Pick Szeged 24-27 Barça: Three point advantage
Huge victory for Barça in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals (24-27). With resilience, character, calm and competitiveness, they turned around a complicated match under Carlos Ortega’s leadership.
Despite Thulin’s 10 saves and Sostaric’s 8 goals, Barça, led by a standout Dika Mem (10 goals), showed their best form in the final minutes to secure the win.
The second leg will be at the Palau Blaugrana next Thursday at 8.45pm CEST, with Barça holding a three-goal advantage in this head-to-head battle to reach the Final Four in Cologne.
Thulin stands out
The game was evenly matched, especially in the first half, with quick counterattacks and Sostaric’s precision (5 goals). Thulin made 10 saves, including two penalties against Aleix Gómez. Both teams struggled offensively, with defences dominating. Dika Mem was the only Barça player to consistently find the net (5 goals), and Szeged led by a single goal at halftime.
Reaction just in time
After the interval, the hosts improved, benefiting from Janc’s early exclusion and more successful attacks to go three clear. Despite further exclusions of Frade and Dika Mem, Barça held firm and responded with calm and patience.
Szeged regained a three-goal lead in the 45th minute, but Barça bounced back, with Nielsen, Dika Mem and Carlsbogard playing key roles to turn the score around.
Seizing the momentum, Frade, Richardson and especially Dika Mem, who led the charge, extended the lead to seal the 23-27 victory. While 60 minutes remain at the Palau, this first battle was a major win for Barça.
MATCH STATS
OTP Bank Pick Szeged, 24
Barça, 27
Pick Szeged: Thulin, Sostaric, Frimmel, Mackovsek, Kalarash, Rød, Smarason, Garciandia, Bánhidi, Kukic, Toto, Bodó, Jelinic, Rea, Szilágyi.
Barça: Nielsen, Janc, Dika Mem, Richardson, Frade, N'Guessan, Wanne, Saric (GK), Cikusa, Thiagus Petrus, Carlsbogard, Makuc, Aleix Gómez, Ariño, Palomino, Javier Rodríguez.
Periods: 3-3, 4-3, 6-6, 7-7, 9-8, 10-9 (HT), 13-11, 16-15, 19-17, 21-21, 22-23, 24-27.
Referees: Jonas Eliasson, Anton Palsson.