Barcelona beat HBC Nantes to remain unbeaten in Handball Champions League

Barcelona remains the only unbeaten team in the 2024/25 EHF Men’s Handball Champions League after defeating HBC Nantes 36-30 in Group B. The match took place at Palau Blaugrana in Barcelona, Spain, on the 21st. Despite a challenging start, Barcelona secured the win with strong player performances.

With this victory, Barcelona retains the top spot in Group B with 7 wins, 1 draw, and a total of 15 points. Nantes falls to 3rd place with 4 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses, accumulating 9 points. Sez is now in second place with 10 points after winning their match the same day.

N’Guesan Timothée led Barcelona with eight goals. His precise shooting and bold passing were key in breaking down Nantes’ defense. Gómez Abello Aleix and Arino Bengochea Aitor each scored six goals, contributing significantly, especially in critical moments during the second half.

Goalkeeper Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas was crucial for Barcelona, making important saves that halted Nantes’ offense. He had 12 saves in total, helping his team finish the first half with a 19-14 lead.

The game started tied at 13-13, but Barcelona scored six goals and only allowed one before halftime. In the second half, Nantes briefly led 22-20 thanks to Julien Boss’s performance, who scored 8 goals. However, Barcelona pulled ahead to finish 36-30, with Aleix and Aitor scoring crucial goals.

Nantes struggled with a shooting success rate of 61%, which affected their chances. Despite 9 saves from their defense, they could not contain Barcelona’s sharp attacks.

After the match, Barcelona coach Carlos Ortega praised his team’s effort, highlighting the impact of Pérez de Vargas’s saves and Timothée’s performance. He also mentioned the positive energy Jank Blaz brought to the team.