FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.02.2010 22:44

Barça beat champions of Europe (83-71)

Sònia de Alba

FCB defeated Panathinaikos in a game in which they controlled all 40 minutes and won by 12, yet they probably deserved to win by even more.

Regal Barça put defeat to Partizan behind them by winning against the defending champions. Panathinaikos are now 0-3 and bottom of Group E, while Maroussi, Partizan and Barça are all 2-1.

Everybody in the Palau knew that nothing but a win would do, especially after a controversial defeat had put qualification in jeopardy. More than 7,000 people turned up to see to of the continent’s top clubs in action, including president Joan Laporta, footballers Bojan Krkic and Gerard Piqué, handball players Laszlo Nagy and Víctor Tomàs, and roller hockey’s Octavi Tarrés and Mia Ordeig.

Pascual’s side had clear ideas, knowing that they were facing a difficult team in even more need of a win than they were, Panathinaikos. Strong in offence and defence, it immediately looked like Regal Barça were going to be creating the most danger, and they led 29-18 at the end of the first period.

Captain’s role

Zeljo Obradovic, coach of the Hellenic visitors, struggled to decide on his strongest five, confounded all the time by Barça’s own rotations and constantly switching style of play, brilliantly masterminded by captain Roger Grimau.

Grimau was going on penetrating runs and blocking throws like one from Nikola Pekovic under the hoop. The Palau was on its feet when Grimau himself scored to put Barça +15 before the break (38-23 / 44-29).

Calls from the referee starting upsetting the fine balance, and tough fouls given against Fran Vázquez, Erazem Lorbek and Terence Morris (the last for an obvious block) soon brought the hankies out at the Palau.

+20 in the second

The first half having ended 47-38, Regal Barça still had work to do in the second.

But in less than five minutes they had stormed to +10, a lead which would have doubled by the fourth.

Panathinaikos were losing their nerve, as was clear on two occasions. The first was the five seconds blown against Drew Nicholas when he could find nobody to throw to from the baseline. Spanoulis showed his rage from the centre of the court. Not long later, a technical foul was awarded for protesting against Zeljko Obradovic during the break between the third and fourth periods.

Small errors at the end

With victory not in doubt, Regal Barça were content to contain their lead. However, a series of errors, such as a failed dunk from Ndong and some poorly executed free throws, meant the eventual win was ‘only’ by 12 points. But the most important thing was the win, and keeping Barça’s quarter final chances very intact indeed.