Viktoria Plzeň ends the basic group of the Champions League without a single point. In the final sixth game, the Czech champion lost at home to Barcelona 2:4. Both goals of the active and more courageously playing Victorians were scored by striker Tomáš Chorý. Pilsen won 24:12 on field goal attempts.
Marcos Alonso and Ferrán Torres scored for the visitors in the first half. In the 51st minute, Chorý scored from the penalty spot, but a moment later Torres came through again. In the 63rd minute, Chorý also scored his second goal in the match, the final result was determined by Pablo Torre.
The reigning Czech champions came out empty-handed for the first time in their fourth participation in the group of the elite competition.
It was already clear before today’s match that Viktoria will occupy the last fourth place and Barcelona will finish third behind the advancing duo of Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.
Pilsen achieved a score of 5:24 in six duels, but the negative record of the group stage of the Champions League was broken today by Glasgow Rangers, who closed Group A with six defeats and a score of 2:22.
Before that, the worst was Dinamo Zagreb without a point and with a score of 3:22 from the year 2011/12.
Fullback Holík and midfielder Ndiaye also started in the Pilsen starting line-up. Barcelona missed the slightly injured gunner Lewandowski, who scored a hat-trick in a 5:1 home win over Viktoria in September.
The guests scored a goal in the changed line-up right from the first successful action. Goalkeeper Staněk deflected Fati’s shot in front of him and defender Alonso knocked the ball into the goal from close range.
Pilsen hit the bar and the post
Pilsen were close to equalizing in the 21st minute, when Chorý headed into the crossbar after Kalvach’s standard situation. Pilař’s subsequent shot was saved by goalkeeper Peňa, who stood in for Barcelona’s number one Ter Stegen.
The home team kept pace with the five-time Champions League winner and created a number of chances. In the 30th minute, he could equalize with Kalvach, but face to face he could not overcome the running Peña.
Barcelona were more effective and Torres scored from close range just before the break from Alba’s pass. His intervention was initially disallowed due to offside, but referee Petrescu, after checking the video referee, changed the original verdict and recognized the goal.
The West Bohemians started the second half well. Torre brought down Choré in the penalty area, who converted the penalty in the 51st minute. Torres restored the two-goal advantage to the Catalans in just three minutes. First he went around several defenders, then collided with Raphinha and promptly shot past Staňko.
The people of Pilsen quickly knocked back and continued to attack. Peňa caught Vlkanova, but in the 63rd minute he crossed into the penalty area and Chorý already beat the Barcelona goalkeeper with a header on the ground. The 27-year-old forward scored the first two goals in this year’s Champions League group stage.
The attractive shootout continued in front of 11,258 spectators. A quarter of an hour before the end, Raphinha challenged Torre with an accurate cross, and the nineteen-year-old midfielder beat Staňko. On the other side, Jirka fired a stick. Viktoria thus lost the fourth ever duel with Barcelona in the Champions League.
Matches of the final 6th round of Group C of the Champions League:
Viktoria Plzeň – FC Barcelona 2:4 (0:2)
Goals: 51. from pen. and 63. Sick – 45. and 54. Torres, 6. Alonso, 75. Torre. Referees: Petrescu – Ghinguleac, Grigoriu (all Romanian) – Di Bello (video, It.). ŽK: Ndiaye – Gavi, Torre, Torres. Spectators: 11,258.
Pilsen: Staněk – Holík, Hejda, Pernica, Jemelka (57. Havel) – Kalvach (78. Cermák), Ndiaye (57. Bucha) – Jirka, Vlkanova, Pilař (88. Kronus) – Chorý (79. Bassey). Coach: Bílek.
Barcelona: Peňa – Bellerin, Pique, Alonso, Alba (57. Bucket) – Torre (77. Sanz), Kessie (67. Casado), Gavi – Raphinha (77. Dembele), Fati, Torres. Trainer: Xavi.
