Alser Puerto Sagunto stand up to Barcelona

Alser Puerto Sagunto lost to F.C. Barcelona Intersport 20-27 in a match in which the red-and-whites led on the scoreboard against a superior opponent who ultimately imposed their power. Alser started very strongly, producing a brilliant opening spell thanks to Bruixola’s saves and their accuracy in attack, opening the scoring. The Blaugrana side took a few minutes to get into the match, but Sjostrand’s saves and their fluent attacking play allowed them to reduce the initial difference. Over the next 15 minutes, the visitors’ pressing defence, allowed them to take control of the match quickly and open up a two-goal gap, forcing the home coach, Goran Dzokic, to call a time-out. Despite the red-and-whites’ timid reaction, thanks to their accuracy in attack, Barcelona looked much stronger in defence, and neither Rocas nor Dani missed their chances on the counter-attack, extending the lead to three goals (8-11) at half-time. The start of the second half was marked by the intensity with which both teams emerged. The Catalan side produced their best defensive performance and, aided by Sjostrand’s saves and goals from Rutenka and Rocas, moved clear at 13-16. The red-and-whites stood up to the European champions for long periods, while Barcelona defended aggressively, causing several players to be sent off. Faced with this numerical disadvantage, Goran Dzokic called a time-out and instructed his players to concentrate more in defence, marking the prolific Dani. Nevertheless, the Barcelona side maintained the gap without difficulty and even reached the final stages of the match with a lead of up to seven goals. It is worth noting that the atmosphere from the stands changed in the second half, as the Marea Rojiblanca supporters’ group had not been present in the first half, wishing to express their dissatisfaction with the team’s situation. Ultimately, Alser made things far from easy for the leaders. Another tough opponent awaits them in León next Wednesday, before they welcome Torrevieja on Saturday 3 March in the Valencian Community derby, corresponding to the twentieth round of the Asobal league. Alser Puerto Sagunto: Peg, Bruixola, Samuel, Moya del Saz (1), Ruiz (2), Sorrentino (3), Moya (3), Sifré (3), Cid, A. Fernández, Prendes (3), Tarrasó (4) and Nebot, Stefanovic (1), Toni Alegre. F.C. Barcelona Intersport: Sjostrand, Noddesbo (2), R. Entrerrios (2), Dani (4), Saric, Ugalde (3), Nagy (4), Jermenyr, Mikel (2), Rutenka (3), Albert Rocas (6), Viran, Marco Antonio, Igropulo (1). Referees: Agatha Gracia Sánchez and Antonio Martín Franco. Exclusions for Alser Puerto Sagunto: Stefanovic; for F.C. Barcelona Intersport: Noddesbo, Dani, Jermenyr. Score at five-minute intervals: 1-0, 2-3, 5-5, 5-7, 6-9, 8-11 Half-time 11-13, 12-15, 15-17, 17-19, 19-23, 20-27. Full-time. Municipal Sports Centre “Ovni”. 1,300 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.