Barcelona’s water polo clubs finished the Divisió d’Honor season with very different outcomes, as Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta won a 21st consecutive men’s title and other local sides fought for European places and survival.
The championship race went to the playoffs, where Atlètic-Barceloneta met Sabadell in the final for the fourth straight year. The Barceloneta side came out on top again, extending its long run at the head of Spanish water polo. Club Natació Barcelona also reached the title playoffs after finishing in the top four during the regular season.
In the battle for one European place, teams placed fifth to eighth in the standings competed for qualification. Sant Andreu, Mataró and Rubí joined Tenerife Echeyde in that group, with Sant Andreu reaching the final against Mataró. Mataró won the place in continental competition.
The relegation fight involved four teams trying to stay in the Divisió d’Honor, including two Barcelona clubs, CE Mediterrani and CN Catalunya, plus Encinas Boadilla and Caballa de Ceuta. Because Mediterrani and Catalunya finished tenth and eleventh, they met in a Barcelona derby in the semi-finals of the relegation playoffs.
CN Catalunya kept its place in the top division. For more on local sport coverage, see our Sport and Community pages. The original report was published by betevé.
