Assolim CN Mataro are heading to Malta full of confidence and looking to build on their recent domestic success. Dani Ballart’s team secured a third Spanish title earlier this week by downing last season’s Champions League winners Sant Andreu 2-1 (8-10, 14-11 and 10-9) in a thrilling series of play-off finals. After finishing fourth twice in Europe’s top-tier competition – in 2017 and 2024 – and second in 2023, Mataro are aiming to add the one piece of missing silverware to their glittering collection.
Out of all the women’s teams, Mataro’s journey to the Final 4 has been the longest, as they were forced to play in the Qualification Round after missing the cut last season.
Their recent Spanish league triumph earned Mataro some form of revenge, as it was last year’s eventual Champions League winners Sant Andreu who denied them a place in 2025’s Final 4 after knocking them out in the quarterfinals 24-16 (13-8 and 11-8) on aggregate.
Lifting the coveted domestic trophy could also give Mataro a psychological edge over Sant Andreu if they both win their semifinals and progress to the gold medal game in Malta.
The two victories in the Spanish play-offs also ended an eight-game losing streak against their fierce local rivals dating back to November 2024.
Despite their extended route to the Final 4, Mataro only grew stronger as the competition progressed and arrive as the only team – including the men’s teams – with a perfect record (10 wins from 10 games).
In the qualifiers, they swept Rapallo Pallanuoto (14-9) and Pallanuoto Trieste (16-11) aside to comfortably reach the Group Stage, where their impressive form continued, winning all six of their games against CN Terrassa, Ekipe Orizzonte and Astralpool CN Sabadell.
The quarterfinals also proved a happy hunting ground, as they demolished a fourth Italian side, SIS Roma, 25-19 (13-9 and 12-10) to book their return to Europe’s top table.
Awaiting them in the semifinals are Olympiacos, a team they know well after meeting them in the Champions League on five occasions.
Since 2019, the Greeks have edged three of those clashes, including their most recent encounter, which also came in the semifinals two years ago in Barcelona (16-12).
With that defeat still fresh in their minds, Mataro will be looking to erase those painful memories by avenging that loss and reaching their first final since 2023.
“This has been a really rewarding Champions League season so far, with so many great wins against some really strong teams,” said Mataro’s Tilly Kearns, who joined the club last summer.
“We keep proving ourselves every game and stepping up in big moments, which gives us a lot of confidence going into the finals.
“Most importantly, we are enjoying playing together and having a lot of fun. I think our team culture is really special.
“Reaching the Final 4 without losing any games is definitely a highlight for us,” added the Aussie star, who won the Olympic silver medal with the Stingers at the Paris 2024 Games.
“Remaining undefeated has given us a lot of confidence and assures us we have the capability to become European champions.
“A difficult obstacle for us was regaining our rhythm as a team after the long break, when players went away with their national teams for the European Championships in January.
“We were playing really cohesively and had great momentum, which was disrupted, but luckily we worked hard to make everything slip back into place nicely.
“To win in Malta would mean so much for myself and our team, but most importantly for our club and all of the people from Mataro who support us so passionately every week. We want to make them all proud.”
Assolim CN Mataro – Route to Malta Final 4
2025/26 Results
Qualification Round
(1st place, Group D)
Assolim CN Mataro 14-9 Rapallo Pallanuoto
Assolim CN Mataro 16-11 Pallanuoto Trieste
Group Stage
(1st place, Group B)
CN Terrassa 8-11 Assolim CN Mataro
Assolim CN Mataro 13-8 Ekipe Orizzonte
Astralpool CN Sabadell 7-12 Assolim CN Mataro
Assolim CN Mataro 13-8 CN Terrassa
Ekipe Orizzonte 11-12 Assolim CN Mataro
Assolim CN Mataro 14-9 Astralpool CN Sabadell
Quarterfinals
Assolim CN Mataro 13-9 SIS Roma
SIS Roma 10-12 Assolim CN Mataro
(Agg: 25-19)
Best Champions League finishes
2nd – 2023
4th – 2017 & 2024
2026 Final 4 Fixtures
Semifinals
Wednesday 10 June
(Local times shown)
19:00: FTC Telekom Waterpolo (HUN) v CN Sant Andreu (ESP)
21:00: Assolim CN Mataro (ESP) v Olympiacos SFP (GRE)
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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics
