Barça 30-23 Bidasoa Irún: Virtually champions...

La Liga Plenitude is very, very nearly blaugrana. Barça have defeated direct rivals Bidasoa Irún 30-23 at the Palau Blaugrana thanks in particular to a tremendous second half display in which they finally started finding the rights holes in the solid visiting defence. Dika Mem and Pérez de Vargas were the heroes of a win that as good as settles the league title with a four-point lead over Bidasoa and a better average.

This one of the most enticing Asobal League games for years between two teams that have been having fabulous seasons. And for much of the game there was very little to pick between the sides, with neither managing to gather any kind of meaningful lead.

It was then that Dika Mem starting coming into his own with five goals from the 12th minute to help his team into a four-goal lead But Barça failed to capitalise and the visitors managed to get things back level at the break (14-14).

Bidasoa are a very good side and it wasn't until Jakub Edward Sladkowski was sent off that the Catalans well truly able to impose themselves on the game. It meant that the final five minutes were a lot more placid for Barça than expected, with Pérez de Vargas contributing to the cause with some simply spectacular saves..

Barça can now start preparing for an away game at 5pm CET next Saturday against REBI Balonmano Cuenca (17.00 h).

MATCH STATS

Barça, 30.
Bidasoa Irún, 23.

Barça: Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (12), Jonathan Carlsbogard (2), Dika Mem (9), Melvyn Richardson (4), Aitor Ariño (1), Aleix Gómez (6), Luis Frade (2), Emil Nielsen (0), Pol Valera (0), Hampus Wanne (2), Blaz Janc (0), Timothey N'Guessan (0), Thiagus Petrus (0), Haniel Langaro (2), Javier Rodríguez (2), Petar Cikusa (0).

Bidasoa Irún: Jakub Skrzyniarz (4), Rodrigo Salinas (1), Asier Nieto (3), Eneko Furundarena (0), Matheus Da Silva (1), Iñaki Cavero (3), Mikel Zabala (1), Harbaoui Mehdi (8), Marko Jevtic (0), Tao Gey-Emparan (1), Esteban Salinas (1), Julen Mujica (3), Asier Iribar (0), Gorka Nieto (5), Jakub Edward Sladkowski (0), Tito Díaz (4).

Periods: 4-4 / 6-5 / 8-6 / 10-8 / 13-10 / 14-14 / HT / 16-16 / 17-18 / 21-20 / 23-21 / 26-21 / 30-23.