Barça 90-91 Joventut: First Liga ACB loss in 2025

The first Liga ACB game of 2025 has ended in defeat for Barça, with Joventut winning 90-91 at the Palau Blaugrana. Peñarroya's side trailed for a lot of the game, but managed to come back in the final quarter to force overtime, before falling just short of the win.

The loss makes qualifying for the Copa del Rey somewhat more difficult given the blaugranes' current record of seven wins and six defeats leaves them in ninth, one below the final qualification place of eighth.

Joventut maintain control

The visitors began assuredly, with Gates and Pustovyi scoring 9 and 8 points for the green-and-blacks, helping their side end the first quarter 10 points up.

Barça reacted in the second quarter, featuring Metu scoring 10 points, and the blaugranes had managed to cut well into the deficit before the break. Showing more aggression was key in hindering the Badalona side's attacks. Half-time score 36-40.

The third quarter saw the visitors back on top. The home side's attacks were less dynamic and that meant the lead remained pretty much unchanged throughout. Gates for the green-and-blacks and Metu for the blaugranes featuring in attack during a quarter that ended 48-53.

Kevin Punter lights the touch paper

Despite coming back to being just one down after one minute of the final quarter, Joventut went on to open up a potentially hazardous lead for Barça. However, the blaugranes tightened up in defence and the approach bore fruit.

This was now a high octane match and Kevin Punter came with the fire to send Barça towards overtime. The USA man scored three consecutive triples to take the score from 63-70 to 72-70. It was looking good for the blaugranes, but the green-and-blacks ensured their previous hard work didn't go to waste and forced a further five minutes of play.

Defeat in the end

Unfortunately overtime was to end in a loss for the blaugranes. The focus was now on attacking, and close to the end, Satorsanky missed two free throws that meant Punter had to try for another three to win the game with no time left to react. The miss meant the final score was 90-91.

MATCH STATS

BARÇA 90
JOVENTUT 91

Barça: Punter (19), Satorasnky (15), Parker (4), Parra (18), Fall (2) - starting five - Metu (18), Anderson (0), Brizuela (4), Hernangomez (2), Nuñez (6), Abrines (2).

Joventut: Kraag (6), Gates (20), Tomic (7), Hanga (6), Dotson (13) - starting five - Vives (6), Ribas (0), Pustovyi (18), Oni (5), Robertson (10).

Quarters: 11-21, 25-19 // 12-13, 28-23 (OT: 14-15)

Referees: Rafael Serrano, Juan de Dios Oyón and Raúl Zamorano