I am no one-man-show, it’s a team
Macedonian sniper Kiril Lazarov on the hopes and chances at the World Championship and with Barcelona in the VELUX EHF Champions League.
He is a sniper, a real goal machine: Kiril Lazarov has been top scorer of all competition he was part of. In 2009 he became best ever scorer at a single World Championship in Croatia by netting in 92 times, in 2012 he took the same “title” - best scorer of a single European Championship - by scoring 61 times at the EURO in Serbia. Twice he was top scorer of the EHF Champions League - and the Macedonian holds another record, being part of the last five IHF Super Globe events since 2010, starting for Al-Sadd (2010) followed by two participations including one title with Atletico Madrid (2011, 2012) and two titles with FC Barcelona (2013, 2014). In January, the 34 year old, who started his career in Bitola (Macedonia) before he became a top start in Veszprem (Hungary), Zagreb (Croatia), Madrid and Barcelona, returns to Doha, full of confidence that the Macedonian team can make it to the eighth-finals of the World Championship. In the preliminary round Macedonia face Austria, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iran and Tunisia. In the previous weeks Lazarov showed his high importance for the Macedonians and his club FC Barcelona. Scoring 23 goals in the EHF EURO 2016 qualification he nearly was responsible for half of all Macedonian goals. In VELUX EHF Champions League he led Barca to their revenge at Flensburg by ten goals.
Karabatic, Lazarov and Sigurdsson in the team of the year
The FC Barcelona star came out tops in a vote among fans and a jury of experts. Another award for Nikola Karabatic. FC Barcelona's French central back has been named world player of the year by specialist website Handball Planet.com following a vote by fans and 24 of the world's top handball reporters. 2014 has been a terrific year for the player, with Barça winning every trophy at stake apart from the Champions League.
FC Barcelona pull away from Guadalajara in second half
BM Guadalajara - FC Barcelona 31:41 (20:21)
After an even first half, Barça takes over and is victorius. Barça won at Guadalajara for their 13th league win in 13 tries this season after a difficult first half that saw them down by a pair just before the half. However a strong showing after the break saw César Montes' side hold steady and then put the game away.
Lazarov extra performans for another Barca win
FC Barcelona - Alinsas HK 42:29 (18:17)
The Saturday match in the Palau Blaugrana really looked a lot like many previous home matches Barcelona have played in the competition. The opponents were able to follow Barcelona in the first half, only to see themselves being outplayed and outrun by the favourites after the break. This Saturday, it was Alingsas' turn to experience this. After Barcelona had been a single goal ahead at the start, Max Darj gave the visitors their first lead at 7:6 after 12 minutes and 20 seconds - and when Marcus Enström made it 8:6, 37 seconds later, it became a bit too much of a good thing for Barcelona coach Xavier Pascual's liking, who called a time-out.
Spectacular second half
FC Barcelona - SG Flensburg - Handewitt 36:27 (14:16)
Another win against the European champions puts Barça top of their group. In a wonderful second half, the Catalans only conceded 11 goals. FC Barcelona won 36:27 to beat the defending champions SG Flensburg-Handewitt for the second time in a week. After Kolding were held to a draw by Wisła Płock, the Catalans go to the top of the table with four games to play, and have already sealed a place in the next round.
Record breaking win
BM Villa de Aranda - FC Barcelona 27:32 (10:15)
Coach Xavi Pascual recorded his 42nd consecutive win in charge of the handball side, a new club record, with a comfortbale victory over ninth placed team Villa de Aranda. Pascual's side were always ahead in the contest and only a late rally from the home side gave the scoreline an air or respectability.
Lazarov and Barca with great win in Flensburg
SG Flensburg Handewitt - FC Barcelona 33:37 (16:16)
In a marvellous performance, Barça beat the defending European champions, Flensburg, the side that knocked them out of the competition at the semi-final stage last season. Lazarov, with ten goals, was the star of a game that sets the Catalans up very nicely for a place in the next round.
Easy win for FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona - MMT Seguros Zamora 38:25 (20:11)
FC Barcelona (20+18):
Saric (Pérez de Vargas, m.31 to 60); Víctor Tomás (3,2p), Gurbindo (6), Noddesbo (4), Karabatic (1), Jallouz (6), Ariño (1) -starting seven- Sigurdsson (3), Sorhaindo (4), Sarmiento (2), Miralles (2), Rutenka (5,2p), Raúl Entrerríos (1) & Rey (-).
Crushing victory
Naturhouse La Rioja - Fc Barcelona 23:34 (10:19)
Barça went on to a big win in Logroño, scoring seven unanswered goals in the first seven minutes of the match, running roughshod over a helpless host.
Lazarov and Ristovski save Macedonian squad in Zlin
Czech Republic - Macedonia 27:27 (18:11)
Following a disappointing loss for Czech Republic against France in their qualification opener, Sunday's home side were eager for a chance to make amends. With no clear favourite ahead of the meeting between the sides in Zlin, it was no surprise that the match was a close one. By midway through the first half the score was level (6:6), and the game was already looking to be dominated by both team's big back court shooters.
