Barça 6-3 Reus Deportiu: First blood to the blaugranes

The FC Barcelona roller hockey team have taken a 1-0 lead in their semi-final play off against Reus Deportiu with a convincing 6-3 win in the first game of the tie. A brilliant start to the second half tipped the balance in the blaugranes' favour with João Rodrigues top scoring with four goals, followed by Xavi Barroso with a brace.   

Perfect start 

It took the blaugranes just three minutes to get ahead in the game with João Rodrigues finding the net in just the third minute. Reus keeper Càndid Ballart was in impressive form and kept the blaugranes at bay to allow his team to level things up in the 10th minute with a penalty from Aragonès. 

Almost straight away Xavi Borroso put the blaugranes back in front with a well placed shot and that is how it stayed until half time with Ballart and Sergi Fernández in goal for Barça continuing to shine. 

Barça take control 

With Reus a man down due to a blue card for Aragonès, Barça took advantage with João Rodrigues making it 3-1 on 23 minutes. From that moment Edu Castro's team took the initiative and goals from Barroso and João again put the result beyond doubt at 6-1. 

The visitors fought back with Aragonès and Rojas cutting the deficit but there was no magical comeback as Barça take a 1-0 lead into the second game of the tie to come away at Reus on Sunday. 

MATCH STATS 

Barça, 6
Reus Deportiu, 3

Barça: Sergi Fernández, Ignacio Alabart, Pau Bargalló, Xavi Barroso and João Rodrigues -starting five- Marc Grau, Sergi Llorca, Sergi Panadero and Eloi Cervera
Reus Deportiu: Càndid Ballart, Ferran Giménez, Maximiliano Oruste, Marc Julià and Martí Casas -starting five- Joan Salvat, Sergi Aragonès, Diego Rojas and Guillem Pujol

Goals: 1-0, João Rodrigues (min 3); 1-1, Sergi Aragonès (penal) (min 10); 2-1, Xavi Barroso (min 10); 3-1, João Rodrigues (min 23); 4-1, Xavi Barroso (min 26); 5-1, João Rodrígues (min 27), 6-1, João Rodrígues (min 27); 6-2, Sergi Aragonès (min 35); 6-3, Diego Rojas (min 36)