11.05.2008 19:06
Vanessa Forns
Barça Sorli Discau have held on to the title of European Champion having defeated Alnimar Reus Deportivo convincingly in the Palau Blaugrana by 5-2. Therefore the top continental trophy has stayed at home.
For the second year in a row, the team coached by Quim Paüls has lifted the trophy that credits
them as roller hockey’s European League Champion. They did it in the best possible way: at
home and with the unconditional support of their fans, who, in the last stages of the game turned
the Palau Blaugrana into one big party. With this victory the roller hockey section of FC Barcelona
adds to their list of victories what is now their eighteenth European Cup, the second since Quim
Paüls took charge of the Barça bench.
Early goal
As with all the games between FC Barcelona and Reus, the game was rapid
from the start. While Quim Paüls team enjoyed long spells of possession, Manel Barceló’s were
causing the first surprises in the goalmouth. But it was FC Barcelona Sorli Discau, through Lluís
Teixidó, who went ahead first with only five minutes gone of the game. The ex-Reus player surprised
Guillem Trabal with a powerful shot from the middle of the pitch.
Reus waited for the counter attack
Teixidó’s goal put a stop to the initial respect between the two
teams, who from then on intensified their attacks causing a lot of coming and going on the Palau
Blaugrana’s parquet. Despite this, it was Barça Sorli Discau who controlled the rhythm of the
game, while Reus could only wait for a counter attack, which obliged the hosts to be very careful
in defence.
Egurrola, on form
From these counter attacks, the team coached by Manel Barceló, forced Egurrola to shine with
strikes from the likes of Caldú and Gual in the 12th minute, or another by Jordi Garcia, in the
13th. It seemed that, little by little the team from Reus was fighting back. In the sixteenth
minute the referee blew for a penalty by Borregán on Caldú. Jose Luis Páez saw Egurolla stop his
shot twice, on having to take a second shot from the rebound.
2-1 at half time
In an unfortunate move, Reus Deportivo put the game back on level
pegging when Toni Sanchez surprised the Barça keeper from behind the goal. After several occasions
for both sides, FC Barcelona Sorli Discau marked up their second on the score sheet after David
Páez, in the 22nd minute, recovered a dead ball in the box and overcame Guillem Trabal. In the
23rd, Masoliver didn’t manage to score from a direct free kick. It was still 2-1 at half
time.
At the restart, both Barça and Reus were prudent as far as the rhythm of play was concerned.
After several attempts in both areas, Manel Barceló’s team were given a direct free kick in
the 31st minute when Borregán fouled Pedro Gil. The same player took the shot and even though
striking the inside of one of the goalposts, the referees didn’t allow the goal.
‘Carlitos’ López. Maximum impact
Only a few minutes into the second half Borregán forced a penalty which
‘Carlitos’ López put away magnanimously putting Barça on the way to victory. With 3-1
on the scoreboard, Reus had to do something quickly. Barça, on the other hand had to maintain the
serious attitude they had shown at every moment.
Teixidó and Borregán finish the game off
With a two-goal advantage on the scoreboard, the side coached by Quim
Paüls moved around the parquet in the Palau comfortably. Then in the 39th minute, the scorer of the
first Barça goal, Lluís Teixidó, with a well-positioned shot, scored the fourth leaving things very
clear for his team. With hardly any time to recover, Reus saw how their rival, through Borregan,
scored the fifth after an incredible individual move.
Egurrola, faultless
In the 44th minute, the ex-Barça player José Luis ‘El Negro’
Páez patched up the difference making the most of a good counter attack led by Toni Sánchez. In the
space of two minutes, Manel Barceló’s team had two penalties to try and reduce the
difference. Neither Toni Sánchez in the 45th nor Pedro Gil in the 46th were able to put it past
Aitor Egurrola. There was no time for anything else. After a stretch of the game without much
intensity and with the Palau Blaugrana converted in a huge party, FC Barcelona Sorli Discau
proclaimed themselves Champions of Europe.