After a lackluster performance in Saturday’s semifinal, Nantes bounced back in the bronze medal match against Barcelona, securing a 30–25 win. That means bronze for the French side — and “only” a fourth-place finish for the Spanish giants.
The undisputed hero for Nantes was goalkeeper Ivan Pesic, who delivered a stellar performance with 14 saves and a 40 percent save rate. Not only did he outshine Emil Nielsen, but he was also named the best player of the match.
Barcelona never quite found their rhythm, and as is often the case in bronze medal games, motivation triumphed over class.