Barcelona reach their tenth EHF Champions League final

KS Vive Targi Kielce (POL) vs. FC Barcelona Intersport (ESP) 23:28 (10:13)

14 saves from goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik, eight goals from top scorer Siarhei Rutenka and a brilliant defensive performance were the keys for FC Barcelona Intersport to celebrate a little jubilee as the Catalans reached a final of the Men's EHF Champions league for the tenth time since 1994. Their opponents in the final tomorrow (Sunday 2 June) will be confirmed in the second semi-final of defending champions THW Kiel against HSV Hamburg later tonight (18:00 hrs local time).

Like in all editions of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 since 2010, a Spanish team have made it to the final – and for the third time it is FC Barcelona Intersport after 2010 and 2011.

But it was much more work for the record winner of the VELUX EHF Champions League than the final result shows as they worked hard to break the resistance of Polish champions Vive Targi Kielce. In the sold-out LANXESS arena in Cologne in the first match of the 2013 edition of the VELUX EHF FINAL4 the VELUX EHF FINAL4 debutants were on an equal level until the 45th minute and only in the last 10 minutes did the distance rise to the final result.

The Barcelona defence stood like a Catalan mountain, solid rock-like built from concrete, pulling the Polish teeth from the first minute. The middle block of Magnus Jernemyr and Viran Morros prevented a huge number of Kielce shots – and if the ball went through, there was goalkeeper Arpad Sterbik, who saved 10 shots in the first half.

Kielce had enormous problems in scoring and it took the Polish champions until there 07:10 on the clock to celebrate their first strike. Boosted by this defensive performance Barca took their first three-goal-lead at 5:2, causing an early time-out from Kielce coach Bogdan Wenta after just 11 minutes.

Intermediately his players had understood his message, as a triple strike of the wings Manuel Strlek (two, and the top Kielce scorer with four goals) and Thorir Olafsson brought a level score just 68 seconds later.

But then the Barca machine was running again. Siarhei Rutenka added six goals to his tally (including four cold as ice penalties) before the break – which nearly meant nearly the half of the Barca goals were scored in the first 30 minutes and they nearly even led by four goals at the break, but Angel Montoro’s strike which could have made it 14:10 was after the half-time buzzer.

Kielce had the better start after the break, as they clearly improved in defence and their scoring percentage. By stealing some passes in defence they got the opportunity to score easy goals by counter-attacks mainly by Ivan Cupic, and caused nervousness in the Barcelona squad. In only 10 minutes they equalised again to make it 16:16 – and the hundreds of Polish spectators went crazy inside the LANXESS arena, pushing their team to the limit.

Barca coach Xavi Pascual reacted, interfering with a time-out. But Kielce kept their powers to withstand this intensive defensive battle and their goalkeeper Slawomir Szmal saved some important shots, Barca needed nine more minutes to gain a three goal distance, when Rutenka netted in for the eighth time at 21:18.

When Eduardo Gurbindo hit the net for 23:19, the margin was four goals for the first time – and then Kielce had to play with nothing to lose to have a chance to bridge the gap. But this risk to replace a goalkeeper by an additional field player was too high, as Barca took the chance to score into the empty goal twice, deciding the first semi-final at 26:20 in minute 55 with Victor Tomas.

Allt the fotos from the game can be found here.