Barcelona and Sabadell opened their Spanish league campaigns later than it was planned, but both teams started with wins.
Two matches of the Spanish League, that had to be postponed in the past few weeks due to coronavirus, were played today. Super Cup winner Sabadell trashed Navarra 16:4, while Barcelona defeated its local rival Catalunya 11:8.
2020/21 Spanish League
Group A
Day 1
Catalunya – Barcelona 8:11 (1:1, 2:3, 3:3, 2:4)
Catalunya: Ponferrada 4, Ferrer 1, Prat 1. Santiveri 1, Gasulla 1.
Barcelona: Delgado 3, Estrany 3, Tahull 2, Esteller 2, Goma 1.
Barcelona, which did a great job in the transfer market this year, defeated Catalunya harder than it was expected.
The first three quarters saw a balanced battle between two former European champions (Barcelona won the title in the season 1981/1982, Catalunya was the best 13 years later). There were a lot of twists and turns. Both teams were taking the lead, but the distance between the sides was never bigger than a goal. In the middle of the third period, Catalunya went in front for the last time in the match (5:4). The visitors took control after that and entered the last period with a 7:6 advantage. After less than a minute of play in the final quarter, Barcelona doubled an advantage (8:6). Still, Catalunya didn’t give in and cut the deficit twice (7:8 and 8:9). But, Barcelona scored two unanswered goals in the last 105 seconds for an 11:8 victory.
1.Terrassa 2 – 6
2.Mediterrani 2 – 4
3. Barcelona 1 – 3
4. Real Canoe 2 – 1
5. Catalunya 2 – 0
6. Sant Feliu 1 – 0
Group B
Day 2
Sabadell – Navarra 16:4 (5:1, 4:0, 2:1, 5:2)
Sabadell: Fenoy 4, S. Cabanas 3, Lopez-Escribano 3, Sanahuja 2, Valera 1, Bertran 1, Ubovic 1, Bonet 1.
Navarra: Carales 3, Arriazu 1.
The match in Sabadell wasn’t so exciting as the encounter between the Barcelona-based rivals. Sabadell left no chance to Navarra. After a 9:1 first half, only the margin of the hosts’ victory was in question.
1.Barceloneta 2 – 6
2.Sabadell 1 – 3
3.Tenerife 1 – 0
4.Navarra 1 – 0
5. Sant Andreu 1 – 0
Mataro –
The 3rd round is scheduled for November 7
