FC Barcelona secured an 89-81 victory over Armani Olimpia Milano in the EuroLeague, bouncing back from a difficult result in Badalona. The win marks the fourth victory of the European campaign for the Catalan side. Playing in an arena with sparse crowd attendance and limited competitive tension on the Italian side, Barcelona capitalized on 17 offensive rebounds to control the contest.
Offensive rebounding drives the Catalan victory
Barcelona’s success on the glass proved decisive throughout the night. The team collected 17 offensive rebounds, generating crucial second-chance opportunities that kept Milano on the defensive. Aleksander Sekulic’s squad managed to clean up persistent early-season issues in static-attack patience and rebounding. Joel Parra fueled the initial push with 10 points during the opening quarter, helping establish a narrow 23-21 lead after ten minutes of play. Tyrese Martin also found an effective offensive rhythm as the visitors steadily built separation.
Moses Wright makes quiet debut against former suitor
The fixture carried added intrigue due to the presence of Moses Wright, the center who previously signed a contract with Barcelona and paid his buyout clause before being officially presented by the club. Playing for the Italian side under coach Peppe Poeta, Wright finished the night with six points and eight rebounds, showing limited overall impact on the floor. Milano struggled to find answers against a visiting side that stretched its advantage to 14 points in the second half at 66-52, despite a brief 12-2 run from the hosts that narrowed the gap to 64-68.
FROM DEEEEEEEP 🎯Umoja Gibson beats the end of third quarter buzzer 🚨#MotorolaMagicMoment @Moto I @FCBbasket pic.twitter.com/y26xxbByOB
Late execution secures the road triumph
Although Milano protested the officiating crew’s decisions, the hosts failed to string together enough defensive stops to mount a serious comeback. Umoja Gibson shot a perfect three-from-three from beyond the arc, Justin Robinson distributed numerous assists, and Kevin Punter took control of difficult late-game possessions to keep the Italian defense at bay as the clock wound down.
Palau Blaugrana showdown awaits against Zaragoza
Barcelona turns its attention immediately back to domestic competition, returning home to host Casademont Zaragoza on Saturday at the Palau Blaugrana in the Liga Endesa. Zaragoza enters the weekend fixtures as one of the standout revelation teams of the early domestic season.
