FCBARCELONA.CAT

17.02.2009 21:57

Convincing away win (19-33)

Verònica Díez

Barça Borges recorded a resounding victory against Arrate despite not making the strongest start to the midweek encounter.

The Blaugrana came away from a difficult arena with a confidence-boosting win the Liga Asobal, but the result did not like it would be as comfortable in the opening minutes when Xavi Pascual was forced to call a time out.

By the half-time break though, the game was basically over as a contest after the visitors moved into a 7-18 lead and they were then able to relax somewhat in the second period.

Slow start

In the first few minutes of the game the Barça defence looked unprepared while Arrate quickly saw this and looked to catch their opponents by surprise. Malumbres was performing well in the hosts’ goal at the other end, while Beljanski stood out as he created the play and helped Arrate assume a two-goal lead.

Focussing the team

Pascual then called his players together and made them focus and the switch to the counter-attack caught their opponents by surprise and saw the visitors score six without reply. From then on the game went in a very different direction as Demetrio Lozano was instrumental in ensuring that the Blaugrana stayed in command and with their goals ratio stretching to 0-13, Arrate were falling further and further behind.

Jesper Noddesbo scored five goals and stood out while Juanin was just one behind with four. Kasper Hvidt also played well in goal and ensured that while Barça were attacking, the home team were unable to bounce back.

Hosts come back

At the start of the second period Barça has continued playing well and while Arrate enjoyed no more luck in front of goal. But things did turn slightly when the visitors began to relax ten minutes in and that allowed the Basque Country outfit to show what they were capable of as they reduced the arrears by scoring four times without reply to close to within nine at 11-20.

Goal galore

Things turned back in Barça’s favour though soon after even though Juanin limped out of the action in the 16th minute. The team responded and scored five goals in quick succession to restore a comfortable cushion at 16-30 and three more goals meant that there was no way back for their hosts.