FC Barcelona dominated El Clasico
FC Barcelona and Real Madrid met in the 27th round of the Endesa League in Palau Blaugrana, both teams having 21 wins and 5 defeats, the winner equaling Baskonia at the top of the ranking. The stakes are huge, the home-field advantage in the case of a duel in the semifinal or the final.
Barcelona started the match with Mirotic, Abrines, Vesely, Satoransky and Higgins; Real sent Tavares, Hanga, Yabusele, Caseur and Hezonja.
The first points come to Vesely after a lost ball by Hanga. Two triples from Mirotic and Satoransky bring the score to 13-7, Hezonja with a triple and 2 points equalize at 15, Musa also manages a triple and Real leads 15-22, and the quarter ends 17-24 after Yabusele’s 2 points.
The 2nd quarter starts with 4 points scored by Sanli and Tobey and Barcelona closes 21-24. The first 9 points of Madrid in this quarter are scored by Musa, with answers coming from Kalinic and Sanli, 28-33. Satoransky and Mirotic reduce the distance again 35-38. Vesely and Mirotic manage to bring Barcelona back to the advantage, 42-40. Mirotic and Musa each have 2 free throws at the end of the quarter, but Musa misses one and the quarter ends 47-46. At halftime each team has 2 players in double digits, Mirotic and Satoransky with 10 points each, respectively Musa with 16 points and Yabusele with 11 points.
The beginning of the 3rd quarter is balanced and after 2 free throws by Will-Goss, the score becomes 53-50. An 8-0 run from Barcelona follows and for the first time, the difference is in double figures, 61-50. Mirotic’s triple brings the difference to 14 points, but Hanga responds with a triple and the score becomes 70-59. Young Nnaji scores 4 consecutive points for Barcelona, and Musa and Satoransky each scored free throws at the end of the quarter for 78-63 Barcelona.
The 4th quarter started much better for, Barcelona fails to score 3 and Yabusele and Hanga bring Real Madrid back into the game, 78-74 after an 11-0 run. Mirotic stops the guests’ run, and Sanli restores the difference of 10 points, 84-74. The guests are no longer able to get closer, Mirotic and Satoransky take the advantage to 17 points, and Musa’s free throws make the final score Barcelona-Real Madrid 97-82.
If from the action both teams had more than 50%, Barcelona 53.1% and Real Madrid 50.8%, the hosts won in rebounds 42-26 and assists 21-9. Mirotic with 23 points, 6 rebounds and Satoransky -18 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists shone for Barcelona, for the guests the main scorers were Musa, 23 points, 5 rebounds and Yabusele, 19 points, 4 rebounds.
Barcelona receives a huge moral boost and manages to take the lead in this season’s direct meetings 3-2, proving that it will be the favorite against Real both in the Endesa League and in the Euroleague, the Mirotic-Satoransky-Laprovittola trio will be difficult to defeat.
Valentin Petruta
Photo credit: EuroLeague
