Greek champions Olympiacos have completed a successful three-day joint training camp with Spain’s Barceloneta in Piraeus, capped by an exhilarating match that ended in a narrow 15-14 penalty defeat for the hosts.
The two sides played to a scintillating 12-12 draw in regular time, but the Spaniards edged out Olympiacos in the penalty shootout, thanks to goalkeeper Unai Aguirre’s heroics, saving three crucial penalties.
Both Croatian coaches, Hrvoje Koljanin (Olympiacos) and Elvis Fatovic (Barceloneta), will be heartened by their teams’ performances during the camp. Bernat Sanahuja was the top scorer, netting four goals for Barceloneta. Meanwhile, Olympiacos stars Konstantinos Genidounias and Ioannis Fountoulis, along with Barceloneta’s Alvaro Granados, each secured hat-tricks in a thrilling offensive display.
Gergo Zalanki made his uncompetitive debut for the Red-Whites, firing two goals past Barceloneta.
Looking ahead, both teams are gearing up for their domestic league openers in the next two weeks. Barceloneta will face Rubi, while Olympiacos will meet Glyfada. In the Champions League, Olympiacos, last season’s bronze medalists, will kick off their European campaign against Montenegrin side Primorac, while Barceloneta is set to host Hungary’s Vasas.
With strong showings during the training camp, both sides appear ready for the challenges ahead in both domestic and European competitions.