The Barça basketball team started 2026 on a winning note with a 100-80 win over Casademont Zaragoza in the Palau Blaugrana. Xavi Pascual's team got better and better as the game went on after a tight start to the contest to boost morale following the defeat against Monaco in the Euroleague and ahead of Sunday's Clásico against Real Madrid. 

Improvement 

The first quarter of the game against the team from Aragon was an even affair with the teams exchanging blows early on. Points from Norris, Punter and Laprovittola pulled Barça back level after the visitors had taken an early lead but Zaragoza retained their advantage at 22-21 come the end of the first period. 

In the second period Barça began to assert their dominance with Shengalia and Satoransky upping the scoring tempo. Zaragoza found it hard to contain the blaugranes and at half time the home side had forged an important 48-33 lead in the Palau. 

Points galore 

In the second half Barça retained control of the game despite Zaragoza's efforts to ease their way back into the game. A break in play for technical problems in the Palau did not upset the home side's advantage as they went into the final quarter 73-55 ahead. 

In the fourth period Barça retained their hold on the game with Fall and Cale particularly impressive in the paint. Juani Marcos took advantage of court time to add his energy and points as Barça reached a century of points with two consecutive three pointers. The 100-80 win for Xavi Pascual's team in the ACB League comes at a perfect moment with the Clásico to come at the weekend. 

MATCH STATS 

BARÇA, 100
CASADEMONT ZARAGOZA, 80

Barça: Punter (13), Cale (2), Norris (15), Satoransky (10), Hernangomez (5) - starting five - J. Marcos (10), Brizuela (6), Fall (11), Laprovittola (11), Shengelia (9), Keita (-), Parra (8)

Casademont Zaragoza: Robinson (7), Bell-Haynes (9), Yusta (8), Gonzalez (5), Kournadje (4) - starting five - Spissu (7), Lukic (3), Fernandez (3), Soriano (10); Dubljevic (8), Rodriguez (12), Stephens (11).

Quarters: 21-22, 27-11 // 25-22, 27-25

 

 

 

Força Barça