European champions Barcelona will have the opportunity to defend their title on Sunday June 19 in the Champions League final in Cologne (Germany). Thanks to their victory against Kiel, the FC Barcelona handball players will find the Poles of Kielce there, who are chasing a second European crown after that of 2016.
The Polish team triumphed over Veszprem on Saturday afternoon (37-35), in a meeting where each formation had its period. The first was dominated by the Hungarians, thanks to an excellent defense that reduced Kielce’s shooting efficiency to 55%. But on returning from the locker room, with Veszprem leading 18-16 at the break, Hungarian defense boss Blaz Blagotinsek was punished with a red card which completely reversed the scenario of the meeting.
His team began to make errors in transmissions while Kielce goalkeeper Andreas Wolff became impassable. Kielce coach Talant Dujshebaev praised his performance after the match: “In the first half, we didn’t play so badly but our goalkeepers managed only five saves (…). But after the break, Andreas Wolff made some great saves and gave us power. It changed the scenario of the game. »
FC Barcelona Handball will have the opportunity to improve their Champions League title record
Kielce therefore qualifies for the second time in its history in the final of the Champions League, where the Polish club will find FC Barcelona Handball, defending champion. The Blaugrana disposed of the Germans from Kiel at the start of the evening (34-30). After a balanced first period, at the end of which Barca only led by one goal (19-18), the Spaniards took the lead after returning from the locker room. But their indiscipline sanctioned by several temporary exclusions maintained the hopes of the Germans, who returned to a goal behind, before the European champions resumed their march forward.
The Barcelonians, and in particular Aleix Gomez, author of twelve goals, quite easily found spaces in the staggered defense of Kiel, while the Germans stumbled on a very good Gonzalo Perez de Vargas in the cages. The most successful club in the competition, Barca will aim for a tenth crown in the Champions League on Sunday.