Bidasoa Irún 26-32 Barça: Victory against last year's runner-up

The Barça handball team faced a tough test on Saturday away to last season’s runners-up, Bidasoa Irún. They may have won their first two games in the Liga Sacyr Asobal fairly comfortable, but this game was going to another matter entirely, doubling as a tribute to Thomas Svensson, who played for both clubs.

Eventually, Barça coped brilliantly with what is always a vociferous home support and won the game by six, despite it coming just two days after a tough European test, with less than 40 hours to get some rest.

Dika was outstanding as the Catalans did most of the hard work in the first half, amassing a 7-point lead. From there in it was a case of holding on, and Carlos Ortega even chose to send out some of his less regular players for the final minutes. That allowed the Basques back into the game, but never enough to put a Catalan victory in doubt.

Next up are Telekom Veszprém on Wednesday in another EHF Champions League fixture.