Barça 40-30 Elverum: Through to the quarterfinals!

The first Champions League game at the Palau Blaugrana in two months saw Barça ease to victory against Elverum (40-30). Pol Valera made his European debut and both Luis Frade and Cindric had great games. The win takes Barça directly through to the quarterfinals and avoids a last 16 clash.

Good first half

The desire to win was apparent from the off, four goals by Hampus Wanne and three by Dika Mem made it 9-3 (min 12). Nielsen was having a great game in goal and would even go on to score. Fabregas led the Barça push (16-9, min 25) and the score was 19-12 at the break despite the visitor's best efforts.

Game closed out

Cindric took on the baton after the break, aided by Luis Frade, to make the score 26-16. This only spurred on Elverum, the Norwegian side stepping up to cut the lead to five (28-23, min 43). However, the Catalans reacted in turn and closed out the game to win 40-30 and book their place in the Champions League quarterfinal.

Game stats

Barça, 40
Elverum, 30

Barça: Emil Nielsen (1), Luís Frade (8), Ludovic Fàbregas (4), Jonathan Carlsbogard, Dika Mem (4), Aleix Gómez (2), Hampus Wanne (4) - starting seven -, Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (-), Luka Cindric (5), Melvyn Richardson (5), Domen Makuc (-), Pol Valera (-), Timothey N'Guessan (-), Blaz Janc (2), Martí Soler (-) and Artur Parera (1).

Elverum: Emil Kheri Imsgard (-), Enfre Langaas (3), Tobias Grondahl (4), Daniel Blomgren (5), Orri Thorkelsson (2), Christopher Hedberg (-), Benjamin Berg (-) -starting seven -, Simon Mizera (-), Patrick Anderson (5), Uros Borzas (1), Kasper Thorsen Lien (4), Sindre Heldal (5) and Niclas Fingren (1).

Partial scores: 2-2, 7-3, 10-7, 13-8, 16-9, 19-12 (half time), 23-16, 27-20, 29-24, 34-28, 36-30 i 40-30 (final score).

Referees: Maike Merz and Tanja Kuttler.

Attendance: 1,872