FC Barcelona secured top spot in Preliminary Group and direct place at quarter-finals by beating Rhein Neckar Lowen 26:20 (11:10) at Blaugrana. Rhein Neckar Lowen will play against PPD Zagreb at TOP 16 stage.
Jallouz and Lazarov were TOP scorers for Barca with six goals each, while Schmid extended his amazing form with the same number of goals among “Lions”.
26 – Barcelona: Pérez de Vargas; Tomás (2), Gurbindo, Raúl Entrerríos (3), Sorhaindo (1),Morros, Sigurdsson (5); Jallouz (6), Lazarov (6,2p), Syprzak, Noddesbo, Sarmiento (1), Jicha (2), Ariño.
20 – Rhein-Neckar Lowen: Ristovski (Appelgren); Groetzki, Keinkind (4), Baena (2), Mensah Larsen (1), Knerr (3), Sigurdmannsson (1); Du Rietz, Gensheimer (2, 1p), Schmid (6,2p), Pekeler, Petersson (1), Gedeón Guardiola y Gerdon.
RK Vardar scheduled replay of last year’s TOP 16 clashes with Polish Orlen Wisla Plock. Macedonians beat Montpellier 34:26 tonight to secure third place in the group.
STANDINGS:
| 1. FC Barcelona Lassa | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 423 | : | 372 | (51) | 23 |
| 2. KS Vive Tauron Kielce | 13 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 398 | : | 373 | (25) | 19 |
| 3. HC Vardar | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 416 | : | 373 | (43) | 18 |
| 4. Rhein-Neckar Löwen | 14 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 369 | : | 353 | (16) | 17 |
| 5. MOL-Pick Szeged | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 378 | : | 363 | (15) | 15 |
| 6. Montpellier HB | 14 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 372 | : | 413 | (-41) | 7 |
| 7. IFK Kristianstad | 13 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 379 | : | 416 | (-37) | 5 |
| 8. KIF Kolding Kobenhavn | 13 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 327 | : | 399 | (-72) | 4 |
