Two-time IHF Super Globe champions FC Barcelona opened the 11th edition of the tournament in Duhail Sports Hall with an emphatic win over Esperance Sportive de Tunis, qualifying for the semi-final where they will meet the current EHF Champions League title holders HC Vardar. Vardar made their way to the semi-final with a clear victory of their own, beating Iranian side Naft-O-Gas-Gachsaran by eight goals.

Quarter-final: FC Barcelona Lassa (ESP) vs Esperance Sportive de Tunisie (TUN) 42:24 (19:10)

FC Barcelona coach Xavi Pascual made it clear prior to the beginning of the 2017 IHF Super Globe that the competition is a crucial one – not only for the trophy but because of the importance it holds in the team’s preparation for the season. As Pascual guided his side to a decisive quarter-final victory, he also used the chance to practice different defensive and attacking line-ups.

The game opened evenly with vocal support for ES Tunis from their many fans in the arena, but it did not take long before the nine-time EHF Champions League winners took control. 10 minutes in Barcelona led 6:4, before hitting double digits to their opponents’ five goals in the 13th. 

After the score of 10:5 neither team could find the goal for over five minutes. The score stayed where it was as Tunis keeper Ahmed Amine Bedoui saved a fast break attempt against Barcelona right wing Victor Tomas, and it was not until the 17th minute when Dika Mem added a breakthrough goal for the European side that the score board changed. 

Barcelona coach Xavi Pascual rotated through his bench significantly, with Slovenian newcomer Jure Dolenec substituting as an attacking specialist after the 10-minute mark and 2017 Junior World Championship All-star right wing Aleix Gomez taking Tomas’ place in the second quarter of the match. 

When Barcelona held a nine-goal advantage at the break it seemed clear the outcome was decided. ES Tunis took another time-out just before the clock ticked into the last quarter of the game, but at that point Barcelona were well on the path to victory as they held a 13-goal advantage (29:16). 

At the final whistle Barcelona recorded an 18-goal win to qualify for the quarter-finals.