Leon stay strong to push past Dinamo

An underwhelming start last season saw Abanca Ademar Leon out of contention for first place in their group, thereby setting a difficult play-off for a VELUX EHF Champions League Last 16 berth against the future winners of the competition, Montpellier.

The Spanish side learnt something from their woes and are unbeaten in their first two games of the 2018/19 season, after disposing of Dinamo Bucuresti on Saturday evening, 31:28.

• Leon have won all three mutual games between the two sides in the last two seasons
• Wings Jose Mario Carillo Gutierrez, Gonzalo Perez Arce and Brazilian playmaker Acacio Marques Moreira finish as Leon’s top scorers, with five goals apiece
• The Spanish side tops the table, with three points, but a Plock win against Elverum on Sunday will see them relegated to second place

GROUP D
Abanca Ademar Leon (ESP) vs Dinamo Bucuresti (ROU) 31:28 (12:14)

As Dinamo showed one week ago with their comfortable win against Elverum, they are far from pushovers. The ‘Red Dogs’ are stronger than last year and could have claimed a surprise win in Spain, after seriously limiting Leon’s attack – particularly during a 15-minute stint in which the hosts could manage only one goal.

A 7:3 lead after 13 minutes proved that Leon were the favourites, but everything changed as Dinamo replaced their goalkeeper, with Stefan Grigoras taking the baton from Makram Missaoui. It was on the back of Grigoras’ amazing saves – seven stops in 15 minutes – that Dinamo built an amazing 8:1 run, taking a 12:9 lead.

The timeout called by Leon coach Rafael Guijosa did not help the Spanish side, as Dinamo had a two-goal gap at half-time, 14:12.

But the guests’ chemistry was at fault in the second half. Leon enjoyed a brilliant start, turning the game on its head, 18:15, thanks to a 6:1 run to start the half inspired by their two wings, Jose Mario Carillo Gutierrez and Gonzalo Perez Arce.

Dinamo attempted a comeback, but their efforts were halted in a do-or-die moment in the 53rd minute, when Andrei Nicusor Negru failed to score a penalty throw with Dinamo only two goals down. Leon never looked back and claimed their third win in as many games against the Romanian side, 31:28.

The Romanian champions will host Wacker Thun on Wednesday, while Leon will travel to Elverum next week.