Anaitasuna 24-40 Barça: Big win at La Catedral
Another show from Barça, this time at what is known as the "cathedral" for Spanish handball, which is also home to Navarran side Anaitasuna. The big 24-40 away win takes the blaugranes very close to winning another Liga title.
Barça firing on all cylinders by the break
The home side clearly wanted to impose themselves on the game, starting with seven outfield players and no keeper, and although the slower build up play saw them go 5-3 up on Barça, the visitors were already warming into the contest. Melvyn Richardson and Luis Frade were on fire, and with Emil Nielsen standing tall in the goal, the scoreline soon turned in the blaugranes' favour, 10-17 at the break.
No let up from Barça despite the significant lead after the restart, and Carlos Ortega's side made the most of their opponent's losses of possession and disjointed play to go 12-26 up.
Superb second half performance from Gonzalo
The game was already only going to end one way, and coach Ortega was able to rotate his squad. The lead remained pretty stable thanks in no small part to blaugrana keeper Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, who showed great athleticism time and again to thwart the home side's attacks, while adding a couple of goals himself.
So, Barça confirmed their win, and as Bidasoa lost in Granollers, the Catalan derby at the Palau Blaugrana on 13 April may just see blaugranes crowned Liga ASOBAL champions.
Game stats
Anaitasuna 24
Barça 40
Anaitasuna: Edu Fernández (2), Itoiz (2), Torriko (7), Ortiz (0), Gascón (1) y Aitor García (3) - starting seven - Bazán (3), Martinovic (1), Xavier González (2), Arzoz (1), Albizu (2), Kisselev (0), Juan Manuel Bar (0) and Iñaki Martínez (0).
Barça: Nielsen 80), Aleix (4), Dika Mem (1), Petrus (0), Javi Rodríguez(3) N'Guessan (1) y Ariño (3) - starting seven - Valera (3), Carlsbogard (1), Wanne (5), Janc (4), Langaro (0), Richardson (6), Frade (6), Cikusa (1) and Gonzalo (2).
Partials scores: 2-2, 5-5, 7-8, 9-11, 10-14, 10-17 / half-time / 12-22, 15-27, 15-30, 21-34, 22-37, 24-40.
Referees: Alejandro Hoz Fernández and Axel Riloba Pereda