Kolstad 30-35 Barça: Winning start for the holders

Back to the familiar territory of the Champions League for Barça. The current European champions started the defence of their title with a solid victory against Kolstad (30-35). The visit to Trondheim required the highest level of concentration to start a very demanding group B on the right foot, and the blaugranes did just that.

Strong start

Antonio Carlos Ortega's side showed their willingness to control the game from the off in order to minimise any chances for a home side buoyed by their support. A great start by Barça saw them take a 3-7 lead, with only physical issues for Luís Frade and Thiagus Petrus proving somewhat of an impediment.

Kolstad also improved their accuracy to reduce the lead to two goals (7-9), but then Barça stepped on the gas, Nielsen shut up shop in goal, with five goals scored without reply (7-14). The lead remained more or less the same until the break (13-20), which also saw Manuel Ortega score his first Champions League goal under his father.

Kolstad put Barça to the test

Things really changed after the restart, as Kolstad were more energetic, going on to gradually reduce the advantage. The blaugranes resisted for a time, Carlos Ortega called a time out with the score 22-25, but the home side still scored another goal to make it 23-25 afterwards. However, Javi Rodríguez responded with a goal and Carlos Ortega changed keeper, with Gonzalo saving the first effort before launching the counterattack for a Blaz Janc goal into an empty net (23-27).

Barça were able to quell the Norwegian side's thrust and managed to establish a lead that fluctuated between four and five goals, which proved enough to avoid too much stress in the final minutes. As such, the final score was 30-35 and Barça confirmed the first European victory of the season away from home, before two home games in a row at the Palau Blaugrana. The first is the Liga debut on Saturday (6.30pm CEST) against Bada Huesca, before welcoming Szeged for the Champions League matchday two fixture next Thursday (8.45pm CEST).

Match stats

Kolstad 30
Barça 35

Kolstad: Bergerud, Sagosen (2), Aalberg (3), Sondena (6). Gudjonsson (1) and Hernes Hove (0) - starting seven - Eggen Rismark (0), Johansson (3), Lyse (5), Hald (0), Eck Aga (0), Oskarsson (1), Stolefjell, Jeppsson (3) and Johnsen (6).

Barça: Nielsen, Aleix (3), Mem (6), Richardson (5), Frade (5), Carlsbogard (1) and Ariño (3) - starting seven - Gonzalo, Javi Rodríguez (4), Janc (2), N'Guessan (4), Petrus (0), Makuc (0), Ortega (1), Palomino (0) and Cikusa (1).

Periods: 2-3, 4-8, 7-10, 7-13, 11-16, 13-20 / half-time / 16-22, 20-25, 23-27, 26-31, 29-33, 30-35.

Referees: Marko Boricic and Dejan Markovic.