunities in the first 16 minutes (plus a goal during a 4-minute suspension), while Brescia failed to convert any of its nine chances.
Brescia players regrouped themselves during a halftime break. They tightened their defense and netted two goals midway through the third quarter. Early in the fourth, Max Irving made it 4:7 (it was the first 6-on-6 goal in the game). Still, Cannella responded immediately after Irving’s goal, ending Recco’s scoring drought that lasted 9:20 minutes. Irving scored once again, while Echenique, the first scorer in the match, sealed Recco’s 9:5 win with an extra-player goal in the 29th minute.
2025 Italian League, playoffs
Final (best of three), Match 3
Brescia – Pro Recco 5:9 (0:3, 1:4, 2:0, 2:2) – the final score in the series 1:2
Brescia: Irving 2, Dolce 1, Giri 1, Ferrero 1.
Pro Recco: Echenique 4, Cannella 3, Condemi 1, Haverkampf 1.
3rd-place playoffs (best of three), Match 2
Trieste – Savona 7:11 (0:2, 3:3, 2:4, 2:2), the final score in the series 0:2.
7th-place playoffs (best of three), Match 3
Roma Vis Nova – Ortigia 10:8 (1:2, 2:0, 4:2, 3:4), the final score in the series 2:1
ALL CHAMPIONS (1912 – 2025): Pro Recco 37, Posillipo 11, Florentia 9, Andrea Doria 8, Canottieri Napoli 8, Camogli 6, Napoli 6, Genoa 4, Pescara 3, Savona 3, Milano 2, Roma 2, Brescia 2, Sturia 1, Triestina 1, Canottieri Ortigia 1,Lazio 1, Bogliasco 1.
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