Barça have booked their place in the Iberian Super Cup final after beating Porto 39-37 in the semi-finals at Vigo’s Instituto Ferial. Carlos Ortega’s side were pushed hard by their Champions League opponents, who remained within striking distance throughout. The Catalans will face the winners of Bidasoa v Sporting CP in Saturday’s final at 8.30pm CEST.

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Fast start

After an even opening (3-3, min 5), Barça hit a 3-0 run to move 6-3 ahead. The game was played at a frantic pace, but the Catalans gradually took control, stretching the lead to 10-4 thanks in part to an inspired Frade (3/3).

Barça remained firmly in front from there, with Hallgrímsson also impressing in goal, and went into the break with a 21-15 lead.

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Portuguese reaction

The Portuguese side came out strongly after the interval and cut the deficit to three (24-21, min 34). Barça responded with another 3-0 run to restore their six-goal cushion at 31-25, but Porto refused to go away.

They again closed to within three at 34-31, forcing Ortega to call a timeout. Antonio Martinez (6/6) played an important role as Barça repeatedly prevented Porto from reducing the gap to two.

Into the final!

The closing stages remained tense, with Porto making it 38-36 with a minute to play. But Smárason produced a spectacular goal to seal a 39-37 victory and send Barça into the Iberian Super Cup final for the fifth consecutive season.

MATCH STATS

Barça, 39
Porto, 37

Barça: Hallgrímsson (-), Aleix (5), Dika Mem (6), Smárason (3), N'Guessan (1), Frade (5), Dani Fernández (6), Novakovic (1), Carlsbogard (2), Djordje Cikusa (2), Janc (-), Adrian Sola (1), Elderaa (-), Fàbregas (-), Ian Barrufet (6), Petar Cikusa (1).

Porto: Sebastian Abrahamsson (-), Ricardo Caldeira Brandao (3), Gilberto Brito (-), Xavier Barbosa (4), Miguel Oliverira (4), Pedro Miguel Cardoso Oliveira (1), Linus Niclas Persson (2), Joao Gomes (3), Thorsteinn Leo Gunnarsson (3), Rui Sousa Martins Silva (1), Vasco Viegas Andrade Santos Costa (2), Leonel Fernandes (-), Antonio Martinez (6), Pedro Antunes (-), Jose Luis Correira Ferreira (2), Guilermhe Borges (6).

Periods: 5-3; 8-4; 12-7; 16-9; 18-12; 21-15 // HT // 25 -22; 28-24; 32-27; 34-31; 37-33; 39-37.

Referees: Alberto Murillo Castro, Pablo Garcia Sanchez. Red card for Miguel Oliveira.

Força Barça