Euroleague Day 18
Barca
real Madrid
The worst Barça in a long time defeated the best Madrid in history. According to the report, the white team has won a total of 74 duels in a calendar year, including 33 of 35 wins this season. The script also said that the Blaugrana had arrived in poor condition with a record of three wins in ten games. But sometimes the clues are misleading. Because Barça regained their nerve against their arch-enemy; because Vesely imposed his law; and because a classic has a life of its own.
This was noticed on the sidelines of the Palau before the clash, where the Dracs – the most spirited Barça faction in the Palau – were having a great party, shouting from the rooftops that their status as fans does not depend on whether the ball goes in or not. “If you don't jump, you're a madridista, that's what he is!” It was one of the most famous songs. It was, as the song says, “Un dia de partit”, and it was one of the greats because Madrid returned to La Galia after giving up a good record to the Blaugrana three times during the course: Super Cup, ACB and Euroleague.
The board's call for attention to the Barça team after two loud and expressive hits, 20 points against Unicaja and Monaco and the coach's warning that he would put meritocracy over stripes had an impact on the once again energetic and combative players. finally brave in the face of adversity. Vesely expressed himself with mid-range shots and Kalinic and Parker added from distance. However, little for a Madrid that found Curry, Allen or Miller in Musa, as he scored four of his first five triples – 13 points in the first quarter. Combined with Ndiaye's baskets, that was enough to suffocate Barça. But what Madrid reduced was stirred up by the referee, who gave Grimau a technical blow and quickened the heartbeat of the Palau, also of some players, who finished the antipasti hungry (21-25).
Then Laprovittola came out, stingy after Grimau's snub for not putting him in the starting lineup. In addition to acting as a scorer and dealer, he was also a leader as he gave Parra a tough fight after the team conceded several goals in a row in the sequel. So every time Barça got closer, Madrid brought out the whip. Chacho prays with his trays; ora Poirier with a buddy; now Lull with his three-pointers… But Vesely continued his thirteen-pointers with the mid-range shots and Brizuela hit the horn from home to come into the break with everything to decide (45-47).
A three-pointer from Kalinic gave Barça the lead after the restart, which was the first time in this duel. Hezonja responded with another goal from the touchline, but Grimau's team was already burning with the energy of Parra and the reliability of Vesely and were finally united in the defensive exercise. Madrid didn't want to be outdone and the quarter ended with 15 points on each side, 60-62 heading into the final chapter. A classic in the afterword.
The tension was palpable and Laprovittola felt the adrenaline of Palau as he took on Chacho for a basket after the white man had extended his arm to walk. They showed no technique and the pavilion burned – “This is how Madrid wins!” was shouted – while the Madrid player missed three shots in a row. Not such a Vesely, who became the king under the hoops, who became the King Kong of a team that, with Gazuza and ambition, was reminiscent of the team at the beginning of the year, far from the recent Jug version. With six minutes left, Barça led by 10 (72-62). And things didn't change, no matter how much Causeur protested against three or Musa fought for his MVP. They couldn't beat Vesely or Barça, with a team that woke up from a coma in the classic.
BARCELONA, 83; R. MADRID, 78
Barcelona: Satoransky (2), Kalinic (13), Da Silva (2), Parker (10) and Vesely (27) – starting quintet –; Jokubaitis (4), Paulí (0), Laprovittola (14), Willy Hernangómez (6), Parra (2) and Brizuela (3).
Real Madrid: Campazzo (6), Musa (19), Abalde (3), Ndiaye (4) and Tavares (6) – starting quintet –; Causeur (2), Hezonja (16), Sergio Rodríguez (7), Poirier (6) and Llull (9).
Partials: 21-25, 24-22, 15-15 and 23-16.
Referee: E. Mogulkoç (Tur), M. Difallah (Fra) and K. Konstantinovs (Let). No eliminated.
Palau Blaugrana. 7,596 spectators.
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