Real Madrid 73-71 Barça: Defeat to end 2024

The year comes to an end in disappointing style for the blaugranes with Joan Peñarroya's team going down to a 73-71 defeat against Real Madrid in the league Clásico. In the game in Madrid, the home side always had the edge on the scoreboard but Barça always found a way to keep themselves in the game right until the very end thanks to the efforts of players like Satoransky and Parker. 

Exchange of points 

The game in the WiZink Center went one way then another in the early part of the first period. However, Real Madrid slowly found their rhythm and took a 24-15 lead into the second quarter. The blaugrana defence upped their game in the second period and 10 unanswered points saw Barça take a 25-24 lead on 15 minutes. Former blaugrana Mario Hezonja led a fightback from the home side and they took a 36-31 advantage into the second half. 

Missed chance 

Punter, Parker and Satoransky rallied Barça as the blaugranes tried to prevent Madrid from building too big a lead. But the home side nudged ahead at 57-51 at the end of the third period thanks to a three pointer from Juan Núñez. 

The final quarter saw Metu help Barça cut the deficit with help from Jabari Parker whose three pointer brought the scores level at 63-63 with 5 minutes to go. A basket from Punter put Barça ahead at 67-65 for almost the first time in the game. Nevertheless, in a tight finale, Metu's three pointer bounced out to hand Real Madrid a close 73-71 win and condemn the blaugranes to defeat in their final game of 2024. 

MATCH STATS 

Real Madrid, 73
Barça, 71

Real Madrid: Campazzo (17), Rathan-Mayes (4), Musa (10), Deck (7) and Tavares (11) -starting five- Hezonja (15), Abalde (3), Feliz (3), Ibaka (-), Llull (3) and Garuba (-)
Barça: Satoransky (13), Punter (12), Abrines (5), Parker (18) and Vesely (4) -starting five- Anderson (-), Hernangómez (4), Núñez (3), Metu (10), Brizuela (2) and Parra (-)