Liceo 3-6 Barça: Champions again!

The Barça roller hockey team are OK Liga champions once again! They only needed the minimum number of games after this 3-6 win and third victory in the series against the reigning champions Liceo.

All to play for

Today's game at the Riazor Arena was last chance saloon for the Galician side and the first of three match balls for the Catalans. Liceo began by intending to make the most of the big home crowd and Bruno Di Benedetto scored early to raise the roof (1-0, min. 4).

However, the visitors responded almost immediately, Pau Bargalló robbing Di Benedetto to feed Joao Rodrigues to make it 1-1 (min. 7). Pau Bargalló then scored with a vicious hit (1-2, min. 15), before Di Benedetto stepped up again with a first time finish to level the game before the break (2-2, min. 17).

Bargalló the difference-maker

Another counter attack after the restart saw Di Benedetto grab his hat-trick (3-2, min. 32), but that proved to be the last goal for the Galicians. Helder Nunes unfortunately missed a penalty at one end, but Sergi Fernández brilliantly kept out a direct free hit by Álex Rodríguez to keep the score at 3-2.

Barça clearly wanted to leave as champions and Bargalló scored a direct free hit to level the tie (3-3, min. 36), creating palpable tension in the arena, before the undoubted MVP of the playoffs again scored to complete his hat-trick (3-4, min. 45).

33rd league title confirmed

That was Bargalló's 17th goal in eight post-season games and the OK Liga title was in sight. Liceo played with no keeper in a final push, but that let in Joao Rodrigues (3-5, min. 50) and Marc Grau (3-6, min 50) to sealed win.

Despite a full time fracas somewhat halting the celebration, the team were finally able to claim their 33rd league title, completing a league, cup and super cup treble for the season!

Game stats

Deportivo Liceo: 3
Barça: 6

Deportivo Liceo: Martí Serra, Álex Rodríguez, César Carballeira, Dava Torres and Bruno Di Benedetto - starting five -, Sito Ricart, Pol Manrubia, Fabri Ciocale, and Fran Torres.

Barça: Sergi Fernández, Ignacio Alabart, Pau Bargalló, Joao Rodrigues and Helder Nunes - starting five - Carles Grau, Joan Pascual, Sergi Panadero, Marc Grau and Sergi Llorca.

Goals: 1-0, Bruno di Benedetto (min. 4); 1-1, Joao Rodrigues (min. 7); 1-2, Pau Bargalló (min. 15); 2-2, Bruno Di Benedetto (min. 17); 3-2, Bruno Di Benedetto (min. 32); 3-3, Pau Bargallo (min. 36); 3-4, Pau Bargalló (min. 45); 3-5, Joao Rodrigues (min. 50); 3-6, Marc Grau (min. 50).

Referees: Sergi Mayor Oliván and Jonathan Sánchez García. Red cards for Pol Manrubia from Liceo. and Sergi Fernández, Pau Bargalló and Jordi Roca (assistant coach) from Barça.