Barça 39-25 Anaitasuna: League champions

At the third time of asking the Barça handball team claimed the league title with a 39-25 win over Helvetia Anaitasuna in the Palau Blaugrana. The victory means a 32nd league title for FC Barcelona and a 15th in a row. 

Dika Mem leads from the front 

In the knowledge that a win would bring the title, the blaugranes went after the game from the start. In attack Dika Mem led the way after the Basque visitors had taken an early lead. Soon, the blaugranes were in front at 8-4 and the efforts of Carlsbogard, N'Guessan and Wanne helped Carlos Ortega's team to a 19-14 lead at half time. 

In the second half Janc and Javi Rodríguez stepped up to extend the advantage to 26-16 with the Anaitasuna coach forced to call a time out. Goalkeeper Vicent Gérard made his home debut after the break after his appearances away at Benidorm and Valladolid. 

Champions again

In complete control, the blaugranes pressed home their advantage to take an important 39-25 win to finally claim the league title and give themselves a confidence boost ahead of the Champions League tie coming up against Szeged.

MATCH STATS 

Barça: 39
Anaitasuna: 25

Barça: Nielsen (0), Janc (3), Mem (8), Richardson (2), N'Guessan (3), Frade (2), Wanne (2) - starting seven- Gérard (0), Bazán (1), Carlsbogard (2), Ariño (2), Aleix (5), Petrus (1), Makuc (2), Cikusa (2), Javi Rodríguez (4).

Anaitasuna: Cancio (0), Ganuza (1), Alfonso Moreno (2), Pereiro (1), Redondo (1), Albizu (7) i Pablo Castro (0) - starting seven- Santamaría (0), Goñi (2), Xavier González (4), Pablo Fernández (2), Adrián Ortiz (0), Itoiz (1), Kisselev (1), Elustondo (3), Zungri (0).