Barça vs Montpellier Handball Highlights EHF Champions league 2024

Barça vs Montpellier Handball Highlights EHF Champions league 2024
Barça (ESP) vs Montpellier HB (FRA) 34:37 (19:18)
Both teams needed points in Palau Blaugrana, as Barça wanted to defend the first spot of the group while Montpellier could still make it into fourth place. With so much at stake, the fans in the arena witnessed a tight first half. Despite Dika Mem scoring six for the hosts, the French side was ahead more often than not, but never by more than one goal. Wingers Yanis Lenne and Jaime Fernandez were in the spotlight, both scoring four in the first half. But Barça turned things around when Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas made his entrance. With three saves within seven minutes, the goalkeeper gave the hosts a lead of one at the break.
But the momentum did not stay long in Barça’s camp. Thanks to their Brazilian left back Bryan Monte, who scored 10, Montpellier took over the lead as soon as the second half started. The French side made the most of their opponents’ turnovers to increase their advantage, as Jaime Fernandez and Yanis Lenne were pushing every ball to the maximum. The Barça players looked unusually unable to respond, as their defence was not fighting hard enough to contain the Montpellier offences. And when Monte gave the visitors a five-goal advantage at the 58th, it secured his team’s fourth place in the group, and sent Barça down to second place in group B.
I’m very happy for the gift the players gave me tonight, at my last match in Palau Blaugrana. We knew it was going to be tough, specially physically, but the players always believed.
Patrice Canayer
Head coach. Montpellier HB
Montpellier deserved the win today. They never surrendered, even when we were three goals up. I hate to lose, but I want to focus on what we can learn from tonight.
Dika Mem
Right back, Barça