Barça defeated Slovenian Dobovec (8-2) this Wednesday in their debut in the Elite Round of the Champions League, which takes place from December 1 to 4 in Pilsen (Czech Republic), with goals from Ferrao (3), Pito, Adolfo, Lozano, Esquerdinha and Coelho.
Despite the comfortable final result, Barça had to overcome Duscak’s initial goal, who took advantage of a mismatch in the Barça defense to overcome goalkeeper Dídac with a spur shot eight minutes into the game.
Barça coach Jesús Velasco had already warned that Dobovec, a team that Barça defeated 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the last edition of the Champions League, he was a “very physical, strong and expert” rival..
But before doubts took their toll on the Catalan team, which in the initial stages of the duel crashed two kicks against the crossbar, Ferrao changed the sign of the party. The Brazilian pivot equalized in the 13th minute when he redirected a shot from goalkeeper Dídac with his chest and, two minutes later, finished the comeback with a shot at the turn.
Barça sentenced the match before the break with two goals in less than a minute, the work of Pito, who beat goalkeeper Puskar after crossing the court with the ball stuck to his foot, and Adolfo, with a cross shot.
Cesarek cut distances after the resumption in a quick collective association of the Dobovec but, in the subsequent action, Lozano scored with a powerful shot for 5-2, an advantage that allowed Velasco to dose his players in the last ten minutes. Ferrao, who scored a hat-trick, Esquerdinha and Coelho increased the win in the final stretch.
The azulgrana team, forced to be first in the group to access the Final Four of the Champions League, will face Belgian Halle-Gooik on Thursday and Czech Pilsen on Saturday.
Levante FS complicates the Final Four
Levante FS lost this Tuesday to Uragan of Ukraine 3-5 in the first match of the Elite Round of the Champions League, which takes place this week in Lisbon (Portugal), after a clash decided in the last three minutes by the effectiveness of the Ukrainian team, which took advantage of the mistakes of the Spanish team.
Goal Koltok led Uragan, both for his stops and for his speed to execute his direct game, which was the weapon with which he executed Levante FS. The continuous and intense rotations that the Ukrainian team imposed from the start prevented Levante FS from getting up to speed, but a robbery by Araça allowed Gallo to assist Tolrà very forcefully to place the 1-0 (m.11).
However, Uragan responded immediately, with a long ball, and Koval surprised goalkeeper Fede with a mid-distance shot to equalize the match (m.13). The goal received dislodged Levante FS and his rival took advantage of it to go to the break with an advantage thanks to both Abakshyn after a corner kick and taking advantage of a defensive error.
Levante FS coach Diego Ríos changed the plan in the dressing room and invited his team to play more directly, with more depth and without much touch, almost tracing the style of Uragan. Levante FS did well almost immediately, with a Tolrà’s right hand that entered the squad before three minutes into the second half.
Tolrà was the undisputed protagonist of the match on the Spanish side, since Levante FS culminated the comeback thanks to a pass from the Catalan closure that Araça transformed into 3-2 with ten minutes remaining in the clash. However, Uragan, a rock throughout the duel, punished the Valencian team in two errors in less than a minute to turn the game around (3-4 m.37).
Goalkeeper-player Diego Ríos took out to play the last three minutes and Uragan sentenced with the fifth goal to leave Levante FS with a defeat that It forces him to win this Thursday against Haladás VSE of Hungary and on Saturday against Portuguese Benfica and even so he does not depend on himself to qualify for the Final Four.