Barça comes back in Málaga and adds fifth consecutive victory

The FC Barcelona continues its upward trend after securing its fifth consecutive victory across competitions. This first win in the Liga Endesa came this Sunday at the Martín Carpena against Unicaja, with a score of 89-92 that reflects the struggles of the azulgranas in a match that could have gone to overtime. Perry's late shot to equalize Brizuela's previous score missed the basket, thus sealing a thrilling day in which the Catalan team demonstrated its ability to react under pressure.

The team led by Aleksander Sekulic won another tight finish, something that has become a constant this season. The merit of this victory lies not only in the result but also in the circumstances surrounding the match: Barcelona faced the game without Núñez, Makoundou, Mo Gibson, and former Unicaja player Balcerowski, in addition to the fatigue accumulated from playing EuroLeague the previous Friday. Despite these conditions, the azulgranas achieved a twelve-point comeback in a sensational second half that showcased their competitive capacity.

A first act dominated by Unicaja

The first quarter was completely in favor of Unicaja, which prevailed 29-15 in a segment of extremely high physical intensity and elevated levels of individual quality. The game started at a frantic pace, with both teams displaying their best defensive and offensive versions. Brizuela and Kendrick Perry, former teammates in Málaga, led their respective team attacks with precision and judgment.

The Malagueños surpassed Barcelona in morale and, fundamentally, in accuracy from the three-point line. This superiority forced the Barcelona coach, the Slovenian Aleksander Sekulic, to call a timeout after an outside shot by Amine Noua when the scoreboard showed 39-30 in favor of the Andalusians. The fans at the Carpena were euphoric with the performance displayed by their team, creating a constant pressure environment on the visitors.

Barcelona tried to recover but appeared more erratic than usual in their attacks. The true merit during this initial phase belonged to the defense of Unicaja, which remained active and stable in its rebound vigilance, a facet of the game that was clearly led by the Malagueños as they reached halftime.

The azulgranas' reaction in the second half

Unicaja went into halftime with a nine-point lead (54-45, min. 20) and a fantastic 7/12 from three-point range, demonstrating their effectiveness from distance. However, Barcelona ignited during the third quarter, with Joel Parra as the undisputed leader of the reaction. This transformation confirmed the Catalan team's return to the game in a forceful manner.

A three-pointer from Stanley Umude confirmed the omen of a Barcelona on the rise, and the scoreboard began to tilt in favor of the azulgranas. By minute 28, the electronic board showed 69-70 in favor of the visitors, demonstrating the speed of the reaction. By the start of the deciding quarter, both teams were tied at 72-72, completing a transformation that seemed improbable just minutes earlier.

The twelve-point comeback in the second half was especially commendable considering the circumstances under which it occurred. The fatigue from playing EuroLeague the previous Friday, coupled with the absences in the rotation, made this exhibition of character and tactical capacity of the Barcelonistas under Sekulic's guidance even more remarkable.

The drama of the final quarter in Carpena

The last quarter was a succession of tensions, intense duels, and refereeing decisions that heightened the atmosphere in the Martín Carpena. When Barcelona led by five points, the local crowd became agitated due to some decisions, such as a possible flagrant foul by Parra that was ultimately called as a personal and technical foul on Vidorreta. At this point, the clash entered another dimension of tension where every rebound and every free throw took on the weight of the game.

With both teams in bonus with three minutes remaining, the scoreboard showed 85-85. A three-pointer from Brizuela established the score at 89-90 with just 39 seconds left. Perry tried to respond unsuccessfully, allowing Barcelona to maintain its narrow lead. After a personal foul on Punter, the azulgranas converted two free throws to set the final score at 89-92. In the last attack, Perry desperately sought overtime but found no luck, thus sealing Barcelona's victory.

Statistics and final balance

The balance of the Liga Endesa leaves Barcelona with a positive 4-2 record, while Unicaja is left with 3-3. The match statistics reveal telling details: the Malagueño team significantly faltered at the free-throw line, with a total of 18 out of 26, including a poor 5 out of 10 from Hernangómez, which proved detrimental to their interests. Moreover, in the final quarter, Unicaja only succeeded with 1 out of 5 from three-point range, a detail that weighed heavily in the final balance.

For Unicaja (89), Perry scored 15 points, Hunt 16, Kravish 15, Hernangómez 11, and Pantzar 12, among other contributors. For Barcelona (92), Joel Parra led with 17 points, followed by Punter with 13, Brizuela with 10, Nkamhoua with 8, and Evbuomwan also with 8 points. The distribution of the azulgrana game was more balanced, reflecting the collective effort of a team that knew how to regroup in critical moments.

This victory consolidates the positive trend of FC Barcelona in recent games, demonstrating that even with significant absences and accumulated fatigue, Sekulic's team has the capacity to compete in the tightest and most demanding finishes. The Liga Endesa continues to prove its competitiveness, where each victory requires a winning mentality and an ability to adapt to circumstances.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Barça remonta en Málaga y suma quinta victoria consecutiva