Barça ends the losing streak in Milan with a victory of 81-89

The FC Barcelona needed an urgent victory to stop its losing streak, and it found it in Milan. The team managed by Aleksander Sekulić defeated Olimpia with a score of 81-89 in a game where the Italians never managed to take the lead on the scoreboard. After falling in overtime against Olympiacos and stumbling at home against Joventut, the azulgranas won again, reaching a record of four wins and three losses in the continental competition.

Defense and rebounding, decisive weapons

The victory was built on the less flashy but more effective work. The Barcelona grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, allowing them to have second chances throughout the game, a crucial aspect in elite European basketball. Complementing that effort under the basket, the azulgrana defense was suffocating, causing 19 turnovers from Olimpia, which Sekulić's team took advantage of to run and score easily in fast transitions. With these two fundamental weapons, the Barcelona team led by up to 14 points during the course of the match.

Punter and Gibson lead the finish

Jason Burnell kept Olimpia close on the scoreboard thanks to his accuracy from the perimeter, scoring 15 points with an impressive 4 of 5 from three-point range. However, it was in the final stretch of the game that the key figures of the Barcelona appeared. Kevin Punter and Umoja Gibson took control of the game in critical moments, amplifying the lead and sealing the outcome in favor of the Catalans.

Punter finished as the team's top scorer with 17 points, demonstrating his importance in the Barcelona attack. Tyrese Martin had a good performance with 14 points, while Gibson contributed 13 points in addition to his 17 offensive rebounds, highlighting the importance of his work on the defensive end and in the battle for loose balls.

Important absences and hopeful recoveries

The victory at Unipol Forum is even more valuable considering the absences that coach Aleksander Sekulić had to manage. Darío Brizuela did not travel to Milan due to physical discomfort, Yoan Makoundou remained sidelined with a problem in his left knee, and Abdu Kone was also unavailable for the match. Despite these limitations in the roster, the Barcelona was able to impose its defensive game and rebounding capacity.

The good news for the azulgranas was the return of Justin Minaya, who recovered from his adductor injury and was able to rejoin the competition. His return strengthens the offensive options of the team heading into the upcoming commitments in the top European club competition.

Olimpia left without a reaction

For Olimpia, coached by Peppe Poeta, the home defeat represents the sixth loss in seven games played, a record that reflects the difficulties of the Italian team in this edition of the EuroLeague. Despite the effort and the ability to stay competitive on the scoreboard for much of the game, the Milanese could not sustain the defensive pace of Barcelona nor counter the dominance in transition play.

Team Sekulić showed that when executing their defensive plan and working relentlessly in the fight for offensive rebounds, it is challenging for any opponent in Europe. The victory in Milan marks an important turning point in the FC Barcelona season in the EuroLeague, allowing the team to regain confidence after two consecutive setbacks that had caused unease in the locker room.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Barça corta la mala racha en Milán con victoria 81-89