Courtesy: LEN
As usual, the first trophy hand-over of the season is due at the end of the LEN Trophy Final Four tournament, to be held on Saturday and Sunday in Barcelona.
Two Spanish sides, CN Sabadell and CN Mataro face some swift challenge from Russia’s Kinef Kirishi and Italy’s SIS Roma this weekend. Among the participants, Mataro already clinched this cup in 2016, for the others it would be a first-ever triumph in this competition.
Obviously, it’s Sabadell and Kinef which can be considered top favourites here as these two clubs claimed the last four Euro League titles respectively – Sabadell in 2016 and 2019, while Kinef in 2017 and 2018. They usually go for the very top of Europe, barely misses the EL F4 but now it happened to both of them so they are looking for some consolation now (indeed Kirishi also had to compete in this event in 2019 and finished third).
And the draw paired them right away in the semis, this bout can also be considered the re-match of the 2018 Euro League final where Kinef prevailed after a thrilling match, ending in a penalty shootout. Just like this contest, the clash of Mataro and Roma can go either way too.
The host of the event, the Catalonian Swimming Federation will provide free live streaming on both days, visit this link to follow the games: http://www.len.eu/?p=17575
LEN Trophy Final Four – Barcelona
Semi-finals, Saturday, 16 April
11.30 CN Mataro (ESP) v Lifebrain SIS Roma (ITA)
14.00 Astralpool Sabadell (ESP) v Kinef Surgusneftegas Kirishi (RUS)
Medal Round, Sunday, 17 April
11.30 Bronze medal match
14.00 LEN Trophy Final