Barça’s roller hockey team fell just short of a 23rd Champions League title after losing 3-1 to Porto in the final in Coimbra. Ricard Ares’ side were forced to chase the game from the very beginning after two early Portuguese goals, but they never stopped believing.

Alabart pulled one back in the second half and Barça had chances to level the score, but the Portuguese side held firm before Telmo Pinto sealed the title late on with the decisive third goal.

Punished early

Porto came flying out of the blocks, and a blue card shown to Marc Grau inside the opening minute gave the Portuguese side an early direct free-hit. Sergi Fernández stood tall to deny Di Benedetto, but the Barça goalkeeper could do nothing moments later when Rafa fired Porto ahead almost immediately.

Things quickly got worse for the blaugrana. Gonçalo Alves struck from distance to double the lead and leave Barça with a mountain to climb.

It was a brutal start, although Barça continued to push forward and create danger, while Fernández helped to keep Barça alive with a string of important saves.

Not to be

The restart brought renewed hope for Barça when Alabart converted a penalty to make it 2–1.

The goal transformed the mood of the final, with Barça suddenly sensing an equaliser, and the Porto keeper was tested on a number of occasions.

As the clock ticked down, time began to work against Barça in a final filled with controversial moments. Then came the killer blow: Telmo Pinto struck on the counterattack after a fine individual move to seal the title for Porto.

A painful defeat, but one that still leaves the team with enormous pride after fighting until the very end.

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    MATCH STATS

    PORTO, 3
    BARÇA, 1

    Porto: Xavi Malián, Rafa Soares, Carlo Di Benedetto, Gonçalo Alves, Hélder Nunes, Telmo Pinto, Edu Lamas, Ezequiel Mena, Pol Manrubia.

    Barça: Sergi Fernández, Ignacio Alabart, Ferran Font, Marc Grau, Sergi Aragonés, Pablo Álvarez, Xavi Barroso, Sergi Llorca, Eloi Cervera.

    Goals: 1-0, Rafa (min 2). 2-0, Gonçalo Alves (min 7). 2-1, Alabart, de penal (min 27). 3-1, Telmo Pinto (min 45).

    Referees: Joseph Silecchia, Francesco Stallone. Fouls: 9-10. Blues for Telmo Pinto & Hélder Nunes (Port) and Marc Grau (2) & Barroso (Barça).

    Força Barça