The new Barça 2023-24 team avoided the disaster of the first defeat in the Asobal League in Irún in a fast-paced final, in which they raised 4 goals in 12 minutes to end up drawing (26-26). The Catalans were down 25-21 after 48 minutes, reacted with heart to score a 4-0 draw and tie the game, but ended up saving their necks with a save with 4 seconds to go by Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, the goalkeeper whom the club has not known how to retain.
The Blaugrana team, which was playing its second League game (in the first it destroyed Anaitasuna, 45-26, corresponding to matchday 9, ahead) had not given up a point in the Asobal League for 33 games; Their last draw was 32-32 at Antequera’s home on May 14, 2022, with the League already won. Since then everything had been victories.
Carlos Ortega’s team, visibly weakened by the club’s policy of lightening the wage bill (Ludo Fàbregas, the best pivot in the world, and center back Luka Cindric left) and by the unfortunate injury of Domen Makuc, were aware of what He is going to suffer this year against rivals of a certain level. Jacobo Cuétara’s Bidasoa tightened the nuts and had him on the ropes for almost the entire game (16-13 at halftime).
In a terrible game, without its usual defensive wall of 6:0 due to the gigantic absence of Fàbregas, and without success in attack, with the only handle of Pol Valera (relieved by Mem or Richardson), Barça began to see it very black with Gorka Nieto’s 25-21. A -4 that set off the alarms.
Carlos Ortega called a time-out and the team’s response was superb, with pride and courage: goals from Frade, Wanne, Mem and Frade to make the tie at 25, interspersed with three superb saves by Pérez de Vargas – one of them, a penalty.
The former captain, stripped of the armband by Ortega for not renewing and announcing his next move to Kiel, responded with professionalism, showing that Barça will let one of the best goalkeepers in the world go for not wanting to improve his salary.
The outcome was a heart attack. With 25-25 with 4 minutes left, Mem failed to take the lead, Gorka Nieto made it 26-25 and Langaro responded with the tie at 26 with 1m13s left. In the next attack, Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas was again full of energy when he stopped Bidasoa’s shot, and with 4 seconds, after a timeout by Ortega, he served a long pass looking for Mem. The Frenchman threw from 11 meters, the ball went in the goal, but out of time. From being able to accept the first defeat to being left without victory. A tie that is a serious warning.
