The Barça basketball team were never really in the game in their first fixture of the 2025/26 Euroleague. Joan Peñarroya’s team went down to a 103-87 defeat against Hapeol Tel Aviv in a game that was played in Bulgaria. The blaugranes matched the scoring rate of the Israeli side in the first half but in the second part of the game Hapoel pulled away for the win.
Equal first half
Barça knew their first game of the European season would be a stern test against one of the strongest teams in the competition. Nevertheless, in a high scoring first half the blaugranes managed to hold their own.
Will Clyburn scored the first seven points for Barça to help them into an early lead at 15-12. However, it needed a three pointer from Brizuela to make it 26-26 at the end of the first quarter.
Hapoel started the second quarter in irrepressible form, scoring nine unanswered points to take a 39-33 lead. The attacking tone continued and Barça stayed on the coattails of the Israelis with the score standing at 51-45 to Hapoel at half time.
Will Clyburn, a positive
In the second half, however, not even a great performance from Will Clyburn with 23 points and 7 rebounds could prevent Hapoel running away with the game. The home side led 79-63 going into the final quarter and never looked like relinquishing their lead.
In the end Barça went down to a 103-87 defeat and now focus turns to their next game which comes on Friday against Panathinaikos in Athens in the Euroleague.
MATCH STATS
Hapoel Tel Aviv: 103
Barça: 86
Hapoel Tel Aviv: Micic (18), Bryant (11), Malcolm, Walnright (8) and Oturu (18) – starting five – Motley (8), Jones (12), Blakeney (20). Palatin (-). Ennis (-), Odiase (0) and Ginat (4).
Barça: Satoransky (5), Punter (13), Clyburn (23). Shengelia (8) i Hernangómez (1) – starting five- Marcos (0), Cale (0), Vesely (13), Brizuela (5), Fall (6), Laprovittola (6) and Parra (7).