Mohamed Dabone scored 25 points and grabbed 9 rebounds to help Barcelona defeat Real Madrid 84-80 in Valdebebas during the fifth round of the Liga U. The victory extends Barcelona’s lead at the top of the standings to a 4-0 record with a game in hand, overcoming a stellar 35-point performance from Real Madrid guard Omer Kutluay.
The contest brought together the two finalists from the previous junior Euroleague—won by Barcelona 85-77 in Athens—and the most recent Liga U final, which Real Madrid captured 86-82 in Burgos. The latest chapter in the youth rivalry lived up to expectations, swinging on a fourth-quarter rally from the visiting Catalan side.
Kutluay Sets the Pace Before Barcelona Counterpunches
Omer Kutluay dominated the opening two quarters, netting 16 points in the first period alone and reaching halftime with 27 points as Real Madrid built a matching 49-49 scoreline. The 17-year-old Madrid guard finished the afternoon with 35 points, shooting 8 of 10 from the free-throw line, 9 of 12 on two-pointers, and 3 of 11 from beyond the arc, alongside 5 rebounds and 3 assists.
Barcelona countered with depth before unleashing their 15-year-old center in the second half. While Kutluay kept the hosts ahead through three quarters—capping the third period with five consecutive points to make it 69-62—Barcelona deployed Nil Poza, Jakob Siftar, and Kone to neutralize the perimeter threat. Siftar contributed 14 points, and Poza added 12 for the visitors.
Fourth-Quarter Surge Secures the Victory
Real Madrid maintained control into the final ten minutes, but turnovers stalled the white-shirted offense in the closing stretch. Mohamed Dabone, standing 2.10 meters tall, asserted himself inside after a quiet start, adding 7 points in the fourth quarter to finish with 25 points on 5-of-7 free throws, 7-of-12 two-pointers, and 2-of-7 three-pointers.
Diego Ferreras chipped in consecutive baskets during the decisive run, pushing Barcelona ahead 79-75 near the three-minute mark. Madrid struggled to recover as the visitors tightened their defensive pressure. Andrej Fantic hit a three-pointer for Madrid, and teammate Robinson followed with a dunk with 49 seconds remaining to keep the deficit at three points.
In the frantic closing seconds, a disruptive foul by Kutluay forced Jan Martín and Kone to the free-throw line, where both converted to seal the 84-80 final score. Fantic finished with 13 points for Madrid, and Robinson added 11.
Barcelona Leads Liga U Table After Four Wins
The result leaves Barcelona atop the Liga U table with four wins and zero losses. Real Madrid remains among the top tier of European junior competitors.
