Barcelona devastate Flensburg in last 20 minutes
FC Barcelona are alone on top of Group B of the VELUX EHF Champions League after their 36:27 win at home against SG Flensburg-Handewitt on Sunday night.
The 2013/14 champions were able to put Barcelona under pressure for the first 40 minutes, but in the last third of the match the home team virtually ran over their opponents and clinched a ticket to the last 16.
Group B
FC Barcelona (ESP) vs SG Flensburg-Handewitt (GER) 36:27 (14:16)
Barcelona started the match strong, leading by a goal or two throughout the first quarter of an hour before Flensburg got the upper hand and created a lead of four goals (13:9).
Flensburg goalkeeper Mattias Andersson played an important part in the visitors’ success in this period of the match. After a slow start, the Swedish veteran improved his performance considerably with several brilliant saves and a 44% save percentage for the first half.
But it takes more than a four-goal deficit in the first half to shake Barcelona, especially in Palau Blaugrana.
Towards the break, the home team tightened their concentration and reduced the distance to one goal, but Flensburg still managed to be up by two at half-time.
In the second half, Flensburg were able to keep pace with Barcelona for the first ten minutes, and the visitors were even leading a few times. It was in the last 20 minutes that Barcelona´s strength and versatility became increasingly clear.
In the Barcelona goal, Gonzalo Perez de Vargas Moreno, who had done well in the first half, became outstanding and almost impossible for Flensburg to put the ball past.
Vargas’ many saves opened the way for more counter attacks from Barcelona. The home side also put on a fantastic show in regular attack.
Increasing a 23:22 lead to 29:22 in the middle of the second half, Barcelona made the rest of the match seem more or less like a formality. The hosts won the second half by 11 goals and the match with nine.
Barcelona are now leading the group with 11 points. Flensburg are still third with six.
TEXT: Peter Bruun / cg
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