FCBARCELONA.CAT

08.03.2009 17:14

Test overcome (29-35)

Verònica Díez

Xavi Pascual had already said that the game with Gudme would be a big test before the cup. Barça did their homework and won 29-35 against a side that made things very difficult, especially in the second half.

FC Barcelona settled down quickly and started edging ahead early on, but a recovery from the Danes meant it was 17-18 at the break. It wasn’t until the 20th minute of the second half that Barça really started to command the game and the 29-35 result ends the second round, with Barça knowing before it had started that the quarter finals berths already belonged to Ciudad Real and THW Kiel. Barça end the group third, ahead of the Danes.

Xavi Pascual handed a debut to youth player Joan Saubich, the right winger coming on for the last minute and almost scoring spectacular goal on the fly, just as the buzzer sounded to end the game.

Barrufet and Jesper on song

Barça got off to a solid start as they went 6-2 up within minutes, playing strongly as a group and defending convincingly. Barrufet soon started making his own presence felt with some fine saves, and Jesper Noddesbo was showing some fine form in front of goal, displaying his full repertoire of skills against his compatriots. He was the reference of the Barça attack and was largely to thank for his side’s lead staying intact as the score amounted to 6-11.

Errors at the back

But from the 18th minute, Barça Borges started slacking somewhat and gave away some foolish balls to allow Gudme to score a series of goals on the counter. Following a 5-1 streak, the home side came back within one of Barcelona (13-14). Iker Romero then took the initiative and in combination with Demetrio Lozano lifted his side back to 15-18. But two more goals from the hosts meant everything was still to play for as the half time buzzer sounded (17-18).

No breakaway

After the restart, FC Barcelona really started sweating as they pushed towards victory, but neither Mikkel nor Ugalde, despite some powerful attempts, were able to edge their side into a convincing enough lead. The Danes even managed to claw their way back onto levels terms at 25-25, which is when Pascual decided it was time to shuffle his pack, and switched from a 6 -0 system to 5-1, moving Víctor Tomás into the advanced role. It seemed to do the trick. A four-goal streak from Barça meant they had the game in the bag with two minutes to spare (28-35). There was no way Gudme were ever going to come back from that.