Barça 79-53 Zenit: Through to the Final Four!

Through to the Final Four in Cologne!

Barça have won the fifth and final game of their quarter final series with Zenit (79-53) following some wonderful defensive work in the first half that in turn allowed them to impose their game in offence. They kept up the same intensity after the break and ended up winning by a far more comfortable margin than might have been expected.

Higgins, with 15 points, led the scoring - and Barça are in the final stage of the Euroleague for the first time in seven years!

Smooth offence, solid defence

Barça got off to a dominant start, playing fine counter-attacking basketball and scoring fluidly. The defence was as much to thank for the early lead, with Zenit simply unable to get into the flow of the game and already trailing by nine at the end of the first period (23-14).

Barça looked just as confident in the second quarter, with a slam-dunk and a three from Bolmaro making a very firm statementindeed. Half way through the game, and the Catalans were very much in command.

Back after seven years

There were a few moments of uncertainty in the third period, but Barça had thankfully built up a healthy cushion, and when they finally found top gear again they surpassed the 20-point barrier (54-34). The Russians simply were not allowed a chance to get back into the game and Barça ended up securing their ticket for Cologne by an astonishing 26 points!

It’s been a seven-year wait to return to a Final Four. And it’s something that’s more than deserved for a team that topped the regular season chart in such magnificent fashion. On May 28, Barça will play AX Armani Exhange Milan.

The prize will be a final against either Anadolu Efes or CSKA Moscow. Bring it on!!!

MATCH STATS

Barça: Higgins (15), Calathes (12), Abrines (-), Mirotic (7), Davies (11), Hanga (7), Bolmaro (7), Smits (-), Gasol (7), Oriola (-), Kuric (11) & Claver (2). 

Zenit: Rivers, Pangos (7), Hollins (5), Thomas (7), Black (3), Zakharov (1), Fridzon (4), Baron (9), Khvostov (-), Zubkov (6) & Poythress (11). 

Periods: 23-14 / 43-40 / 57-39 / 79-53

Referees: Robert Lottermoser, Olegs Latisevs & Tomislav Hordov.