Magdeburg 29-28 Barça: Still to decide
A last gasp goal saw Magdeburg defeat Barça 29-28, with a solid first half for the visitors giving way to a comeback for the home side in the second half. The blaugranes can still ensure top spot in EHF Champions League Group B with a win in the final game against Montpellier.
Top two face off
Both Barça and Magdeburg showed why they are where they are in the table, with nothing to choose between the sides from the outset. Matthias Musche and Aleix Gómez exchanging goals just eight seconds apart in the first minute demonstrating just that.
Barça took the reins and always remained a goal ahead, pushing Magdeburg for a response at a tough place to impose your play. It took 10 minutes to gain some daylight on the scoreboard and the big guns stepped up as the occasion befitted.
Captain Dika Mem led the charge and scored four in the first 30 minutes, ably assisted by Aleix Gómez who also scored four. At the other end, Emil Nielsen added to his superb performances against GOG and Torrelavega, stopping 10 of 22 shots, including a vital double save when the German side were on top. Halftime score 13-14.
Magdeburg comeback
Frade played a key role after the break, scoring six of his eight goals in this half alone. However, Magdeburg mounted a comeback to go ahead by two. The blaugranes fought to the end, but the German side are strong at home and just when it seemed a draw was on the cards, Kristjansson popped up with the winner (39-38).
GAME STATS
Magdeburg 29.
Barça 28.
Magdeburg: Nikola Portner (1), Matthias Musche (2), Felix Claar (6), Daniel Pettersson (1), Janus Smarason (0), Philipp Weber (0), Ómar Magnusson (5) - starting seven - Sergey Hernández (5), Gisli Kristjansson (5), Albin Lagergen (4), Magnus Jensen (0), Janus Smarason (1), Tim Hornke (1), Lukas Mertens (0), Christian O'Sullivan (0), Michael Damgaard (0), Oscar Bergendahl (0).
Barça: Emil Nielsen (11), Jonathan Carlsbogard (2), Aitor Ariño (0), Dika Mem (4), Melvyn Richardson (2), Aleix Gómez (7), Luis Frade (8) - starting seven - Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (4), Timothey N'Guessan (3), Thiagus Petrus (0), Javier Rodríguez (0), Pol Valera (0), Hampus Wanne (0), Blaz Janc (1), Haniel Langaro (0), Petar Cikusa (1).
Partial scores: 3-3 / 6-6 / 7-8 / 8-11 / 10-12 / 14-16 / halftime / 14-16 / 17-21 / 21-21 / 24-24 / 26-25 / 29-28.
Referees: Lars Jorum and Havard Kleven.