Barça imposed their talent and character in Athens against Panathinaikos to take a 103-96 in Greece in a show of strength away from home in the EuroLeague. Players such as Clyburn and Laprovittola were key in the win, leading the team at decisive moments in the encounter for a success which will be a great morale boost ahead of the start of the domestic season.
Early dominance
Panathinaikos is never an easy away trip but the blaugranes showed no nerves as they started well, scoring 11 unanswered points. However, the Greeks fought back with 11 points on the bounce to level things up. Cale and Norris injected pace into the Barça attack and at the end of the first quarter Joan Peñarroya’s team led 26-17.
In the second quarter the home side fought back once more. With 15 minutes gone they took the lead at 35-33 and from then on the teams exchanged blows for Barça to go in at half time with a 51-45 lead.
Control and success
Punter added his quality at the start of the third quarter with consecutive three pointers which helped Barça surge ahead at 75-69 come the end of the third quarter. At the start of the final period Shengalia’s experience under the basket was a key factor as were Clyburn’s points at key moments. Barça held off Panathinaikos for a 103-95 win to go into Sunday’s opening league fixture against Valencia in the best possible frame of mind.
MATCH STATS
PANATHINAIKOS, 96
BARÇA, 103
Panathinaikos: Grant (10), Nunn (10), Holmes (3), Mitoglou (11) and Rogkavopoulos (-) – starting five – Shorts (4), Kalaitzakis (-), Osman (7), Sloukas (18), Hernangomez (27). Yurtseven (6)
Barça: Punter (13), Shengelia (17), Clyburn (23), Satoransky (-) and W. Hernangómez (13) – starting five – Cale (5), Norris (5), Vesely (7), Brizuela (3), Laprovittola (15), Parra (2)