Emil Nielsen had no compassion for his compatriots. The Barça goalkeeper had a spectacular game against the Danish Gudme, with 20 saves from 43 shots, and led his team to an incontestable victory (23-30) that consolidates the Blaugrana's leadership in their Champions League group with three games left in the first phase. The Barcelona fans, who were already the executioners of the Scandinavians in the quarterfinals of the previous season, played a very complete match, especially in the second half, in a Sydbank Arena Kolding where only Magdeburg had won.
Antonio Carlos Ortega's players controlled the scoreboard practically from the beginning. In the first part, however, the result was perfect at all times. The Blaugrana soon took a three-goal lead, with a goal from Dika Mem after seven minutes (3-6), and extended it to four in a counterattack finished by Ariño (7-11).
However, in the first 30 minutes the Barcelona fans were unable to get rid of a resilient Danish team, which especially punished the Catalans with constant transitions. The locals came within a goal, with a goal from Persson (14-15). Only Nielsen's saves, two spectacular ones on a counterattack, prevented the Scandinavians from tying the match.
Clinging to their goalkeeper and hand in hand with Richardson, scorer of four goals in the first half, Barça went into the break with a three-goal advantage, certified in the last second with a good collective play in superiority that culminated in Frade (14 -17).
He did not change the script at the beginning of the second part. Mem raised the lead to five points (15-20) and between Mensing and Blonz, the best of the locals, they once again narrowed the score (19-21). It was from that moment on, with 20 minutes remaining final and with a timeout during, when the Blaugrana pressed the accelerator both in defense and attack to destroy the hopes of the Danes.
On the shoulders of Nielsen, a wall that unnerved Gudme, Richardson, N'Guessan, Aleix Gómez, Pol Valera, Javi Rodríguez and especially Mem sealed the match, achieving the maximum advantage with four minutes remaining (21-30). The Danes, already on the canvas, took advantage of the relaxation of the Blaugrana in the last moments to disguise the result.
Gudme (14-9): Thulin (Dorgelo); Blonz (5), Clausen (-), Jakobsen (1), Kildelund (-), Legér (-), Lindskog (-), Lyng Als (1), Lykke (-), Madsen (6, 2p.), Mensing (4), Persson (1), Pedersen (3), Rasmussen (2), Zachariassen (-).
Barça (17-13): Nielsen (Pérez de Vargas); Pol Valera (2), Carlsbogard (4), Dika Mem (5), Aitor Ariño (1), Wanne (-), Janc (1), N'Guessan (3), Aleix (3), Thiagus Petrus (-) , Langaro (-), Melvyn Richardson (6), Frade (3), Petar Cikusa (-), Javi Rodríguez (2).
Referees: Kuttargic (SUE) and Wetterwik (SUE). They excluded Persson for GOG and Janc for Barça. They gave Frade a yellow card.
Splits every five minutes: 3-3, 5-7, 7-9, 8-11, 12-14, 14-17 (rest); 15-19, 18-21, 19-24, 20-27, 21-29, (23-30).
Incidents: Matchday 11 of Group B of the Champions League played at the Sydbank Arena.
