PAS Alcoi 1-5 Barça: Win with a bonus
Just three days after a tough game in Italy, a very competitive Barça roller hockey team have won 1-5 away to PAS Alcoy, with Pablo Álvarez getting four goals. A solid defensive performance provided Ricard Ares' side the platform for the Argentinian to shine. After Liceo lost at Voltregà, Barça are now just two points behind.
Llorca opens scoring
The blaugranes looked to take control from the off, with good defensive structure and remaining patient in attack. One of their first forays actually ended up with an Alabart inside pass being diverted by Llorca for the first goal (0-1, min. 6). This emboldened the visitors to seek out more.
Pablo Álvarez proves most decisive
Things could have changed without Carles Grau, though, as the keeper saved a home side penalty, which had to be take again, which he promptly saved again. Barça made the most of it when Pablo Álvarez made it two after a play from behind the goal (0-2, min. 18). Great strides were being made and it could have been more if Alabart had scored a direct free hit after a 10th foul by the home side before the break.
The second half began quietly until Sergi Llorca was shown a blue card, and it was time to defend, with Carles Grau helping his side to get through those two minutes unscathed. Barça kept pushing, and not long after Ortigosa hit the post, Pablo Álvarez got his brace at the far post with a great goal (0-3, min. 41).
The home side were having their best chances of the match, and first Carles Grau saved a direct free hit, before Manel Hernández managed to score a penalty (1-3, min. 42) to make it interesting towards the end.
Closing in on top spot
It was Pablo's day though, as he scored a penalty (1-4, min. 46) before getting a fourth at the end (1-5, min. 50) of this very professional performance. The game came with a bonus as Liceo lost away to Voltregà, so Barça are now only two behind top spot.
MATCH STATS
Alcoy: 1
Barça: 5
Alcoy: Guiri, Joan Pascual, Biel Autet, Manel Hernández y Caco Ceschin - starting five - Oltra, Álvaro Hernández, Iago Vázquez, Agustín Domínguez and Gonzalo Pérez.
Barça: Carles Grau, Alabart, Marc Grau, Sergi Llorca y Sergi Aragonès - starting five - Sergi Fernández, Pablo Álvarez, Ortigosa, Barroso and Cervera.
Goals: 0-1, Sergi Llorca (min. 6); 0-2, Pablo Álvarez (min. 18); 0-3, Pablo Álvarez (min. 41); 1-3, Manel Hernández (min. 42); 1-4, Pablo Álvarez (min. 46); 1-5, Pablo Álvarez (min. 50)
Referees: Oriol Pérez and Erik Rivas. Fouls: 16-12.