30.06.2010 11:47
Bitter-sweet Final four
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Barca Borges took part in the first Final Four of the Champions League in Cologne. Victory came within touching distance but Kiel, with the home advantage, snatched a win.
The Champions League featured a new format for the 2009-10 season. After the group phase, the R16
and the quarterfinals, the remaining four teams played out the first handball Final Four in
Cologne. Barca Borges lived up to their superb European record and made it through to the final.
First win in the Sparkassen Arena
In the group phase, Barca crossed swords once again with Kiel. It was honours
even as Kiel took the points in the Palau (27-30) while Barca got their revenge in the Sparkassen
Arena (30-32), the first ever Barca win in Kiel. A draw away to la Kolding (22-22) prevented Barca
from finishing in first place but meant that they avoided the winner of another group.
Top opposition in R16 and quarterfinals
In the R16, Barca Borges were drawn against Zagreb, a team with a great tradition in the
European Cup. Barca came out on top in both games and went on to repeat the double against
Hungarian opposition, Veszprem.
Kiel take it in the final minutes
In the Final Four, Barca Borges faced Txekhvoskie Medvedi in the semis. The
Russians were an unknown quantity for Pascual’s men but in the event they swept to a
comfortable 27-34 victory.
Meanwhile, Kiel got the better of Ciudad Real in the other semi-final. Barca produced a
disciplined performance in the final and dominated for much of the game, with Barrufet in
outstanding form. However, in the last ten minutes the German crowd got behind Kiel, who fought
back to win 36-34. Barca had done everything to win the crown but it just wasn’t to be.