PPD Zagreb 33–37 Barça: Bittersweet victory

The match began with an unbeaten Barça side dominating, although it was the hosts that took an early lead before Xavi Pascual and Fabregas turned the situation around. Barça were up by six goals after 20 minutes but in the last knockings of the first half Zagreb halved the deficit. 

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The start of the second half saw a continuation of the final minutes of the first, with Zagreb on the front foot. At 24-24 late in the game, the locals were poised to take the lead but Pérez de Vargas stopped the shot and this spurred Barça on. By the end of the game, a narrow 33-37 win cemented top spot, however, this will not ensure direct qualification to the quarterfinals after the measure announced this Wednesday by the EHF.

Match Details:

PPD Zagreb, 33
Barça, 37

PPD Zagreb: Matej Asanin (-), David Mandic (4), Luca Lovre Klarica (3), Ivan Laljek (1), Nikola Grahovac (6), Paolo Kraljevic and Nemanja Obradovic (4) -starters-, Todor Jandric (-), , Filip Vistorop (5), Sensamin Buric (1), Valentino Ravnic, Luka Mrakovcic (1), Matej Hristic (2), Csaba Leimeter (2), Darko Stojnic and Paolo Kraljevic (4).

Barça: Kevin Möller (1), Luka Cindric (3), Aron Palmarsson (3), Dika Mem (3), Cédric Sorhaindo (1), Blaz Janc (5) and Aitor Ariño (5) -starters-, Pérez de Vargas (-), Thiagus Petrus (1), Ludovic Fabregas (5), Haniel Langaro (2), Aleix Gómez, Jure Dolenec, Raúl Entrerríos (2), Àlex Pascual (2) and Domen Makuc (2).

Partials: 5-4, 7-6, 9-12, 11-16, 14-19, 18-21 (half-time), 21-23, 24-24, 25-27, 28-21, 29-35 i 33-37 (final).

Officials: Dimitar Mitrevski and Blagojce Todorovski.