Irun, Spain – FC Barcelona Handball demonstrated their dominance Saturday, defeating Irudek Bidasoa Irun 39-27 in a European League match played at Artaleku. Despite a spirited effort from the home side, particularly in the second half, Barça proved too strong, securing their 42nd victory in 43 games this season. The result contrasts sharply with the first leg encounter in Barcelona, which Bidasoa Irun narrowly lost 33-31.
The match was effectively decided by halftime, with Barça leading 23-13. Bidasoa Irun faced significant challenges entering the game with several key players unavailable – Matheus da Silva, Iñaki Peciña, Xavi Tuà, and Rodrigo Salinas were all absent. The team supplemented their roster with players from the Ilcapo Hondarribia affiliate, including Alex Raix, Endika Wamba, and Oihan Arruti, who all saw playing time.
Barça quickly established control, scoring the first four goals of the match within the opening three minutes. Emil Nielsen, the Barça goalkeeper, was instrumental in the first half, recording eight saves and contributing to a strong defensive performance. Jakub Skrzyniarz replaced Leo Maciel in the Bidasoa Irun goal in the 14th minute, eventually adding eight saves of his own in the second half, but the early deficit proved insurmountable.
The Catalan side’s attack was relentless, converting 23 of 27 shots in the first half. Bidasoa Irun managed to disrupt Barça’s rhythm briefly before the break, closing the gap with a 4-0 run and even taking a momentary lead with a goal from Dariel García, but Barça responded strongly after the restart.
The second half saw Bidasoa Irun show resilience, particularly after falling behind by as many as 14 goals. A period of strong play, including a 6-1 run, narrowed the deficit, prompting a timeout from the Barça coaching staff. Though, the visitors maintained control, ultimately securing a comfortable victory.
Fabregas and Carlsbogard of Barça, and Mielczarski of Bidasoa Irun, each received two-minute suspensions during the match, as called by referees Miguel Martín Soria and Andrés Rosendo López.
Despite the loss, Bidasoa Irun displayed commendable fight, especially considering their injury situation. The team wore shirts displaying the message ‘Eutsi Unai, zurekin gaude,’ showing support for injured teammate Barreto.
Key performers for Irudek Bidasoa Irun included Xabi González and Mujika, each scoring six goals, while Cavero added five. For Barça, Barrufet led the scoring with seven goals, followed by Fabregas and Makuc with six each. Nielsen and Hallgrimson combined for 15 saves in goal for the visitors.
The match’s scoring progression highlighted Barça’s dominance: 1-4, 4-10, 7-14, 9-16, 11-20, 13-23 (halftime); 16-27, 18-31, 22-32, 24-36, 26-37, and 27-39.
This result solidifies Barça’s position as a leading contender in the EHF European League. For Bidasoa Irun, the defeat marks the end of their participation in this stage of the competition. The team will now focus on domestic league play.
Barça’s consistent performance throughout the season underscores their status as one of the world’s premier handball teams. Their ability to maintain a high level of play even with substitutions demonstrates the depth of their squad. The team’s next challenge will be a crucial match in the league, where they will glance to continue their winning streak.
Bidasoa Irun will aim to regroup and learn from this experience as they turn their attention back to the Liga ASOBAL. The team’s young players, such as Raix, Wamba, and Arruti, gained valuable experience against a top-tier opponent, which will be beneficial for their development.
The Irudek Bidasoa Irun squad consisted of Maciel, González (2), Mujika (6), Raix (2), Nevado (2), García (1, 1 pen.), Valles (2, 1 pen.) as the starting seven, alongside Skrzyniarz (8 saves), Cavero (1, 1 pen.), Jevtic (1), Wamba (2), Furundarena, Esteban Salinas (3), Arruti (2), Mielczarski (3) and Nieto.
The Barça starting lineup featured Nielsen (8 saves, 1 pen., 1 goal), Carlsbogard, Janc (2), Gómez (5), Fabregas (6), Barrufet (7, 5 pen.), Petar Cikusa (3), with Hallgrimson (7 saves, 2 pen.), Bazán, Dika Mem (4), Djordje Cikusa, N’Guessan (1), Makuc (5), Ortega (2), Elderaa (3) and Frade also seeing action.
Bidasoa Irun’s next confirmed match is yet to be announced, but details will be available on the club’s official website. Fans can follow the team’s progress and receive updates through their official channels.
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