Barcelona Suffer Shock Defeat in Liga Asobal After 7-Year Unbeaten Run

Barcelona's 7-year unbeaten run in the Liga Asobal came to a shocking end as they lost 31-30 to Granollers, despite a strong performance from Dika Mem and Emil Neilsen.

In a stunning upset, Barcelona suffered their first league defeat in seven years, falling 31-30 to Granollers at Palau Blaugrana. Despite impressive performances from Dika Mem, who scored nine goals, and keeper Emil Neilsen, who made 13 saves, the visitors managed to secure a narrow victory.

This loss was a significant setback for Barcelona, who could have secured their 15th consecutive league title with a win. Although the team had dropped points in previous domestic league campaigns, this defeat marked their first loss in the Liga Asobal since April 13, 2018. Ironically, Granollers were also the opposing team in that 2018 match, which Barcelona lost 29-28.

The match began with Barcelona taking an early 3-1 lead, but Granollers quickly fought back, taking a 6-3 lead after eight minutes and forcing Barcelona coach Carlos Ortega to call a timeout. The visitors continued to push forward, stretching their advantage to 10-6 before Barcelona's Dika Mem and Emil Neilsen helped the team regain momentum.

Thanks to Mem's goals and Neilsen's crucial saves, Barcelona managed to take an 18-16 lead at halftime. However, Granollers refused to back down, and the match ultimately ended in a thrilling 31-30 victory for the visitors.

Barcelona began the second half strongly, establishing a four-goal lead at 24-20. However, Granollers demonstrated remarkable resilience, fighting back to level the score at 29-29 with just five minutes remaining in the match.

The final stretch was intense, with the Palau crowd fervently cheering on Barcelona. Despite their efforts, the home team was thwarted by visiting goalkeeper Roberto Rodríguez, who made a series of crucial saves to secure a sensational victory for Granollers.

The loss may have come at a good time for Barcelona, as they now have three more league games to play before shifting their focus to the Champions League. They will face Szeged in a two-legged matchup at the end of April and beginning of May, with the winner advancing to the Final 4. As the defending Champions League winners, Barcelona will be eager to defend their title.

Despite this unexpected loss, Barcelona still maintains a comfortable lead in the Spanish domestic league, sitting 10 points ahead of second-placed Granollers with seven games remaining in the Liga Asobal.