Rio Natura Monbus Obradoiro – FC Barcelona: Ending the year with defeat (79-67)

[[DES_1]] FC Barcelona fell to defeat away at Obradoiro in an even encounter that was decided in the final quarter thanks to the home side’s precision shooting from the outside. Barça end the year in second place in the table with 10 victories from 14 games, behind leaders Unicaja but ahead of third placed Real Madrid.

Early advantage

After Sunday’s win against Real Madrid at home, Xavi Pascual’s team were in confident mood. Nevertheless, the team from Galicia were never going to be a pushover at home with a record of five wins from six matches coming into the game against Barça. The visitors began the better and in a flash they had a seven point lead at 0-7. The home side rallied after the early setback and they outscored the blaugranes for most of the remaining half before a late rally from Satoransky and Doellman gave Barça a 32-35 half-time lead.

Pascual’s team started the second half strongly and they soon enjoyed an eight point lead at 36-44. Moncho Fernández’s team clawed their way back into the game and reduced the lead to just four points at 41-45- From that point on the game became a battle from the perimetre as the two teams exchanged three-pointers before ending the third quarter with Barça leading 53-57.

Decisive final quarter

The game was still up for grabs going into the fourth quarter and it was Obradoiro who took the initiative, moving into a seven point advantage at 64-57. With just three minutes remaining the blaugranes were just three points in arrears, yet it was the home side who were to take the win, guide by the game’s top scorer Maxi Kleber - his 23 points in the contest turned out to be decisive in giving the Galicians the eventual 79-67 victory.