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April 1st, Barcelona & Savona In a thrilling penalty shootout, Spanish powerhouse Zodiac Atlètic Barceloneta gave Hungarian giants FTC-Telekom Ferencváros their first loss of the season, bringing drama and significant outcomes to today’s Champions League Second Stage. Meanwhile, RN Savona defeated CSM Oradea handily in Italy to maintain their hopes of making it to the Final Four.
Ferencváros 13–12 Barcelona (after penalties)
In Barcelona, the Group B match was nothing short of spectacular. After a hotly contested 9–9 draw in regulation time, Barceloneta interrupted Ferencváros’ long-standing unbeaten record with a 13–12 triumph after penalties.
The hosts jumped off to an early lead, leading 3-1 at the end of the first quarter. However, Ferencváros, the defending champions, rallied to tie the score at halftime and even took a brief lead in the second half. After four quarters, the fight entered a suspenseful shootout with both sides tied at 9–9.
Unai Aguirre, the goalie for Barceloneta, stepped up to the plate and made two vital saves during the penalty phase. The emphasis eventually rested on Ferencváros’ Vendel Vigvári, who was one of the shooters, despite one home team miss. In the pivotal round, Barceloneta prevailed by a slim margin to guarantee an unforgettable triumph.
With a shootout victory, Barceloneta get two points, bringing them closer to the top of the group, while Ferencváros, who had won all three of their prior games, only receives one point. Their otherwise flawless campaign now has its first flaw.
CSM Oradea, Savona 14-9
In the day’s second match, RN Savona defeated CSM Oradea of Romania with a dominant performance. The Italians had a blazing start, leading 4-1 at the end of the first quarter and 7-2 at the break. In the last moments, Oradea’s assault sprang to life, but the damage had already been done.
Filip Gardašević scored five goals for Oradea in a remarkable individual performance, while Alessandro Gullotta spearheaded the Savona attack with a hat-trick. Savona held a tight hold on the game and ended it with authority, even if the Romanian team scored goals late in the game.
Group B gets closer as a result of these outcomes: Ferencváros leads with 10 points, Barceloneta comes in second with 8, and Savona is still in the running with 6. Oradea is at the bottom of the standings and has yet to earn a point.
All eyes are on the upcoming round as the Champions League Second Stage draws to a close, as every goal, save, and point could decide who advances to the coveted Final Four.
