Barça opened the EuroLeague season with character
Barça opened their 2026–27 EuroLeague campaign with a hard-fought 89–82 victory over Anadolu Efes at the Palau Blaugrana on Thursday, overcoming a 15-point deficit to turn a troubling start into an impressive display of resilience.
For much of the opening quarter, little went Barça’s way. Efes capitalised on the home side’s early uncertainty, responding to a 4–4 start with a 15–0 run that put the visitors firmly in control. Barça were also without key players in the frontcourt, including Josh Nebo, and trailed 25–16 at the end of the first quarter.
Yet the hosts refused to panic. Their comeback began with improved perimeter shooting and, above all, the energy of Darío Brizuela. Coming off the bench, the guard injected pace and intensity into Barça’s offense, finishing as the team’s leading scorer with 20 points. Kevin Punter added 19, providing another consistent scoring threat against the Turkish defense.
The second quarter proved decisive. Barça exploded for 29 points, cutting deeply into Efes’ lead and going into halftime with the momentum firmly shifting in their favour. The game remained closely contested throughout much of the second half, but Barça gradually gained control as their shooting improved and their defense became more disciplined.
Efes, so dominant in the opening stages, began to lose their grip on the game. Barça, meanwhile, showed greater composure when the pressure intensified.
Three factors ultimately shaped the result: the ability to recover from a disastrous start, the decisive contribution of the bench and Barça’s execution down the stretch. A crucial three-pointer in the closing minutes swung the game decisively toward the hosts, while their defence held Efes to just 15 points in the final quarter.
It was far from flawless, but it was an encouraging statement from the new Barça side: they absorbed the pressure, found a way back, and imposed their rhythm when it mattered most.
Gratian Cormos
Image: Barça Basket Facebook
