Toulouse 34-39 Barça: Win in preparation for the Final Four

A friendly win for the Barça handball team away in Toulouse as preparations for the Final Four in Cologne on June 17/18 continue. A game to maintain the competitive rhythm as they seek to defend their European crown. Fàbregas and Dika Mem top scored with 9 and 7 goals respectively.

After the league season finished on June 1, this game against Toulouse - who finished sixth in the French league - proved a good runout. Carlos Ortega rotated and shared out the minutes in a game dominated by Barça practically from the outset, going on to win albeit in gradual fashion.

Now the team will prepare for the Final Four at the Ciutat Esportiva until June 14, when the travelling party will head to Cologne. The first test comes against Magdeburg on June 17 at 3.30pm CEST in the Champions League semi-finals from the imposing Lanxess Arena.

GAME STATS

Toulouse, 34
Barça, 39

Toulouse: Lettens, Chelle, Balenciaga, Pettersson, Ilic, Martins Vieira, Abdi - starting seven - Paul (sg), Feutchmann, Wagner, Jarry, Kempf, Diallo, Oulieu, Briet.

Barça: Nielsen (1), Aleix Gómez (2), Dika Mem (7), Makuc (3), Carlsbogard (1), Wanne, Luis Frade (3) - starting seven - Pérez de Vargas (sg, 1), Pol Valera (1), Blaz Janc (5), N'Guessan (1), Thiagus Petrus, Cindric (1), Langaro (1), Richardson (1), Ludovic Fàbregas (9), Martí Soler (2), Artur Parera.

Partial scores: 2-4, 3-6, 6-7, 10-11, 14-15, 16-18 (halftime), 19-21, 21-24, 23-26, 27-31, 29-34, 34-39 (fulltime).

Referees: Sylvain Artés, Jérôme Rolland.