FC Barcelona v Aalborg Handbold: Through to the quarters (29-22)

FC Barcelona: Saric, V. Tomás (5), Gurbindo (1), Sorhaindo (2), Karabatic (-), Entrerríos (1), Ariño (2) -starting seven- Lazarov (1), V. Morros (-), Noddesbo (1), Sigurdsson (6), Sarmiento (2), Saubich (-), Rutenka (5), Jallouz (3).

Aalbord Handbol: Erevik, Christian Jensen (2), Larsen (3), Berggren (5), Barud (-), Tvedten (3), Sagosen (3) –starting seven- Simon Jensen (2), Pedersen (1), Stig Jensen (1), Magnus Jensen (1), Engelbretch (1).

5 minute periods: 3-1 / 4-1 / 5-4 / 8-4 / 12-6 / 14-9 (HT) 16-10 / 18-12 / 22-14 / 23-15 / 26-19 / 29-22.

Attendance: 3,014

FC Barcelona have beaten Aalborg Handbol 29-22 in the second leg of their round of 16 VELUX EHF Champions League tie and are through to the last eight of the competition. Watched by president Josep Maria Bartomeu in the build-up to the football Clásico against Real Madrid, the handball team refused to sit back despite having a huge 20-point lead from the first leg and produced a spectacular display to clinch their quarter final berth.

The game got off to a slow start, but Barça were always in command and achieved their first meaningful lead at 8-4, eventually ending the half six points to the good on 14-9, with Sigurdsson having posted an especially impressive performance.

The second half was a mere formality, but the Catalans continued to build on their lead, with Rutenka leading the play as the game eventually ended 29-22. On Tuesday at 11.30am CET, Barça will find out who they’ll be playing next when the draw is made in Vienna. The other teams going into the hat are RK Zagreb (Croatia), Paris Saint-Germain (France), THW Kiel (Germany), MKB Veszprém KC and SC Pick Szeged (Hungary), RK Vardar (Macedonia) and Vive Targi Kielce (Poland).