Barça 30-28 Industria Kielce: Champions League quarter finalists!

FC Barcelona secured a direct ticket to the quarter-finals of the Handball Champions League after defeating Kielce 30-28 at the Palau Blaugrana. A strong second half, fueled by Nielsen’s crucial saves and N'Guessan’s goals, proved decisive for breaking away in the end. The victory was dedicated to injured captain Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, honored by the team before the match.

Close encounter

Barça’s first goal took time to arrive, as Cordalija frustrated early celebrations. Kielce started strong, leading by two, but Dika Mem’s three powerful strikes leveled the score (4-4, min 10). Nielsen’s saves helped tip the balance, allowing Barça to edge ahead 8-7 (min 15). From there, the game remained neck and neck, with neither team gaining more than a one-goal lead.

There in the end

A quick two-goal lead after the break gave Barça momentum, and N'Guessan’s hot hand extended the gap to 18-15 (min 38). Aleix Gómez pushed it further to +5 as the Catalans remained sharp despite Kielce’s resilience.

Carlos Ortega’s side made their final push, stretching the lead to six. Although the Polish visitors fought back to within two, another key moment from N'Guessan sealed Barça’s 30-28 win and a well-earned place in the last eight of the competition.

MATCH STATS

Barça, 30
Industria Kielce, 28

Barça: Nielsen (), Janc (1), Dika Mem (3), Petrus (-), Frade (4), Carlsbogard (1), Wanne (2), Saric (-), N'Guessan (6), Javi Rodríguez (2), Richardson (1), Makuc (3), Aleix Gómez (4), Pol Valera (2), Manuel Ortega (1)
Industria Kielce: Cordalija (-), Dani Dujshebaev (1), Nahi (3), Jorge Maqueda (6), Kounkoud (3), Karalek (1), Karacic (1), Walach (-), Gebala (-), Monar (3), Sicko (4), Olejniczak (2), Moryto (-), Hassan Kaddah (4)

Periods: 1-2; 4-4; 7-7; 9-9; 11-11; 14-13 // 16-14; 20-16; 23-19; 25-21; 28-23; 30-28

Referees: Mirza Kurtagic & Mattias Wetterwik