Barça 32-28 Kielce: First European win of the season in the Palau

In a repeat of the final of last season's European competition, the Barça handball team beat the Polish side Lomza Industria Kielce 32-28 in front of 3,504 fans at the Palau Blaugrana.

A very even and intense game was won in no small part by a great Nielsen in goal and an effective attack, with Ludovic Fàbregas chosen as man of the match after top scoring for Barça with six goals.

Nielsen provides the foundation

Kielce started the game well, but Barça quickly found their rhythm through a solid defence and an effective attack. The game was intense, but goalkeeper Nielsen was like a brick wall, making 10 saves in the first half to frustrate the Polish side. Dika Mem with four goals and an inspired Ludovic Fàbregas with five saw the home side through to an 18-13 lead at the break.

Barça quell the Kielce charge

The lead was cut to 19-17 within 10 minutes of the restart, but every time Kielce looked like they were going to build some momentum, Barça popped up with goals to redress the balance. Pretty much the rest of the game followed this pattern, enabling Barça to see out a 31-28 win in front of their passionate fans in the Palau.

Game stats

Barça, 32
Kielce, 28 

Barça: Nielsen (-), Aleix Gómez (5), Mem (5), Thiagus Petrus (-), N’Guessan (4), Wanne (3), Fàbregas (6) – starters - Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas (ps), Janc (1), Carlsbogard (-), Richardson (3), Ariño (-), Langaro (1), Cindric (3), Frade (1), Makuc (-).

Kielce: Wolff (-), Kounkoud (2), Sicko (4), Alex Dujshebaev (4), Karalek (2), Nahí (1), Karacic (3) – starters - Kornecki (ps), Daniel Dujshebaev (4), Olejniczak (-), Sánchez-Migallón (1), Tournat (-), Moryto (6), Remili (1), Wiaderny (-), Thrastarson (-).

Partial scores: 3-3; 6-6; 9-9; 13-11; 16-13; 18-13 (halftime); 19-14; 20-18; 22-20; 26-23; 28-25; 32-28 (final score). 

Referee: Mirza Kurtagic, Mattias Wetterwik.