Barça sings against Virtus
Those from Grimau, with Laprovittola once again important, have a serious match to defend second place after two defeats
MADRID, 31 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça defeated Virtus Bologna (84-57) this Wednesday on matchday 24 of the Euroleague, a serious match for Roger Grimau's team coming from two defeats in the top continental competition to defend second place in the table against a rival straight.
The Barça team redirected its European path with a high-level defense, a lot of intensity and the necessary success commanded by Nicolás Laprovittola at the Palau. The Argentine, on his 34th birthday, once again felt important (16 points) and sparked a match without history, against the odds, already in the third quarter. Virtus suffered its fourth consecutive defeat away from home.
From the beginning, Barça imposed muscle, without Shengelia the Italians, and managed to remove a dangerous rival from the pools. The Virtus was not found on the Palau hardwood, and ended with a bad night in Barcelona, from which only Isaia Cordinier was saved but for the first part of it.
Grimau's team broke the game with a great second quarter and with the joy of Laprovittola. The Argentine celebrated, in addition to his birthday, his competitive rebirth after his injury and amassed the local advantage of 20 points that was seen in the third quarter 52-32.
'Lapro' was the only one who scored three for 28 minutes. In addition to the Argentine, Barça put in a lot of defense and, in the first quarter, the interior play of Kalinic, Willy Hernangómez and Jabari Parker. Cordinier kept the Italians with nine points, but the Barça intensity marked both goals. The second quarter opened a gap for the locals and Laprovittola widened it (41-27).
Before Morón's goal was revealed, the Bologna team survived with the offensive rebound and the entry of Abass, but what Barça had been doing well was reinforced at half-time. Laprovittola confirmed he wanted a birthday party with the score at 48-29 near the center of the field and Virtus remained dry in attack.
Lundberg was 1 of 11 in triples, but Willy got along with Satoransky again. The exchange of blows undoubtedly favored Barça with the upper hand in the final quarter (61-44). The local defense did not allow any visitor madness and Darío Brizuela was the one who took advantage of the last minutes, although Willy finished as the top scorer (17).
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: BARÇA, 84 – VIRTUS BOLONIA, 57. (41-27, at half-time).
–EQUIPMENT.
BARÇA: Satoransky (5), Laprovittola (16), Kalinic (6), Parker (11) and Vesely (9) –starting quintet–; Da Silva (2), Paulí (-), Brizuela (11), Hernangómez (17), Nnaji (-), Jokubaitis (7), Parra (-).
VIRTUS BOLONIA: Cordinier (12), Hackett (4), Belinelli (4), Mickey (8) y Dunston (4) –quinteto inicial–; Lundberg (11), Pajola (-), Abass (4), Dobric (2), Lomazs (-), Polonara (6), Zizic (2).
–PARTIALS: 20-17, 21-10, 20-17, 23-13.
–REFEREES: Belosevic, Nikolic and Cici. No eliminated.
–PAVILLION: Palau Blaugrana.