Barça 6-1 Hovocubo: Victory to kick off

The FC Barcelona futsal team made their debut in the Main Round of this season's Champions League with a 6-1 win over Dutch side Hovocubo thanks to goals from Pito, Sergio González, Ferrao, Dyego, Catela and an own goals from Aklalouch.

The blaugranes had to work hard in the Tal-Qrogg Sports Hall in Gzira, Malta where this phase of the tournament is being played but once into their stride in the second half they began to show the difference in class between the two outfits. 

Dutch resistance 

In a rather subdued atmosphere, Barça found it tough to get into the game early on. Nevertheless, the blaugranes did open the scoring on eight minutes when Pito finished well from Ortiz's pass. Their opponents from the Netherlands struck back almost immediately, Bouyouzan making it 1-1 just two minutes later. Barça were back in front just before half time when Sergio González diverted home Marcenio's shot. 

Second half dominance

In the second half the blaugranes still struggled to be at their best. In the end their quality came to the surface and a goal from Ferrao on 35 minutes settled the nerves. In the final stretch strikes from Coelho and Dyego settled the result and the three points with Barça's next game to come on Thursday at 4pm CEST against Dobovec. 

MATCH STATS 

BARÇA, 6

HOVOCUBO, 1

Barça: Dídac, Coelho, Antonio, Dyego, Adolfo -starting five- Lozano, Pito, Ferrao, Catela, Sergio González, Catela i Ortiz. 

Hovocubo: Stet, Mellah, Attahiri, Bouzit, Bouyouzan -starting five- Tarifit, Cherkaoui Rhazouani, Velseboer, Amghar, Akaazoun, Aklalouch.

Goals: 1-0, Pito (min 8). 1-1, Bouyouzan (min 10). 2-1, Sergio González (min 18). 3-1, Ferrao (min 25). 4-1, Aklalouch, en pròpia (min 35). 5-1, Dyego (min 36). 6-1, Catela (min 40). 

* PHOTO: Domenic Aquilina