BarcelonaBitter night at the Palau Blaugrana. The Barça de les mil vides could not come back against an AS Monaco with many more arguments that knew how to make use of their great initial advantage (74-90). Indignant with the referees who pulled him off the cuff, Xavi Pascual was sent off with 15 minutes left to play and the 7,212 spectators, the second best attendance of the season, went into a frenzy.
Darío Brizuela (25 points) was the top scorer for a Barça team overcome by a very solid rival defence. Denied in the field goal, Kevin Punter took 25 minutes to make the first of the only two baskets of the game. Jan Vesely reappeared, but only played 6:10 minutes.
Barça did not start the game well. The Blaugrana team missed 10 of the first 12 shots they attempted and accumulated an eleven-point deficit against an opponent with a lot of offensive ability (6-17). The difference between the visitors reached 21 points in a second quarter in which the Culer team narrowly outscored them (26-47). Without assists or outside shooting, the home team’s game became too vulnerable. The score summed up the scoring problems of the Catalans, who could only add 30 points in 20 minutes (30-47).
Pascual tried to include Youssoupha Fall in the rotation. After a non-existent foul signaled by Sasa Pukl, the coach of Gavà forced his expulsion with two consecutive techniques when there were still 15 minutes left to play (42-57). Minutes later, Íñigo Zorzano, his assistant, was also sanctioned with a technical. A part of the culer fans reacted with insults against the Euroleague.
Barça looked for a comeback with moments of roughness, but did not have the necessary continuity to surprise a very solid Monaco. The Blaugrana team reduced the gap and added excitement in the final stretch.
Defeats of Manresa i Penya
Baxi Manresa was defeated in the Eurocup against Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem (105-69). Joventut, for its part, lost the match corresponding to the 13th day of the Endesa League on the Unicaja court (105-83).
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