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Vranješ: Unfortunately, we don't have 14 or even 15 world class players

Barcelona after the second triumph over the current European champion in only one week

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Barcelona concluded the first part of group phase with a good game and a win on the always uncomfortable German ground. They want to confirm that today, and defeat the current Europe champion for the second time in only a week. That way, they'd confirm the first place and dominating the group. Xavi Pascual's team are still undefeated, both in the national championship and the CL, so they'll do whatever they can to keep it that way after today.

They're aware they have another tough game, but the home court's factor should be used because that's what you get by winning one of the first two places in the group. Barcelona should ensure that by winning today. The last away game Flensburg played in Blaugrana ended up with the home team's win, 34-29, but it was a "Pyrrhic victory" because Flensburg came with an advantage of ten goals, they easily kept it safe and went to the CL 2006/07 semifinals.

Pascual became the first Barcelona coach with most consecutive wins in the national championship (42), and continued with the practice of rotation and resting, so Raul Entrerrios and the team's best scorer Kiril Lazarov rested on the stands against Villa de Aranda . They'll be among the most rested players today and will probably play more. Lazarov was the executor for Flensburg, scoring ten goals in the first game, and will be a real danger for their goal today. Pascual can rely on the complete team, and most players are in a great form, as Flensburg sensed a week ago at home.

Besides Lazarov, the goalie Šarić was great too, as well as Karabatić and Tomas who each scored seven goals. Sarmiento was right behind with six. The goal today is to improve the defense phase, and Glandorf and Eggert will get special attention, Barcelona's defense just didn't know how to deal with them in the first game.

The Europe champion come to Blaugrana as a big outsider. As funny as that sounds. The odds are about 1.15 on Barcelona, and the last week's game didn't show there's much difference in quality between these two teams. Barcelona struggled properly, played a miserable defense, and if not for Šarić, and if Pascual didn't single out Glandorf, one ball could have decided the match. Ljubo Vranješ won't give up before the return fixture, but he's well aware that Barcelona haven't lost at home for 33 months.

- I never accept defeat. Of course Barcelona are an extraordinary team, but we have a chance if we have an ideal day.

His team defeated Hannover 32-26 in the league since the last game against Barcelona, and Vranješ tried to rest his players as much as possible. The right back Jakobsson scored 4 goals, gave a break to Glandord who had 3. Andersson was decent on the goal, and the defense did their job, so they only conceded 11 till the break (17-11). But, Vranješ did say later on that they should have been more aggressive in the defense. 

- We'll think about it for sure and try to surprise Barcelona with something. But this world class team are so creative, they know how to deal with new situations - Vranješ said, and pointed out the biggest difference between them and Barcelona:

- We have world class players, too, but unfortunately, not 14 or even 16 of them. We still seek continuity.

Flensburg accepted modern handball, played in Barcelona's rhythm, attacked their defensive transition and the fact that they change a lot of players in defense - offense. It was a kind of handball not many in Europe know how to play. So, it'll be really interesting to see if Vranješ can change anything in that regard, because it's hard to keep up with Barcelona as it is. Even if Glandorf has 11 goals...