FCBARCELONA.CAT

01.03.2009 21:30

Sterbik makes the difference (32-29)

Verònica Díez

Barça Borges couldn’t beat Ciudad Real, or rather they couldn’t beat Sterbik. The Ciudad Real keeper made the difference as Barça went down in a game in which they gave their all.

The defeat means the Catalans are out of the Champions League with one game still to go in the second stage. Ciudad Real won the match but Barça came close to pulling off a victory in the Quijote Arena. From start to finish Xavi Pascual’s men showed courage, skill and passion to break their run of poor results at Ciudad Real.

Bravery and courage

FC Barcelona came out all guns blazing and speed in attack gave them the lead at 2-4. But in the 7th minute Rutenka put the home side ahead at 5-4 and even though the game swung first one way and then the other, Barça could never get back beyond pulling level in the rest of the match.

Nerves in attack

Both sides were nervous in attack and their defences were playing superbly. Venio Losert was impeccable in the visitors’ goal. Neither side scored for five minutes until Steffanson made it 9 - 6 to open up the biggest gap in the first half.

However, Barça fought back and with Romero in the lead pulled it back to 14-14 at the break.

Sterbik saves

Talan Dujshebaev’s men upped the tempo after the restart, and with Barça a man down with Oneto off the court Ciudad Real scored twice to go back into lead at 18-16. Sterbik was playing a blinder in the home side’s goal, and despite the best efforts of Iker Romero Ciudad Real stayed two goals in front.

Defensive change brings hope

In the 14th minute of the second half Xavi Pascual set up a 5-1 defence with Cristian Ugalde up front, and this change brought hope of a win. Indeed, with eight minutes left on the clock Barça Borges pulled level when Jesper Noddesbo made it 26 - 26. But then Sterbik pulled off more saves and only Mikkel Hansen twice and Nagy once were able to beat him.

Finally Stefansson made sure that Ciudad Real would run out winners and get through to the quarter finals.