Valladolid 26-24 Barça: Title will have to wait
Not this time either. Barça couldn’t clinch the title in Valladolid, suffering a rare 26-24 defeat and missed a second chance to seal the Liga mathematically. The title isn’t in doubt, but they’ll have to wait at least one more match day.
It was never going to be easy at Huerta del Rey, where no one had won all season. From the start, Valladolid set the pace, keeping a steady two-goal lead through much of the first half. Barça struggled, missing three consecutive penalties, and trailed 15-10 at the break after a frankly poor showing.
After half-time, Barça came out with a stronger defence and briefly cut the gap to three. Vincent Gérard made key saves, and a goal from Frade brought them within two (20-18). But time and César Pérez in goal worked against them. Valladolid held firm, and Barça fell short. The title will have to wait—perhaps just until Friday at the Palau against Anaitasuna.
MATCH STATS
Valladolid: 26
Barça: 24
Valladolid: César Pérez (0), Oliveira (2), Karapalevski (3), Álvaro Martínez (4), Miguel Martínez (2), Dimitrioski (1), D'Antino (3), Nico Giráldez (0), Juanma Bar (0), Abdelazize (0), Pedro Martínez (0), Camino (0), Herrero (3), Ribeiro (0), Toledo (8) & Falcucci (0).
Barça: Nielsen (0), Janc (3), Mem (5), Petrus (0), Carlsbogard (2), Frade (4), Ariño (5), Gérard (0), Bazán (0), Valera (0), Aleix (2), Makuc (1), Palomino (1), Richardson (1), Cikusa (0) & Javi Rodríguez (0).
Periods: 3-3, 5-4, 7-5, 10-8, 12-10, 15-10 / HT / 15-11, 17-13, 19-15, 22-18, 24-21, 26-24.
Referees: Tania Rodríguez Estévez & Lorena García Gil.