It was never easy in the Palau Blaugrana but FC Barcelona came away with the win by 91-89 against a spirited Dubai Basketball team. The game was a rollercoaster from start to finish for Xavi Pascual's team as they claimed victory number 15 this season in the Euroleague. 

Barça found it tough to get into the game early on and they were soon 15-9 down. Brizuela led a fightback and at the end of the first quarter the blaugranes were back in it at 22-18 down. Seven unanswered points at the start of the second period saw Barça surge 25-22 ahead with just 11 minutes gone. Punter scored 15 points in the first half to help Xavi Pascual's team to a 49-41 lead at at half time after Dubai had comeback after being 11 points down at one moment. 

After a great second period, in the second half Barça remain on top in the game. Brizuela, who would end the game with 25 points, hit a three pointer as did Shengelia to lift Barça to 60-50 ahead. McKinley kept Dubai in the game but they still trailed by 79-67 going into the final period. 

The fourth quarter was a nail biter as Dubai came right back into the contest, cancelling out a 12 point deficit to go 83-83 with 4 minutes left. The visitors went ahead at 88-87 but Brizuela was the hero for Barça, scoring the deciding basket to give the blaugranes a 91-89 win, number 15 in Europe this season. 

Barça are next in action on Friday away at Villeurbanne in the Euroleague once more. 

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    FITXA DEL PARTIT

    Barça, 91
    Dubai Basketball, 89

    Barça: Punter (20), Brizuela (25), Satoransky (5), Hernangómez (4) and Shengelia (11) -starting five- Vesely (8), Norris (2), Parra (10) and Laprovittola (6)
    Dubai Basketball: Bacon (7), Prepelic (5), Kabengele (13), McKinley Wright IV (29) and Petrusev (12) -starting five- Avramovic (10), Abass (5), Anderson (2), Musa (5) and Kamenjas (1)

    Quarters: 18-22; 31-19 // 30-26; 12-22

     

    Força Barça