Barca Lassa added yet another trophy to their cabinet as they defeated Füchse Berlin in the 2018 IHF Super Globe final, thanks to a commanding second half that saw them turn a one-goal score line into a decisive difference by the final whistle. The Catalan side extended their record as the team with the most titles won at the Super Globe, which now stands at four after their victories in 2013, 2014 and 2017.

"We stand with our feet on the ground and we like to win everything we can. Of course we are happy to be back-to-back champions here at the IHF Super Globe," said Barca wing Casper Ulrich Mortensen after the final. "It was a tough game. In the first half we had real difficulties against Füchse Berlin. They played a really good game but we managed to keep calm and in the second half we got control of the game. We stood good in the defence, Kevin Moller was amazing in the goal and we played really good attack also. That was great and we are really happy."

Earlier on Friday evening in Duhail Sports Hall, Doha, 2017/18 VELUX EHF Champions League winners Montpellier HB had little trouble claiming the bronze medal as they controlled the match versus hosts Al Sadd from start to finish.

 

Final: Füchse Berlin (GER) vs Barca Lassa (ESP) 24:29 (12:13)

 

Prior to the final, Füchse Berlin right back Fabian Wiede outlined how Barca’s strength lies in their capacity for rotation due to the near-unbeatable number of stars in their roster, and that was a critical factor in the result. After Berlin kept pace through the first 30 minutes for a one-goal score line at half-time, promising a thrilling second half, the German team ran out of power while Barca had no trouble maintaining their quality to the final whistle.

 

By the end of the game, the only Barca player who had not stepped on the court was goalkeeper Gonzalo Perez de Vargas. Perez de Vargas’ goalkeeping colleague Kevin Moller had a great game behind Barca’s defence, saving at 38%.

 

The first 30 minutes saw a high-quality match with the score level all the way. Berlin’s back court of Jacob Holm, Fabian Wiede and Frederik Simak was effective in breaking through Barca’s 5-1 defence early on, and the Catalan team dropped back to 6-0 after 10 minutes (6:4). Barca keeper Moller became stronger and stronger as the match went on, causing significant trouble for Berlin as he recorded a 38% save rate at the final whistle.

 

Barca’s greater depth played a role early – after 20 minutes coach Xavi Pascual had changed his entire line-up apart from Moller, and his players clearly remained fresh as the clock ticked on and they were able to rotate through the bench. Barca had a few errors in attack in the first half while Berlin keeper Silvio Heinevetter saved some shots that should have been easy goals, but the Catalan club had the edge at half-time and in the second period there was little question as to who would claim the title.

 

Wiede, who had been crucial in both assists and goals in the first half, left the court with an ankle injury at the break and attempted to return to the court in the second before he was side-lined. Berlin’s injury woes continued when Mattias Zachrisson was also forced to return to the bench in the 43rd, at which point Füchse had fallen behind 15:22. From that point, Berlin could not make their way back into the game, while Barca continued with full power through to the buzzer. 

 

Bronze-medal match: Al Sadd (QAT) vs Montpellier HB (FRA) 23:33 (9:14)

 

Current Champions League title holders Montpellier HB were the clear favourites against Al Sadd, and the French team confirmed that status with a comfortable win in the bronze-medal match on Friday evening in Duhail Sports Hall. Though the hosts’ most important players, backs Amir Denguir and Khaled Youssef, played a solid game and 24-year-old goalkeeper Rasheed Yussuf continued to show why he is a player of interest for the future, the Asian side could never really challenge Montpellier’s hold on the match.

 

Montpellier started the game very settled, hinting that they were confident of their status as the favourites – and if they were it was deserved. After the score of 1:1 in the fourth minute, Al Sadd were never equal with their opponents again. Montpellier coach Patrice Canayer used the 60 minutes to play different combinations and practice some defensive tactics such as 4-2, as his side pulled ahead to a five-goal lead at the break.

 

Though five goals is certainly not too great of a distance to overcome in 30 minutes, it was clear that the momentum was with Montpellier. The French side continued to increase their lead through the second half, with Melvyn Richardson the only player not stepping on court as his team clinched the bronze medal at what is their debut Super Globe. Montpellier captain Valentin Porte top scored the match with 11 goals from 11 shots.