THW Kiel 33-28 FC Barcelona: Not to be

It wasn't to be. Barça lost the 2019/20 EHF Champions League final 33-28 to THW Kiel, but the team will aim to go one better in 2020/21. Aleix Gómez, with ten goals, was the top scorer.

Fast start

In an empty Lanxess Arena, Kiel started on the front foot with seven attacks and a two-goal lead that they quickly increased to four. It sparked Xavi Pascual's team into life, and goals from Cindric, Aleix Gómez and Dika Mem saw the first period end 19-16 in favour of the Germans. 

Barça persist but Kiel too good 

Barça kept pushing but struggled to score against a solid defence. THW continued with their seven-point attack, and Filip Jícha's side kept the blaugranes at bay when needed. Though they were never more than four goals behind for the most part, (five at the end, 33-28), Barça were unable to find another gear to overhaul their opponents.

MATCH DETAILS

Kiel, 33
Barça, 28

Kiel: Landin Jacobsen (-), Weinhold (5), Ekberg (8), Pekeler (4), Wiencek (2), Sagosen (-) and Dahmke (5) -starters- Quenstedt (-), Zarabec (1), Reinkind (-), Duvnjak (-). 
Barça: Kevin Möller (-), Ariño (4), Janc (-), Mem (4), Cindric (3), Pálmarsson (1) and Fabregas (3) -starters- Pérez de Vargas (), Aleix Gómez (10), Petrus (-), Dolenec (-), Frade (), N'Guessan (1), Entrerríos (1) and Sorhaindo (-).

Partials: 3-3; 7-5; 10-8; 13-10; 15-14; 19-16 / 21-17; 21-19; 25-21; 26-22; 29-25; 33-28

Officials: Matija Gubica and Boris Milosevic.