MHB beats FC Barcelona in first friendly match in Germany

Bryan Monte and Montpellier beat the Catalans. Midi Libre – Midi Libre

In Germany to play a friendly tournament, MHB won against Barça (31-29), Saturday August 24 in Nordhorn.

With the return of its internationals, Erick Mathé's team went for a prestigious victory against the last winner of the French Champions League Dika Mem, Timothey N’Guessan and Melvyn Richardson.

Invited by the Nordhorn-Lingen club, the former team of its Spanish left winger Jaime Fernandez, the MHB will play again this Sunday (5 p.m.) for the tournament final against Flensburg, the last third in the Bundesliga.

Bolzinger, man of the match

Ahead at the start of the match (6-3, 6th), Montpellier gradually saw Barcelona impose their game, taking advantage of a few Hérault ball losses to pull away (10-14, 22nd).

Barça relying on their goalkeeper Emil Nielsen, formerly of HBC Nantes, kept this gap at the break (14-18). But Erick Mathé's players came back with completely different intentions in the second period in order to turn the match around to lead by three goals before the last quarter of an hour (25-22, 46th).

The Catalans did not admit defeat, however, coming back to level five minutes from the end (29-29) and offering a suspenseful money-time between the two teams. But the coin fell on the right side for Montpellier, notably thanks to a superb save by Charles Bolzinger on a six-meter shot from the left wing two minutes from the end to keep a one-goal lead (30-29, 58th).

Cikusa, like a symbol

The victory was then sealed thanks to a goal from right-back Djordje Cikusa on a counter-attack. As a symbol for the young 18-year-old Spaniard, loaned by FC Barcelona for this season and whose twin brother, Petar, played in the opposing camp.

The left-hander, recently injured in a thigh with the Spanish selection, was also rather interesting in this right-back position, Erick Mathé shifting the captain Valentin Porte to the right wing, as in the French team.

Playing time for the youngsters

The new coach of the MHB also took the opportunity to give playing time to several youngsters during this match, due to the injuries of Swedish left winger Lucas Pellas and Frenchman Yanis Lenne, both present in the stands, like Sebastian Karlsson (right wing).

Thus, some new faces scored rather good points like Hungarian Roland Terjek (20 years old) on the left wing or Baptiste Dubois on the other wing, him, the little brother of the former MHB player, Adrien Dubois.

In terms of satisfactions, Erick Mathé was also able to count on a good performance from his Egyptian left back Ahmed Hesham, who seems to have definitely recovered from his knee injury, in line with the Paris 2024 Olympics with his team national.

The starting team: Bolzinger (g), Fernandez, Hesham, Skube (Konan in defense), Porte, Terjek, A. Lenne (pivot).