Barça 35-27 Bidasoa Irun: Spanish Cup finalists!

After a limited number of training sessions with all players available due to the World Championship, Barça's handball team secured a spot in the Spanish Cup final with a 35-27 win over Bidasoa Irun in Lanzarote. The match was a close affair until halftime (18-17), but Barça pulled away after the restart. They now face Bathco Torrelavega in the final, who defeated Fraikin Granollers.

Richardson, with seven goals, led the scoring. The first half was evenly contested, with both teams exchanging leads, and Barça were never really in control until the second half, when they finally built a decisive lead thanks to a 4-0 run. Despite strong goalkeeping from Leo Maciel, they never looked back, cruising on to victory and the chance to win the Spanish Cup for the second time. The big game gets under way at 1pm CET Sunday. 

MATCH STATS

BARÇA, 35
BIDASOA IRUN, 27

Barça: Pérez de Vargas, Aleix, Dika Mem, Carlsbogard, N'Guessan, Frade, Ariño, Emil Nielsen (ps), Domen Makuc, Richardson, Petar Cikusa, Javier Rodríguez, Blaz Janc, Hampus Wanne, Antonio Bazán, Pol Valera. 

Bidasoa Irun: Leo Maciel, Tao Gey-Emparan, Rodrigo Salinas, Theodoros Boskos, Matheus da Silva, Gorka Nieto, Dariel García, Iñaki Cavero, Marko Jevtic, Eneko Furundarena, Esteban Salinas, Julen Mujica, Asier Nieto, Mikel Zabala, Pedro Pacheco.

Periods: 2-1, 6-4, 10-7, 12-12, 16-13, 18-17 (HT), 22-18, 24-20, 27-21, 30-23, 32-25, 35-27 (FT).

Referees: Jorge Escudero, Jesús Escudero.