Defeat in Monaco in the first game of the series, as FC Barcelona didn't make the best start to the EuroLeague quarterfinal playoffs (97-80). The blaugranes were undone by a good third quarter for the home side, but there is still time to turn it around and tie up the series in the next game at the Palau Blaugrana (25 April, 7.00pm CEST).

Blaugranes start well but fade

Kevin Punter was in good form in this Monaco v Barça, scoring some vital points that saw the blaugranes take the lead from the off. Monaco trailed throughout the first quarter and were down 16-22 after eight minutes. However, the home side managed to come back as the second began to go to 26-25 (min 12).

The lead well and truly gone, a 21-2 period for Monaco extended the gap to 41-27 (min 16). The blaugranes were finding it hard to respond, but Fall stepped up to helped Barça in attack. A three from Brizuela and a basket from the number 19 set the blaugranes on course to cut into the lead, which was only 44-42 at half-time.

Home side step on the gas

It seemed that the hard work to come back into contention has been done, but Monaco turned it up a notch to make it 56-47 (min 24). +9 was still attainable but it didn't prove to be possible as the home side stepped on the gas to make it +17 by the end of the third.

The gap was set to grow wider, though, to +19 (80-61, min 32), which was not made any easier by a Satoransky foul out. There was still time to come back, but this game wasn't for turning and ended in a Monaco win.

GAME STATS

AS Mònaco 97
Barça 80

AS Monaco: Okobo (19), Blossomgame (3), Theis (22), Diallo (3) and James (22) - starting five - Loyd (1), Jaiteh (10), Strazel (13), Tarpey (4) and Cornelie (-)
Barça: Punter (16), Anderson (5), Satoransky (2), Fall (13) and Parker (7) - starting five - Abrines (5), Vesely (8), Brizuela (13), Parra (5), Hernangómez (3), Villar (1) and Grujicic (2)

Quarters: 21-25; 23-17 // 32-17; 21-21

Referees: Emin Mogulkoc, Piotr Pastusiak and Milos Koljensic

Força Barça