Barça 35-26 Cuenca: Last of the year

FC Barcelona's handball team ended the year with yet another victory, this Friday against Rebi Balonmano Cuenca at the Palau Blaugrana. It was by no means utter domination, particularly early on, but solid defending and effective attacking means they continue their 100 per cent record in the Liga Plenitude ASOBAL.

But the biggest highlight of all was seeing Pol Valera return from a seven-month absence due due to a cruciate ligament injury in his right knee.

Barça are not used to being behind, but that's where they were at 7-8, although logic eventually prevailed and early in the second half they were +5 and finally able to relax a bit, eventually starting to run away with the score and winning by a double figure margin.

The players can now look forward to a nice, long mid-season break, with no games until February 12, the day they travel to Denmark for an EHF Champions League meeting with Ålborg.

MATCH STATS

Barça, 35
Rebi Cuenca, 26

Barça: Nielsen (-), Janc (2), Richardson (6), J. Rodríguez (4), Makuc (7), Palomino (1), Ariño (1), Bazán (4), Valera (1), Carlsbogard (2), Wanne (4), Blas (1), N'Guessan (2), Petrus (-) & Martín Duque (-).

Rebi Cuenca: Mach (-), Martin (3), Ureña (2), López (1), Perbelini (6), Barceló (4), Tavares (6), Neves (-), Pizarro (2), Chicano (2), Aurelien-Morgan (-) & Hackbarth (-).

Periods: 2-3; 6-6; 8-8; 9-8; 15-13 // 18-14; 22-17; 24-19; 27-20; 29-21; 31-24; 35-26.

Referees: Lorena García Gil & Tania Rodríguez Estévez.