Barça 36-25 HC Motor: The fortess holds

Barça’s first game of the EHF Champions League at the Palau Blaugrana has ended in a 36-25 win over HC Motor, with Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas and Dika Mem on exceptional form in a convincing display. And it was against a Ukrainian side that proved very tough to break down, with their goalkeeper Pukhouski quite exceptional. 

Two wins out of two in the competition so far and Barça remain unbeaten at home in Europe since 2015. 

Barça had stormed into an astonishing 10-3 lead, but the scoring dried up as Pukhouski started his magic, and the interval score was much together at 16-13. 

The Catalans got their touch back after the break, and when they led by double figures the win was no longer in doubt, even though HC Motor again mounted an impressive comeback to cut the difference at one point back down to six.

Barça are back in domestic action on Saturday as they take on Bidasoa Irún. 

MATCH STATS

Barça: Pérez de Vargas (-), Janc (1), Dika Mem (8), Fabregas (4), Thiagus Petrus (1), Ali Zein (1), Makuc (3), Maciel (-), Alex Fernández (3), Langaro (3), Frade (2), Richardson (4), Aleix Gómez (4), Martí Soler (2) & Parera (-)

HC Motor: Komok (-), Kozakevych (4), Malasinkas (1), Sebetic (4), Bokhan (3), Denysov (-), Horiha (3), Viunik (-), Molina (-), Tilte (1), Pukhouski (6), Vasilev (3), Burzak (-), Kasai (-), Dontsov (-) & Kravchenko (-)

Periods: 2-2; 6-2; 10-5; 12-8; 13-10; 16-13 // 20-15; 22-16; 24-19; 27-10; 32-22; 36-25