Barça took a vital win at the Palau Blaugrana when they dispatched Fenerbahce 90-68 in the Euroleague. The return of Šarūnas Jasikevičius, now coach of the Turkish side, to his former club as player and coach was a bittersweet one with blaugrana Kevin Punter scoring a decisive 25 points in the encounter. 

WhatsApp Image 2024-12-17 at 22.04.18

Initial advantage 

The blaugranes started strongly and some excellent defensive work confined Fenerbahçe to just 12 points in the opening quarter as Joan Peñarroya's team took a 20-12 lead into the second period. Barça's Turkish opponents took a step forward in the second quarter and brought it back to 26-24, at which point coach Peñarroya called a time out. Barça regrouped and a period of 12-2 helped the blaugranes to a 44-37 lead at the break. 

Barça solid 

The home side were solid after taking the lead, and in the second half they went on a run of 11-2 with Satoransky leading the team and Parker and Punter keeping the score ticking over. Barça took a 10+ lead for the first time in the game and at one point were 55-39 ahead. With the final quarter to come, the blaugranes led by 12 at 65-53. 

Showtime at the Palau

Barça showed no mercy and kept on pressuring Fenerbahçe in the final quarter. Punter and Anderson combined for a spectacular alley-oop as the blaugranes extended their lead to 90-63 at the final buzzer. Barça now have a 9-7 record ahead of their next fixture which comes on Friday at 8pm CET away at Bologna. 

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    MATCH STATS 

    BARÇA, 90
    FENERBAHÇE, 63
     
    Barça: Satoransky (5), Punter (25), Anderson (18), Parker (15), Vesely (2) -starting five- Sarr (-), Brizuela (11), Hernangómez (4), Núñez (4), Abrines (2), Parra (4).

    Fenerbahçe: Baldwin (4), Hayes-Davis (7), Hall (9), Colson (15), Birch (8) -starting five- Melli (3), Sanli (2), Mays (8), Biberovic (4), Eksioglu (-), Guduric (3).

     

    Força Barça