The Barça handball team walked away with a hard-fought 31-31 draw against Nantes in a thrilling encounter on the seventh matchday of the Machineseeker EHF Champions League group stage. Key contributions came from standout players Dika Mem, who netted an impressive nine goals, and goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, who delivered a stellar performance with 17 crucial saves.
No goals at the start
Defence and keepers dominated the start of the game, with Barça’s Nielsen showcasing exceptional reflexes by making three rapid saves. Barça struggled to find the net until Wanne fired in from a wide angle, breaking the deadlock and putting his team ahead (0-1, min. 4). That initial goal opened up the floodgates as both teams began to unleash offensive strategies, trading scores to reach a balanced 6-6 by the 10th minute. Seizing on Tournat‘s two-minute suspension, Carlos Ortega‘s squad capitalized and extended their lead to 6-9 by the 15th minute.
Nielsen and Mem
The blaugrana push continued, markedly fueled by the exceptional performances of Dika Mem and Emil Nielsen. The talented number 10 found the back of the net five times from just seven attempts, one of which forced Nantes to call a time-out as they trailed 12-16 by the 27th minute. Meanwhile, the formidable Nielsen stood tall as a barrier for Nantes, successfully saving 12 out of the 26 shots directed at him, leading to a close half-time score of 14-17.
Nantes react
Although Barça came out strong in the second half, quickly establishing a 16-21 advantage by the 34th minute, the French side was not to be outdone. A combination of a 4-0 run and inspiring saves from keeper Nacho Biosca allowed Nantes to reduce the deficit to just one goal at 21-22 by the 40th minute. Responding to the mounting pressure, Carlos Ortega called a time-out to regroup his team. Frade broke Nantes’ momentum, scoring to restore Barça’s lead at 22-25 by the 42nd minute.
Tight at the finish
As the match progressed, it evolved into a gripping contest of rapid score exchanges, where each side capitalized on the other’s mistakes. Nantes leveraged the energy of their home crowd to not only catch up but also forge ahead, taking a fleeting lead with just one minute remaining in the game at 31-30. However, Barça was far from finished as Janc found the net with a swift strike just 10 seconds before the final buzzer, establishing a tie. Barça’s Ariño then faced a crucial moment when his shot was met with a fantastic save from Nantes’ Pesic, cementing the final score at 31-31.
Thus, Barça secured a valuable point against the second-placed team in the standings. Their next challenge awaits in the form of a derby match away against Fraikin BM Granollers on Sunday at 7:00 PM, while the return fixture against Nantes is scheduled for November 21 at the Palau Blaugrana.
GAME STATS
Nantes 31
Barça 31
Nantes: Biosca (-), Odriozola (-), Abdi (3), Tournat (1), Minne (7), Briet (5), Rivera (2) – starting seven – Pesic (-), Bos (6), Gaber (2), Noam (3), De La Breteche (1), Yoshida (-), Bonnefond (-), Avelange (-) and Ovnicek (1).
Barça: Nielsen (-), Janc (5), Mem (9), Petrus (-), Frade (5), Carlsbogard (-), Wanne (2) – starting seven – Pérez de Vargas (-), Ariño (1), N’Guessan (2), Aleix (3), Makuc (3), Palomino (-), Richardson (-), Cikusa (1) and Rodríguez Moreno (-).
Partial scores: 1-2; 6-6; 6-9; 8-12; 11-13; 14-17 // 17-22; 22-23; 25-28; 26-29; 28-30; 31-31.
Referees: Ama Konjicanin and Dino Konjicanin.
The home crowd to pull even, and the game became a nail-biter in the final minutes. Dika Mem continued to shine, but Nantes’ relentless spirit brought them back into the game. Both teams traded goals, leaving the score tied at 31-31 as the match concluded, securing a hard-fought draw for Barça.
To discuss this thrilling encounter, we have handball expert and former player, **Laura García**, with us.
**Editor:** Laura, thank you for joining us. What were your thoughts on Barça’s performance against Nantes?
**Laura García:** Thank you for having me! Barça showcased a balanced team performance throughout the match. Their defense was strong, especially with Emil Nielsen’s impressive saves. He really kept the team in the game, particularly in the first half when the scoring was tight.
**Editor:** Dika Mem scored nine goals, which is quite remarkable. How pivotal was he in the match?
**Laura García:** Absolutely vital! Dika Mem was a game-changer. His ability to find the net under pressure was crucial for steaming ahead during key moments. His performance not only lifted the team’s spirits but also forced Nantes to adjust their defense strategy.
**Editor:** The game was quite a rollercoaster, especially in the second half. What did you think of Nantes’ comeback?
**Laura García:** Nantes showed tremendous heart and resilience! Their swift scoring runs and goalkeeper Nacho Biosca’s contributions shifted the momentum. They capitalized on Barça’s mistakes and exploited every opportunity, which is what made the final tense and exciting. It really highlighted the competitive nature of this tournament.
**Editor:** With both teams coming away with a point, how does this impact their chances in the EHF Champions League?
**Laura García:** A draw at this stage is significant for both teams. It keeps Barça in contention for the top spots in the group, especially considering how competitive this league is. For Nantes, they showed they could stand toe-to-toe with one of the elite teams, which bodes well for their morale going forward.
**Editor:** Lastly, what will Barça need to do in their next matches to build on this performance?
**Laura García:** They need to maintain their defensive coordination and continue to rely on contributors like Mem and Nielsen. Consistency in both scoring and defending will be key. They should also work on minimizing mistakes, especially under pressure, to close out games more effectively.
**Editor:** Thank you, Laura, for your insights on this thrilling match. We look forward to seeing how both teams progress in the championship!
**Laura García:** Thank you for having me! It’s always exciting to discuss such high-stakes matches.
