Italy won the men’s water polo gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships after an effervescent performance gave them a 10-5 win over rivals Spain in Saturday’s final.

It was the fourth world title for the Italians, who pulled away after a balanced first period and finished the 16-team tournament with a perfect 6-0 record.

Both teams secured berths in the 2020 Olympic Games by reaching the final and the Italians celebrated their second gold medal under coach Alessandro Campagna, who jumped into the pool with his jubilant players to celebrate.

In the day’s curtain-raiser, 2017 champions Croatia clinched the bronze medal with a 10-7 defeat of Hungary on the back of six goals from Maro Jokovic.

Olympic and European champions Serbia, who deployed a second-string side after qualifying for next year’s Olympics by winning the World League in Belgrade last month, finished fifth after a 13-9 win against Australia.