Valencia Basket v Barça: Victory at La Fonteta (66-71)

Barça beat Valencia Basket in an even and keenly contested match in La Fonteta. The game started with both teams exchanging baskets, and Smits leading Barça's attack. By the end of the first 10 minutes, the hosts remained just ahead (19-16).

Barça's defensive intensity

In the second quarter, Barça increased their defensive intensity, however, the success of Guillem Vives and the effectiveness of Valencia's three-pointers meant that the scores were still close at half-time (35-33).

Barça were comfortable in the third period and Sarunas Jasikevicius ensured his side could deploy an attack with fluidity and success, especially from Calathes, Abrines and Smits. A basket from Abrines in the last seconds of the third quarter put Barça ahead by 10 points (44-54).

A fight to the end

In the last period, Barça maintained their advantage at all times and a basket from Higgins put the Catalans 12 points up (54-66, min 37). However, Valencia Basket never gave up, and by the end, despite losing, they'd cut the gap to five points (66-71).

Match Details:

Valencia Basket, 66
Barça, 71

Valencia Basket: Prepelic (6), Kalinic (13), Dubljevic (13), Vives (7) and Williams (7) –starters-, Marinkovic (3), Labeyrie (5), Van Rossom (6), Tobey (2), San Emeterio (3) and Hermannsson (1).

Barça: Higgins (10), Hanga (2), Smits (15), Claver (4) and Davies (11) –starters-, Heurtel (-), Oriola (4), Abrines (11), Martinez (-), Kuric (-) and Calathes (14).

Breakdown: 19-16 / 35-33 / 44-54 / 66-71

Officials: Christos Christodoulou, Mario Majkic and Jurgis Laurinavicius.