EuroLeague Final. Did you know?

FC Barcelona are in the EuroLeague Final on Sunday night at 8.30pm CEST against Anadolu Efes of Turkey. Here are five essential facts ahead of the game. 

1) Eighth final for Barça. The Catalans have played in the showpiece game seven times over the years, and after losing the first five have now won it two times.

2) First final meeting. The two teams have never met in the final before. Barça’s previous final opponents have been twice against KK Split (Yugoslavia/Croatia) and Olympiacos (Greece) and once against Virtus Roma (Italy), Panathinaikos (Greece) and Benetton Treviso (Italy). 

3) First and third. Anadolu Efes are looking for their first ever European crown in just their second final appearance. They made the final for the first time two years ago (there was no 2020 final due to Covid-19), losing to CSKA Moscow. 

4) Best defence versus second best offence. Anadolu Efes averaged 84.1 points in the regular season, topped only by CSKA, against whom they avenged that 2019 final defeat by winning Friday’s semi-final. Barça, meanwhile, had the stingiest defence in the championship, leaking just 73.2 points a game. 

5) Turks head to head. Barça lost both meetings with Anadolu Efes in the regular season, 86-79 in Istanbul and 86-88 at the Palau Blaugrana.