Barça 35-27 Aalborg: Blaugranes bring it home

A clear victory for FC Barcelona against Aalborg (35-27) at the Palau Blaugrana in a match that didn't quite live up to expectations, Carlos Ortega's team ultimately defeating a Danish side shorn of a few important players.

Aalborg struggle to get into the game

A high class match for the return of handball to the Palau Blaugrana, as Barça faced their defeated opponents from last season's EHF final, Aalborg.

The game didn't start well for the visitors, however, who only scored one goal in the first seven minutes, which set the tone for most of the rest of the half (4-1).

The blaugranes were dominating, with Nielsen and the defence in top form, and Frade, Wanne and Cikusa leading the home side's attack and scoring.

Aalborg came to life just three minutes before the break to take it from 14-9 to 14-13. Handily for the home side, though, there was still time to extend the lead again through Frade and N'Guessan. Half-time score 16-13.

Blaugranes bring it home

Aalborg's mini-comeback was a fleeting memory in the second half as Carlos Ortega's side shared out the goals to take the score on to 22-15 (min. 37).

Barça gradually widened the gap to become insurmountable, with the Danes not being able to do much to stop their march, and by the 47th minute the score was 28-19. Aalborg had a positive spell to come within five (30-25), but the blaugranes ultimately brought it home. Final score 35-27.

GAME STATS

BARÇA 35
AALBORG 27

Barça: Nielsen, Janc, Mem, Petrus, Frade, Carlsbogard and Wanne - starting seven - Richardson, Ariño, N'Guessan, Aleix, Makuc, Palomino, Cikusa, Rodriguez, P. de Vargas.

Aalborg: Norsten, Thurin, Hald Jensen, Martin, Vlah, Barthold - starting seven - Munk, Wiesmach, Larsen, Bjornsen, Moller, Mollgaard, Antonsen, Jull, Hellberg.

Partial score: 3-1, 6-3, 9-5, 11-7, 14-10, 16-13 // 20-15, 24-16, 26-18, 29-20, 31-25, 35-27

Referees: Dimitar Mitrevski and Blagojche Todorovski.