Barcelona, 24 December – In a thrilling EuroLeague showdown, Fenerbahçe managed to narrowly defeat Barcelona with a score of 72-71. The match, played in Istanbul, marked the end of Barcelona’s impressive nine-game winning streak. Despite the loss, Barcelona’s performance, particularly after a challenging first quarter, showcased their resilience.
Controversial Ending Decides Close Contest
The game’s decisive moment came in a contentious final play where a foul on Baldwin awarded Fenerbahçe three free throws, securing their victory. This decision drew criticism, with many suggesting it was a harsh call against Barcelona, who had fought back valiantly after an early deficit.
Xavi Pascual, Barcelona’s head coach, has now experienced only two losses since his return to the bench, both occurring in Istanbul. The first was against Efes, and now this narrow defeat to Fenerbahçe. Despite the end of their winning streak, the team’s morale remains high.
Key Players and Performance
For Barcelona, Punter led the scoring with 20 points, closely followed by Brizuela with 19 points, both delivering standout performances. On the Fenerbahçe side, Horton-Tucker and Biberovic each contributed 16 points, while Baldwin added 15. However, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the match was Melli, who despite scoring only six points, dominated the boards with ten rebounds and provided two assists.
Barcelona arrived in Istanbul on the back of nine consecutive victories, comprising five in the EuroLeague and four in the Endesa League. This remarkable run highlighted the positive impact of Pascual’s return in mid-November, which revitalized the team’s trajectory.
Match Progression and Turning Points
The first quarter was tightly contested, ending 17-13 in favor of Fenerbahçe. The Turkish side capitalized on a late surge in the quarter, scoring six consecutive points after Barcelona conceded an unnecessary foul and lost possession. Earlier, Barcelona had shown strong form, forcing Fenerbahçe’s coach Sarunas Jasikevicius to call a timeout after a nine-point run from the Catalan team (4-9).
Fenerbahçe maintained their lead in the second quarter, making it difficult for Barcelona to penetrate their defense. Biberovic’s eight consecutive points, combined with Barcelona’s offensive struggles and rebounding issues, extended Fenerbahçe’s lead to seven points (27-20). A timeout called by Xavi Pascual helped stem the tide, with Punter being the only Barcelona player consistently finding success against the Turkish defense. Despite Biberovic’s impressive 13 points in the second quarter, Barcelona managed to close the gap, trailing by only two points at halftime (35-33).
Second Half Battle and Dramatic Finish
The third quarter saw continued back-and-forth action. Norris’s three consecutive triples were met with responses from Hall and Melli. Barcelona briefly took the lead with a triple from Brizuela (48-50) with just over a minute left, prompting another timeout from Jasikevicius. A late triple from Melli and a basket from Horton-Tucker, countered by Willy Hernangómez, left the score at 53-52, with Barcelona winning the quarter (18-19).
Brizuela continued his stellar performance in the final quarter, not only with accurate shooting but also with crucial defensive plays. A steal and subsequent basket by Brizuela gave Barcelona a five-point lead (61-66). However, two triples from Biberovic and Hall quickly narrowed the score to 67-66 with 2:10 remaining, leading to a timeout by Xavi Pascual. Punter responded with another triple, but the controversial three free throws awarded to Baldwin in the dying seconds ultimately sealed the victory for Fenerbahçe.
This loss brings Barcelona’s impressive winning streak to an end, but the team’s performance, particularly their ability to compete fiercely against the reigning EuroLeague champions, leaves their fans with continued hope and excitement for the rest of the season.
Source: https://www.abc.es/deportes/baloncesto/fenerbahce-suda-cortar-racha-barcelona-7271-20251223204642-nt.html
