Edu Castro’s men increase the distances at the top of the table
Barça remains undefeated with eight wins in eight games
The Barça took a giant step to finish first in the regular league of the OK Liga after beating Reus Deportiu Virginias 8-3 in the return to the Palau after a month’s absence from Edu Castro’s team due to the World Cup dispute in Argentina. Riazor’s good feelings moved to the Barça pitch where, before the game, the players came out wearing a shirt with the inscription ‘Força Mati’ to encourage Matías Pascualrecovering in Argentina from a broken tibia and fibula.
FCB
REU
LINEUPS
FC Barcelona
Sergio Fernández, Pau Bargalló, Joao Rodrigues, Ignacio Alabart and Helder Nunes -starting five- Sergi Panadero, Marc Grau, Sergi Llorca and Joan Pascual
Reus
Càndid Ballart, David Gelmà, Sergi Aragonès, Checco Compagno and Marc Julià -Ferran Giménez, Diego Rojas, Joan Salvat and Guillem Jansà
goals
1-0 Joao Rodríguez (7′); 2-0 Hélder Nunes (17′); 2-1 Sergi Aragones (21′); 3-1 Joao Rodrigues (22′); 4-1 Helder Nunes (26′); 5-1 Sergi baker (36′); 6-1 Joao Rodrigues (43′); 7-1 Marc Grau (44′); 7-2 Marc Juliá (47′); 8-2 Pau Bargalló (47′) and 8-3 Guillem Jansà (50′)
referees
Miguel Diaz and David Pedrola
incidents
Match corresponding to matchday eight of the OK League played at the Palau Blaugrana in front of 1,512 spectators.
The first minutes of the game were very close, with both teams studying each other, testing each other and looking for sensations to control the duel. But Joao Rodrígues’s goal in the 7th minute forced Jordi Garcia, the Reus coach, to call a time-out and look for a new plan to counter the precise hockey of Barça.
Slowly the azulgrana team took over the dominance on the track with a very good job in defense and finding good attack actions. Reus had to put a more defensive gear and in one of those actions Sergi Aragonès saw the blue card after committing a penalty that Helder Nunes converted with a strong shot, beating Càndid Ballart on 17′. Barça was at its best, very well planted on the track, liking each other and perhaps more comfortable than expected and the 2-0 was a reflection of this.
But Reus is a very structured team that never gives up. Jordi García’s timeout reflected this when he asked them to chew on the plays because in this way the chances would come.
The Barça does not give respite to the Reus
And it was not in a play but after a penalty after a great drive by Marc Julià when Reus reduced the gap thanks to the success of Sergi Aragonès from the fatal point.
But the joy from Reus did not last long since already in the next play, a spectacular assist from Ignacio Alabart finished it off at the far post by Joao Rodríguez to get his second goal.
Barcelona second part
The match could not start better for Barca interests since in the first minute a great recovery of Pau Bargalló converted it into a goal by Helder Nunes after finishing off at the near post.
Jordi García, who requested a time-out again, He warned his pupils that they would have to suffer during the remaining 20 minutes of the game.
And so it was, Barça continued with its fast transitions and showing itself superior to a Reus who saw how Sergi Panadero went up 5-1 on the scoreboard. There was still a world left, but when the Catalans go into steamroller mode there is no rival to stop them.
With this, the goals fell one after the other and Barça ended the duel with a resounding victory against a great rival who is now eight points behind and with Edu Castro’s men who remain undefeated.