Lodi 2-3 FC Barcelona: Qualified for the Final Eight

Victory didn't come easy at Italian club Lodi, but Barça are through to the Final Eight on their journey towards a potential European final.

At a packed Pala Castelloti for the first visit by Barça to the arena since 1982, the home side were hoping to catch the Catalans napping just four days after winning the Spanish Cup. And it looked they might have done exactly that when they took a 2-0 lead.

Barça needed to wake up and wake up they did. Joao Rodrigues converted a penalty on the half hour mark, who scored again four minutes later following a sharp assist from Helder Nunes

With the scores level, Barça battled long and hard for a winner, while Lodi for a rush goalie tactic in a desperate push to snatch one of their own. Instead, Carles Grau grabbed a last-second goal that meant a dramatic victory.

And the news that Forte and Valongo had drawn in their own game means they are mathematically through to the Final Eight.

And that's with two games yet to play, at home to Valongo (March 23) and away to Forte (April 13).

MATCH STATS

Lodi: Valentín Grimalt, Lorenzo Giovannetti, Alessandro Faccin, Pablo Najera, Morgan Antonioni, Filipe Fernandes, Nico Barbieri & Andrea Fantozzi.

Barça: Carles Grau, Pau Bargalló, Joao Rodrigues, Ignacio Alabart, Helder Nunes, Sergi Panadero, Marc Grau, Sergi Llorca & Joan Pascual.

Goals: 1-0, Filipe Fernandes (min. 20); 2-0, Andrea Fantozzi (min. 26); 2-1, Ignacio Alabart (min. 26); 2-2, Joao Rodrigues (min. 30); 2-3, Joao Rodrigues (min. 31).

Photo: Vanelli