Mission: accomplished. Barça Lassa clinched the top spot in Group A of the Champions League after beating Montpelier HB at Sud Arena France.
A great first half, solid defending, and the play of Aleix Gomez and Fábregas in the face of a second-half Montpelier comeback attempt were all key in delivering the win for the Catalans.
By knocking out the defending champs on their home court, Barça not only notched a confidence-boosting triumph, but they also earned a crucial round of 16 bye and thus move directly on to the quarterfinals.
Game Stats
Montpellier, 28
Barça, 36
Montpeller HB: Gerard, Villeminot (2), Truchanovicius (2), Grebille (2), Afgour (2), Kavitcnik (4), Porte (2) —STARTING SEVEN — Causse (1), Bos (-), Guigou (2), Pettersson (4), Richardson (6) Bonnefond (-), Soussi (1).
Barça Lassa: Pérez de Vargas, Entrerríos (2), N’Guessan (3), Aleix (8), Ilic (1), Fabregas (4), Mem (6)—STARTING SEVEN — Möller (P.S.) Tomás (1), Ariño (2), Sypzrak (3), Petrus (1), Duarte (2), Dolenec (1), Pálmarsson (2).
Score by 5-min intervals: 2-2, 3-7, 5-9, 6-11, 9-15, 12-18 (HALF) 17-19, 20-22, 22-27, 23-29, 26-33, 28-36.
