Barça beat ASVEL 88–78 in Xavi Pascual’s return to the Palau Blaugrana. It was a hard-fought win that wasn’t secured until the final quarter, where a big defensive push finally broke the resistance of a French side that had kept the game tight from the start. Punter finished as Barça’s top scorer as the team heads into the international break.
Balanced start
Pascual, warmly welcomed back at the Palau, was without Laprovittola due to a right adductor injury that will sideline him for around four weeks. Led by Satoransky, Barça overturned an early 2–7 deficit to go 8–7 ahead, but ASVEL kept the tempo low and the score tight. Barça only edged in front right at the end of the first quarter: 20–19.
Juani Marcos and Dario Brizuela stretched the lead to 25–19 (min 12), the biggest margin so far, but ASVEL quickly responded and kept the scoreboard in constant balance. Punter was Barça’s leading scorer at half-time, with the break showing a very even 45–44. ASVEL’s 20/22 free throws prevented Barça from taking control.
Still wide open
Barça needed their best version to shake off Villeurbanne. A Satoransky three put them 54–48 up, but the game swung and ASVEL moved ahead 56–61. Things soon stablisied and Marcos hit a buzzer-beating three to close the third quarter at 68–65.
Decided in the fourth
Barça opened the final quarter with an +8 lead, with Marcos again key through his defence. A Brizuela triple and a Shengelia dunk pushed the gap to 80–69, and Barça’s increased defensive intensity created a decisive separation with five minutes left.
The lead grew to +11, then +13, and ASVEL could no longer respond. Barça sealed the win on Pascual’s homecoming, earning their eighth victory in Europe. A perfect night at the Palau, with no games now until 5 December due to the international window.
MATCH STATS
Barça, 88
ASVEL, 78
Barça: Punter (24), Vesely (6), Satoransky (6), Clyburn (5), Shengelia (15), Brizuela (12), Hernangómez (5), Parra (7), Cale (2), Norris (-), Marcos (6) & Fall (-)
ASVEL: Harrison (9), Massa (10), De Colo (22), Lighty (2), Traore (6), Ajinca (8), Heurtel (6), Vautier (5), Watson (4), Ndiaye (6) & Ngouama (-)
Periods: 20-19; 25-25 // 23-21; 20-13
Referees: Tomislav Hordov, Ioannis Foufis & Franko Gracin
