Barça removes the most painful thorn

BarcelonaBarça got rid of the thorn from last season, beat Aalborg in extra time (32-37) and this Sunday (6 p.m., Esport3 and DAZN) will play the final of the Handball Champions League against Füchse Berlin. The blaugrana team squandered a five-goal lead, but reacted in extra time, where the Danish opponent paid for their risks. Around 550 culers fans celebrated the victory at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, where Joan Laporta also attended.

The tactical innovations introduced by Carlos Ortega were decisive for Barça to impose their game plan during a very serious first half. The blaugrana team used a good defense and four penalty goals from Aleix Gómez to open the first gap on the scoreboard (4-8). The culers team took advantage of Emili Nielsen's saves to extend the lead against an opponent who took time to find their strengths (6-11). Aalborg could only score eleven goals in the first thirty minutes (11-15).

Spurred by Niklas Landin's saves, the Danish opponent adjusted the score (23-24). The goals from Luís Frade and Timothey N'Guessan, who appeared in the most delicate moments, oxygenated the Barça team's game. Forced to play statically, the Catalan team saw Aalborg tie the score a minute and a half from the end (28-28). A Barça loss of possession complicated the scenario, but the score did not move again and the match was decided in extra time.

Aalborg took a risk by attacking with seven players and, therefore, without a goalkeeper. The strategy backfired and Barça took advantage of the empty-net goals to gain a four-goal lead (30-34).

Füchse Berlin, finalist

The other finalist will be Füchse Berlin, who will fight for their first Champions League in their history after dethroning the reigning champion, Magdeburg, whom they beat 35-40 in the first semi-final. The Berlin team took advantage of the performance of Serbian goalkeeper Dejan Milosavljev to win a very exciting match.