Cindric, Barça’s top scorer with eight goals, dismantled the GOG defense. Mads Claus Rasmussen (EFE)
In the penultimate training session at Ciudad Deportiva, Carlos Ortega did a lot of exercises to build pressure despite some skepticism, but he made a speech that ended up convincing everyone, knowing that intensity would be the hallmark of the duel the bubbling Gudme (GOG) Danish. He wasn’t wrong. Later he assembled the team and it was clear. “Remember that almost certainly all 18 of us will go to Denmark,” he warned, aware of the importance of the game, the first leg of a Champions League quarter-final, a previous step for the Final Four to be played like lived in Cologne on June 17th and 18th. The company is Morrocotuda, as Barça aim to break their own record every time, adding two laurels in a row – something nobody has managed to do before – and focusing on the third. After playing in Denmark and thanks to Nielsen in goal and Cindric (8 goals) in the rivals, he has a foot and a half left for next week’s second leg.
The two teams soon showed that they are on the right track, that running is their thing – although Barça, with Ortega on the bench after replacing Xavi Pascual, also enjoy the static game – an electro and kickback Handball, also fly high. However, the proposal has worn the GOG down because they have a strong starting squad (Sweden international goalkeeper Tobias Thulin; their leader on the lane, experienced centre-back Morten Olssen; full-backs Emil Madsen and Simon Pytlick and regular Lukas Jorgensen). But a second, unbravada unit, a matter of wallet and budget. But Barca goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, a true golden scarecrow, also weighed on him from the start.
A hand here, a foot there, and the crossbar or post there. Nielsen might weigh a few pounds over a certain position that doesn’t require resistance, but he’s not lacking in resilience, reflexes, or dexterity. A full-fledged recital, a meal that Gudme choked on and that Thulin tried to reproduce in his domain. His performance was remarkable but inadequate against the Barca cyclone. And all at the speed of light. Like that goal from Janc, who quickly got the ball from Nielsen after conceding and scored from midfield because the keeper didn’t have time to get back on track.
There was a rush, supersonic attacks and few were as good at running as Luka Cindric, who in training tends to bolster his teammates when he scores a beautifully crafted goal. A gesture parried at Jyske Bank Arena but could well have been executed, severed shots that went into the net. Something akin to Melvin Richardson echoing Fabregas more subtly as the linchpin. An efficiency that Barça expressed from the start with two goals ahead on the scoreboard, coming to four (11-15) and closing at four (15-19) before the break.
After the break, the script was inflexible and the wizard Cindric reappeared in the land of giants to score his goals, good showtime even with the physical exuberance of Dika Mem, a Hulk who ended up face first on the ground hit because He injured his right calf and was dragged off the track by his teammates. Wanne joined the culé party – proof that the Barça bench has rollers and karate – always wand in hand to make the difficult easy. Snacks from the Catalans that underscored their goalscoring abilities, although Madsen (9 goals) and Tollbring (6) resisted their fate and rejoiced when Barça were outnumbered. But of course, when things went wrong, Nielsen was so ecstatic under the post that he even stopped his face, barely giving another all-purpose goalkeeper Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas any room.
A seven-goal and best-in-class triumph for Barça, who are unbeaten in 25 Champions League games – 23 wins and two draws – and secure half a ticket to the Final Four.
GOG, 30 – BARCELONA, 37
GOG: thulin; Morten Olsen (4), Madsen (9), Pytlick (2), Tollbring (6), Jorgensen (5), Rasmussen (2), Pedersen (2), Jakobsen (0), Clausen (0) and Legér (0) , Cehte (0).
Barcelona: Nielsen and Gonzalo Perez de Vargas; Cindric (8), Dika Mem (4), Melvin Richardson (4), Aleix Gómez (2), N’guessan (4), Martí Soler (1), Ludovic Fabregas (5), Hampus Wanne (4), Janc ( 2), Makuc (2) and Luis Frade (1).
Shares every five minutes: 2-3, 5-7, 8-11, 11-15, 14-17 and 15-19 – remainder – 17-23, 20-25, 22-29, 25-31, 27-34 and 30-37.
Referee: Arthur Brunner (Switzerland) and Morad Salah (Switzerland). Clausen, Fabregas, Jorgensen, Dika Mem and Cehte were ruled out by two minutes.
Jyske Bank Arena. About 5,000 spectators.
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