Barça 80-67 ASVEL Villeurbanne: With a firm step in the Euroleague

Barça are still firmly in European competition following the victory over ASVEL Villeurbanne by 80-67. It was a game of two halves, however, with Pesic's team enjoying a superb first half, but lacking success at the basket for large parts in the second.

Mirotic got Barça on their way but ASVEL responded quickly, with a pair of three-pointers - four in the first quarter - that re-adjusted the score. A fairly equal contest saw the hosts reach the end of the first period with a three-point lead (22-19).

The Blaugranes started the second period the brighter but once again the visitors responded with three-pointers until they were able to level the match. Oriola's success allowed Barça to regain control, although ASVEL continued to shine though Maledon and Lighty.

Two consecutive three-pointers from Abrines served to widen the gap with ASVEL as they headed to half-time (48-38).

Abrines, the most successful Barça player 

Three Delaney triples saw Barça go 17 ahead, but then their scoring pace slowed down for a few minutes, allowing the French side to claw the deficit back by the end of the third quarter (63-56).

Abrines found his range and it allowed the hosts to have an 18 point lead at one stage, but that was quickly cut back to 13. In the end, it was just too much for ASVEL, and Barça retained the comfortable lead until the end (80-67).

Match Details

Barça, 80
ASVEL Villeurbanne, 67

Barça: Bolmaro (2), Higgins (13), Smits (5), Mirotic (12), Tomic (4) -starters-, Davies (10), Hanga (2), Oriola (7), Abrines (16), Delaney (9).
ASVEL Villeurbanne: Jackson (4), Jekiri (-), Kahudi (12), Maledon (10), Jean-Charles (2) -starters-, Taylor (6), Lomazs (3), Galloiu (-), Noua (10), Bako (4), Lighty (16).
Partials: 22-19 / 48-38 / 63-56 / 80-67
Officials: Olegs Latisevs, Piotr Pastusiak and Mario Majkic.