CN Marseille defended valiantly against VK Jadran Split, doing just enough to protect their first-leg advantage and lift the Euro Cup trophy for the second time in the club’s history (after their triumph in 2019 against Jadran Herceg Novi). The hosts battled until the final second and moved within one of Marseille’s overall total on three occasions, but were never able to find the goal that would have levelled the tie. Jadran captain Zvonimir Butic was sensational once again, scoring eight goals, but even his outstanding individual display wasn’t enough to turn the contest around. Thomas Vernoux and Ugo Crousillat shone for the visitors in attack, netting five and three goals respectively, as Marseille sealed a memorable victory.

2025/26 Euro Cup Men
Final, 2nd Leg
Saturday 6 June

VK Jadran Split (CRO) 16-14 CN Marseille (FRA) (5-5, 5-4, 2-3, 4-2)
(First Leg: 19-16, Aggregate score: 32-33)

Jadran’s attempts to erase the three-goal deficit from the first leg got off to the perfect start in Split, as two penalties – one from Jerko Marinic Kragic and the other from captain Zvonimir Butic – moved them within one on aggregate inside the opening four minutes.

The home crowd were already on their feet, sensing something special, but before the hosts could level the overall score, Thomas Vernoux stepped up just 13 seconds later with a huge blast from distance to open Marseille’s account.

The French side then levelled from their second six-on-five, with Jadran clearly not having learned their lessons from the first leg. A pass from the right found Michael Bodegas completely free in the centre for a simple finish.

Jadran went back in front on the night twice more, but Marseille responded on each occasion, first through Vernoux again, before captain Ugo Crousillat squeezed his effort between Marko Bijac’s left hand and the post for 4-4.

When Vernoux completed his hat-trick with another powerful strike 35 seconds before the first break, Jadran had gone from being on the verge of drawing level on aggregate to trailing by four once again.

However, a powerful finish from Dusan Matkovic with eight seconds remaining restored the original deficit.

The lead changed hands several times in the second period, but neither side was able to establish a two-goal advantage.

Marc Larumbe opened the scoring for Marseille, but two strikes from Dusan Matkovic – either side of a saved Marinic Kragic penalty – put the hosts ahead 7-6 midway through the quarter.

Both teams added three more goals before half-time, with the pick of them coming from Butic deep on the right wing.

He somehow turned his marker, Bilal Gbadamassi, inside out before rifling a pinpoint shot into the far corner from an almost impossible angle for 8-7.

After Vernoux hammered in his fourth of the night and Crousillat added his second, goals from 17-year-old Duje Burazin and another from Butic handed Jadran a 10-9 lead at the turnaround.

When Butic converted a penalty early in the third, Marseille’s aggregate lead was under threat once more as Jadran moved two clear on the night for a second time.

However, Adam Nagy provided the perfect reply for the French side, converting on man-up from the top of the perimeter.

Crousillat then finished off a six-on-five to level the second-leg score for a ninth time before Butic continued his magnificent individual display, hammering in his sixth goal of the night – half of Jadran’s total at this stage – to edge the Croatians back in front.

Again, they were unable to hold the lead for long as Romain Marion Vernoux struck to level matters once more at 12-12, and that was how it remained heading into the final eight minutes.

Jadran were back at square one and, although Butic smashed in his seventh goal at the start of the fourth, Vernoux once again had the answer, flashing another stunning effort from distance into the net for 13-13.

After Ivan Zovic restored the hosts’ advantage with a neat finish from the right on man-up, Vernoux attempted a delicate lob from the left, but Bijac tipped it over the crossbar to the delight of the home fans.

Marseille earned a man-up from the resulting corner and Gbadamassi arrowed his shot into the far corner to make it 14-14 with 5:56 remaining.

There was still plenty of time for more drama as Jadran continued to push forward.

Butic converted a penalty – his eighth goal of the game – before Zovic produced an incredible finish from the right just as the shot clock was set to expire.

For the third time in the game, the Croatians had moved within one goal of Marseille’s total, but there was to be no third time lucky.

Bijac did his part between the posts, rising brilliantly to deny Alexandre Bouet, who then crashed another effort against the right-hand post.

Jadran coach Jure Marelja called a time-out with 56 seconds remaining and, while he outlined his instructions, opposite number Milos Scepanovic was busy organising Marseille’s defence.

The latter’s plan worked perfectly as Matkovic’s shot was comfortably saved by Petar Tesanovic.

As the clock ticked down, the French side called a time-out and left Jadran with just six seconds to find the goal that would have sent the final to a shootout.

It never came, as Marseille’s players swarmed over Matkovic, who desperately tried in vain to find the target.

It was sheer heartbreak for the hosts, who had come so close. As the final buzzer sounded, Marseille’s players erupted in celebration, soon joined by their coaches in the pool.

The trophy was heading back to the south of France, and it was a particularly special moment for coach Scepanovic, as when Marseille last won the Euro Cup seven years ago, he was their goalkeeper and captain.

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Andy Rollé for European Aquatics