Montpellier fall narrowly to Barcelona in Champions League

Montpellier missed the chance to take control of Champions League Group E after Barcelona edged them in a tightly contested match. The result leaves the reigning European champions alone at the summit, two points clear of the French side after two rounds.

Barcelona won 28-27, but Montpellier repeatedly threatened to overturn the game. The Catalan side opened with a 3-0 run and led by four after less than 15 minutes. Montpellier then produced a 6-0 sequence, helped by goalkeeper Charles Bolzinger’s seven-minute shutout, to move two goals ahead. Barcelona recovered before half-time and held a three-goal advantage at the interval.

The second half was decided by small margins, with the gap staying at two or three goals for long periods. Kyllian Villeminot’s seven goals, including a late seven-metre conversion, brought Montpellier within one during the final 10 minutes. The hosts remained close until the last 30 seconds, but Barcelona kept possession long enough to secure the victory. Villeminot finished with seven goals from 10 attempts, while Dika Mem led Barcelona with five. Skanderborg’s 25-25 draw with Dinamo Bucharest also left Barcelona with a two-point lead over Montpellier in Group E.