The semifinals of the playoffs (best-of-three) of the Spanish League have been completed in just two days.
The playoffs started on Saturday, while the second matches have been played today. Barceloneta and Barcelona recorded two wins each in these two days and qualified for the semifinals.
Reigning champion Barceloneta was better than Sabadell. Barcelona defeated Terrassa.
2020/21 Spanish League, playoffs,semifinals (best-of-three)
First games
Barceloneta – Sabadell 13:6 (4:1, 2:2, 5:2, 2:1)
Barceloneta: Aleksic 3, Granados 2, Bodegas 2, Bustos 2, Munarriz 1, Larumbe 1, Fernandez 1, De Toro 1.
Sabadell: F.Valera 2, Bertran 1, R.Valera 1,Cabanas 1, Asensio 1.
Barcelona – Terrassa 16:14 (5:3, 3:4, 3:3, 5:4)
Barcelona: Delgado 4, Estrany 3, Duric 2, Esteller 2, Goma 2,Van den Burg 1, Power 1, Tahull 1.
Terrassa: Carillo 4, Barroso 4, Gutierrez 2, Alegre 1, Sanchez 1, Alarcon 1, Rodriguez 1.
Second games
Sabadell – Barceloneta 9:15 (1:4, 3:5, 4:4, 1:2)
Sabadell: Bertran 4, Sanahuja 3, Cabanas 2.
Barceloneta: Aleksic 3, Bodegas 3, Munarriz 2, Perrone 2, Mallarach 2, Famera 1, Biel 1, De Toro 1.
Terrassa – Barcelona 7:11 (2:3, 2:2, 0:4, 3:2)
Terrassa: Barroso 3, Carrillo 2,Pericas 1.
Barcelona: Flores 3, Tahull 3, Delgado 2, Goma 1, Estrany 1, Ramon 1.
Barceloneta recorded two convincing victories over Sabadell. The first game was held in Barceloneta’s pool. The hosts opened the match with a 4:0 lead. Sabadell managed to half the deficit in the third period (4:6). But, Barceloneta responded with two goals for 8:4. The visitors reduced the gap to three (5:8). But, by the end of this quarter, the titleholder scored three goals in three minutes (Aleksix 2 and Munarriz) to jump to an 11:5 lead and there was no way back for Sabadell. Barceloneta recorded a 13:6 victory.
The game played in Sabadell was very similar to the first match. Barceloneta earned a 4-goal lead (5:1) in the early stage of the game. By the middle of the third period, the visitors, led by Bodegas and Aleksic, built an 11:5 advantage and secured the spot in the final. The visitors maintained a 6-goal difference until the final buzzer (15:9).
The most exciting game of the semifinals was the first encounter between Barcelona and Terrassa. Barcelona took an early 4:1 lead, but Terrassa managed to come back and to equalize (5:5). The visitors kept up with Barcelona until 10:10. Barcelona scored three unanswered goals and went 13:10 up. The hosts controlled the match, but Terrassa came very close in the 31st minute (14:15). Still, Adria Delgado scored his 4th goal in the game with 58 seconds left on the clock to set the final score – 16:14.
The first half of the 2nd match was an even contest. Barcelona had a slim 5:4 advantage at the middle break. However, Barcelona dominated the third period,.The visitors scored four goals in a row, and entered the final period with a big 9:4 advantage. Terrassa couldn’t come back. Barceloneta advanced to the final with an 11:7 win.
The final series starts next weekend.
