Overview

• Nantes rebounded from a 24-34 semifinal loss to Berlin on June 14 to beat FC Barcelone 30-25 in the third-place match at Cologne’s Lanxess Arena.
• Pivot Nicolas Tournat scored four of his five shots and opened the scoring in the third minute to set the tone for Nantes’s victory.
• Goalkeeper Ivan Pesic made 14 saves, including ten in the first half, to stifle Barça’s attacks and build a cushion for his side.
• Coach Grégory Cojean’s tactical shifts, including rotations for Romain Lagarde and Ayoub Abdi, yielded critical goals in the closing stages.
• Buoyed by their first Champions League podium finish, the squad has vowed to harness this momentum for a stronger return to Cologne.