Benfica 3-4 Barça: Into the final
The Barça roller hockey side have made it to the Champions League final. Ricard Ares' team have beaten Benfica thanks to an excellent team performance and now have the chance to lift the trophy for the first time in eight years.
Two goals from Alabart and strikes from Marc Grau and Ferran Font were enough to see off a strong Benfica side with the final now coming against another Portuguese side, Porto, on Sunday at 7pm CEST.
Strong start
Keeper Sergi Fernández continued his excellent form with another good performance, making some important early saves. Alabart then put the blaugranes ahead on 4 minutes but almost immediately João Rodrigues pulled one back for Benfica.
Chances came and went for both sides but there were no more goals before the break half time.
Champions League finalists
In the space of two minutes early in the second half Marc Grau and Ferran Font turned the game in Barça's favour with two goals to make it 3-1 to the blaugranes. With nothing to lose, Benfica piled on the pressure and a penalty from João Rodrigues cut the deficit on 36 minutes. Alabart then made it 4-2 and the blaugranes seemed in control but a goal from Bargalló for the Portuguese team made it 4-3 with still time remaining on the clock.
However, Barça held on comfortably to reach Sunday's final with the chance of lifting the European crown for the first time in a while.
MATCH STATS
BENFICA, 3
BARÇA, 4
Benfica: Acevedo, Miranda, Di Benedetto, Nil Roca, João Rodrigues -starting five- Oliveira, Pau Bargalló, Lucas Ordoñez, Gonzalo Pinto.
Barça: Sergi Fernández, Alabart, Marc Grau, Ferran Font, Aragonès -starting five- Pablo Álvarez, Sergi Llorca, Xavi Barroso, Eloi Cervera.
Goals: 0-1, Alabart (min 4). 1-1, João Rodrigues (min 4). 1-2, Marc Grau (min 33). 1-3, Ferran Font (min 34). 2-3, João Rodrigues, de penal (min 36). 2-4, Alabart (min 43). 3-4, Pau Bargalló (min 48).
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