The Palau Blaugrana dressed up (4,184 spectators, the best admission of the year) to say goodbye to its team in the European journey and give it the last push towards Cologne. As if the 4 goals in the first leg of the quarterfinals were not enough (29-33), the encouragement of the temple accelerated the issuance of the ticket for the final four of the Champions League for the 10th time in the 13 editions with this format created in the 2010 with permanent headquarters in Cologne. The champion, in his defense of the crown, awaits him at the majestic Lanxess Arena Veszprém, Kielce and the winner of Kiel-PSG.
The Blaugrana will arrive in Cologne as the team with the best defense of the four, and the second best of the 16 in the competition (only one more goal conceded than Vardar).
It was demonstrated in the duel against Flensburg, in which the Blaugrana team once again imposed their slow rhythm, anodynely leisurely, without cruising speed, without counterattacks (only one, by Aleix Gómez, 5-2), but also their reliability maddening defense for the rival.
Barça had a hard time scoring (6 goals in 20 minutes, 10 in half), as well as knowing how to consolidate the advantage, the 3 put by Dika Mem (6-3, at 16:32). In three minutes, Flensburg forced a tie at 6. And they even went ahead before the break (9-10); a provisional defeat that the regulars made up, Dika Mem with a blow (10-10) and Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas with his fourth stop (in a discreet 29% success).
In the offensive traffic jam, and in the need to rest some players loaded with games, Carlos Ortega came to hand over the baton to winger Janc, before Makuc, in addition to having to defend all the time without a pivot on the wall of 6 :0, so as not to suffocate Ben Ali in both areas.
The return of changing rooms was to the rhythm of rock and roll. Ariño entered for Barça to give speed and for Flensburg Wanne continued to be inspired –a great Blaugrana signing for next year-; that's how two gears were raised at once and in 5 minutes 8 goals were seen (14-14). The Palau woke up from sleep with cries of "Barça, Barça", and ended up plugging in with a Thiagus Petrus counter (16-15).
It was difficult for Barça to get off the ground and get a comfortable income to face the second quarter of an hour more calmly. Between the flashes of Mem and Langaro it was put in 2 (20-18), but the good performance of goalkeeper Buric took care of keeping the Germans glued, who returned to tie with 10 minutes to go (20-20). Ortega had no choice but to ask for time out.
The Blaugrana team reacted to avoid a final scare. Goals from Cindric, Janc and Makuc, their Balkan trilogy, and from Ariño and Ben Ali -great replacement of pivots Frade and Fàbregas- returned the advantage (23-21, 26-23) to face the last five minutes in communion with the Palau celebrating the ticket to Cologne.
Barça can boast of being the team that has visited the majestic Lanxess Arena the most times for the final four, ahead of classics like Veszprém (7) and Kiel (7). His 10th date with Cologne, in search of his 11th crown, will be the weekend of June 18-19.
Barça: Pérez de Vargas, Aleix Gómez (2), Mem (6, 3p), Cindric (4), N'Guessan, Ángel Fernández (1), Ben Ali (5); Petrus (1), Ali Zein, Janc (3), Langaro (2), Richardson, Makuc (1), Ariño (2).
Flensburg: Buric, Lasse Svan (4), Mensah Larsen (3), Golla (4), Hald, Sogard (2), Wanne (6, 2p); Einarsson (3), Gottfridsson (2), Moller (ps).
Referees: Jurinovic and Mrvica (Croatia). They excluded Gottfridsson (2) and Hald (2), for Flensburg, and Aleix Gómez, for Barça.
Partials: 1-1, 3-2, 5-3, 6-6, 8-7, 10-10 (rest); 14-14, 17-16, 19-18, 20-19, 23-22, 27-24.
Track: Palau Blaugrana. 4,184 spectators.
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