The Spanish handball team concluded its Golden League campaign with a 31-29 defeat to Norway on Sunday. The result carried more positive signals than disappointment, despite the final score in Sotra Arena, Straume, Norway.
From the start, center Agustín Casado stood out, anchoring the offense through the tournament, while full-back Imanol Garciandia continued to grow in influence. Young talents like Jan Gurri impressed, and the Cikusa brothers, Petar and Djordje, provided moments of quality that showed the squad’s depth.
Yet those efforts were not enough to overcome a Norwegian side that stepped up defensively in the closing quarter, pinning Spain back and edging ahead when it mattered most.
Although the game was part of a friendly competition, the Dutch-Norwegian tie had the edge of a rematch after the World Cup quarterfinals in Poland and Sweden in January, a reminder of unfinished business between the teams.
Norway coach Jonas Wille opted to rest key players like Sander Sagosen, Magnus Rod and Magnus Gullerud against the Netherlands the day before, a decision that backfired in the 33-37 loss but did not fully carry over into the clash with Spain. Sagosen arrived fresh and started strongly, scoring four of Norway’s first five goals, yet the Spaniards kept the scoreboard tight as the early pace settled (5-5).
Spain could boast defensive resilience, guided by goalkeeper Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas, even as Sagosen’s array of attacking options remained a constant challenge for the defense. The Spaniards’ goalkeeper did more than hold the line; he halted Sagosen’s early momentum by stopping two penalties, and Sagosen wouldn’t score again until late in the first half.
On the other end, Casado’s quality touches and Garciandia’s drive kept Spain competitive, but the attack sometimes faltered in rhythm. A prolonged spell without scoring—roughly eight minutes—slowed the buildup and tested the team’s ability to convert defensive stops into points. Still, Spain held steady at 7-5 through the lull, thanks to solid defense and Pérez de Vargas’s crucial saves.
As Sagosen’s impact waned, Spain briefly seized control, launching a 0-5 run that created a three-point cushion at 7-10 with the clock ticking into the second quarter. The rhythm shifted again as Rod, rested against the Netherlands, returned and lunged back into scoring form, tying the game at 13-13 just before the break. The first half ended with Spain holding a narrow advantage after an up-and-down period of exchanges, and Casado and Garciandia were highlighted for their offensive instincts and continued willingness to press forward.
The second half opened with a renewed sense of urgency from both teams. Spain began facing more interference and more frequent disciplinary actions, a consequence of the aggressive defensive approach that Norway continued to deploy. Norway eventually leveled the score and then nudged ahead, with Spain under pressure to respond in a contest that now resembled a tighter, more physical battle than many expected.
Midway through the second period, Spain faced a spell where suspension and a tighter one-on-one battle dominated the action. The Norwegians found momentum and briefly moved into the lead as Spain’s offense struggled to sustain a productive sequence. The matchplace remained close, with Sagosen contributing and Rod providing the necessary support to keep the scoreboard tight.
The game reached a critical phase in the final minutes. Spain lost possession with less than three minutes left, and a late red card to Imanol Garciandia compounded the pressure. Despite the setback, Spain fought to the end, forcing a 29-29 tie and creating a tense closing sequence that would determine the result. The winning moment arrived for Norway with a late penalty conversion, sealing a 31-29 finish—and a result that left the Spaniards with much to build on in the near future.
Data sheet:
31 – Norway: Imsgard; Bjornsen, Rod, Overby, O’Sullivan, Sagosen, Barthold; Saeveras, Aga Eck, Jakobsen, Toft, Tonnesen, Gullerud, Grondahl, Gulliksen, Blonz (6, 4p)
29 – Spain: Pérez De Vargas; Aleix Gómez, Garciandia, Casado, Gurri, Dani Fernández, Gedeón Guardiola; Sergey Hernández, Peciña, Ángel Fernández, Solé, Sánchez-Migallón, Chema Márquez, Dani Dujshebaev, Odriozola, Djordje Cikusa, Petar Cikusa (3)
Marker every five minutes: 2-2, 5-5, 7-5, 8-10, 10-11, 13-13 (Rest), 15-17, 18-19, 22-24, 24-25, 27-28, 31-29 (End)
Referees: Maike Merz and Tanja Kuttler (Germany). Imanol Garciandia was sent off in the 60th minute. Also for Norway, Rod, Gullerud and Blonz were sanctioned with two-minute suspensions; for Spain, Peciña, Gedeón Guardiola, Gurri, Sánchez-Migallón and Dani Dujshebaev faced two-minute penalties.
Events: The match was part of the third and final day of the Golden League, played at Sotra Arena in Straume, Norway.