Barça wins the coal against Virtus

Jasikevicius' men give way in a bad match at the Palau against Scariolo's men

MADRID, 5 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Barça stumbled (75-83) against Virtus Segafredo Bologna on matchday 17 of the Euroleague held this Thursday at the Palau Blaugrana, a bad game for the Catalans to close the first round, failing to lead, when they came from a state of euphoria .

Sarunas Jasikevicius's team took a false step, without being the first this season, against a Virtus that beat them in intensity from the start. Sergio Scariolo's men set the pace with their defence, stealing and enough success to topple a Barça that missed Tomas Satoransky, who was out at the last minute.

The Czech point guard, absent due to tendinitis in his right ankle, left the responsibility to Nicolás Laprovittola who did not have his day, with two losses at the end that confirmed the Italian triumph. Those from Bologna add an eighth victory that hits them in the 'playoffs' zone and those from Barcelona waste another option up top (11-6).

Lundberg (20 points) and an Ojeleye who left his signature at the beginning and the end led the visitor's victory, together with a Teodosic who scored and assisted when his team needed him most. Barça entered the match crooked (15-26) and improved in the second quarter to, despite a poor level, claim their place at halftime (39-42).

With Da Silva, who already replaced Mirotic in the outcome of the Clásico on Monday, the culé team equalized the fight on the rebound but Barça's work accumulated without a regular success. Abrines woke him at times but Higgins did not follow. Laprovittola took command at the restart and Kuric regained his aim.

Barça even took control of the game for the first time (53-51), but Virtus did not lack points with Lundberg. Scariolo's pique with a technique did not throw his team off center, while the Barça team complicated their ballot with two losses to start the last quarter, another one after 'Saras' time.

A Barça that had just won the Red Star and Real Madrid in extra time was not involved or psyched, which ended up being diluted in an unsuccessful ending with two losses by Laprovittola and a Mirotic that this time, unlike in Belgrade, was not hero. Jasikevicius's team won the coal on Twelfth Night.

--RESULT: BARÇA, 75 - VIRTUS SEGAFREDO BOLOGNA, 83. (39-42, at halftime).

BARÇA: Laprovittola (11), Kuric (11), Kalinic (4), Mirotic (9) and Vesely (12) --starting five--; Da Silva (11), Sanli (3), Abrines (9), Higgins (5), Paulí (-), Jokubaitis (-).

VIRTUS BOLONIA: Mannion (3), Lundberg (20), Shengelia (5), Ojeleye (14) and Jaiteh (10) -- starting quintet--; Pajola (5), Weems (4), Bako (8), Mickey (6), Teodosic (8).

--REFEREES: Radovic, Petek and Udyanskyy. No deleted.

--HALL: Palau Blaugrana.