ElPozo 1-3 Barça: First leg advantage

A great win for Barça in the Palacio de los Deportes in Murcia, final score 1-3 away to ElPozo Murcia in the first leg of the Liga play-off quarterfinals, plus a two goal advantage to bring back to the Palau Blaugrana. Matheus with two goals inspired a hard fought win for Barça. The return leg is on Saturday at 7pm CEST, with a semifinal place at stake.

Ferrao opens the scoring

ElPozo played with a goalkeeper-player virtually from kick-off, but Barça defended well, including a super save from Dídac Plana. Barça were also threatening to score, culminating in Ferrao finishing a Pito lay-off (0-1, min. 8).

The joy was short-lived, however, as the home side equalised through  Fernando just three minutes later (1-1, min. 11). There were further chances for both sides before Matheus scored from a super run and dribble to put Barça ahead again (1-2, min. 16).

Matheus strikes again

ElPozo pressed to find the equaliser in the second half but Dídac showed his class in goal. Then Matheus extended the lead with a good goal to make it 1-3 (min. 33). There could have been more but Juanjo saved a double penalty from Sergio Lozano after the sixth foul for the home side.

Ultimately a Barça win and a two goal advantage to defend in the Palau Blaugrana at 7pm CEST on Saturday in front of the Barça fans. Remember that there won't be penalties should the aggregate score finish equal, with the highest finisher in the Liga Regular going through, in this case Barça who finished first.

Game stats

ElPozo Murcia, 1
Barça, 3

ElPozo Murcia: Juanjo, Marcel, Fernando, Gadeia, Rafa Santos - starters. Matteus, Mati Rosa, Juanico, Valerio, Leo Santana, Alberto García, Darío.
​Barça: Dídac, André Coelho, Dyego, Adolfo, Matheus - starters -. Ferrao, Pito, Lozano, Ortiz, Marcenio, Esquerdinha.

​Goals: 0-1, Ferrao (min. 8); 1-1, Fernando (min. 11); 1-2, Matheus (min. 16); 1-3, Matheus (min. 33).

​Referees: Carlos Rodrígo and Fermín Sánchez-Molina. Yellow for Coelho (3'), Ferrao (5'), Matheus (32') from Barça and  Marcel (4'), Rafa Santos (5'), Mati Rosa (6'), Fernando (10'), Valerio (18'), Alberto García (32') from the home side.

Photo: ElPozo Múrcia