FC Barcelona v ElPozo Múrcia: Three golden points (3-2)

FC Barcelona: P. Sedano, Gabriel, Lin, Batería & Wilde –starting five–, Aicardo, Lozano, Ari, Dyego,  Saad & Rafa Usín.

ElPozo Múrcia: Fede, Bebe, Adri, Gréllo i Álex –starting five–, Miguelín, Lima, Raúl Campos & Ique.

Goals: 1-0, min 11: Gabriel; 1-1, min 15: Ique; 1-2, min 24: Álex; 2-2, min 27: Lozano; 3-2, min 36: Dyego.

After going two games without a win, FC Barcelona beat third placed ElPozo Múrcia in a gripping match that leaves them hot on the trail of league leaders Inter Movistar.

The intriguing encounter got off to an edgy start, with Barça struggling to get into the action, but it was the Blaugrana who scored first, with Gabriel converting from a corner. Ique then pulled level, also from a corner, whereupon Barça pushed it up a gear, and came frustratingly close to getting their second on two occasions before the break.

Wilde and Ari squandered similar chances shortly after the second half had started, and then the Palau was stunned when Álex scored for the visitors just when it looked like ElPozo were being completely overrun. But the home side reacted as only the best teams know how, and three minutes later Sergio Lozano slammed the ball past visiting keeper Fede to get things back level at 2-2.

Problems with the scoreboard led to a long delay in the match, and that broke the rhythm of both teams, leading to a frenetic final few minutes. Barça continued to pile on the pressure, yet ElPozo were getting almost as many real chances. With the game at maximum intensity, and there for the tasking by either side, Dyego scored after 36 minutes to clinch the definitive 3-2 win for FC Barcelona.