Real Madrid 59-64 FC Barcelona: Cup champions!

FC Barcelona have won 64-59 in a real thriller of a Copa del Rey final in Granada to lift the trophy for the 27^th time. It’s the fourth time in five year years that the blaugrana have won the competition played on a knockout basis by the eight best placed teams at the halfway stage of the regular ACB season.

And for the second year running it was against the old rival Real Madrid, and as expected it was not at all easy. The Catalans were pretty erratic early on, especially in offence, but with MVP Mirotic and Jokubaitis particularly shining in the second half, things fell into place when they needed to.

Coach Saras had predicted a low-scoring game and he was right. Defensive intensity was the order of the day, but it was Madrid who got off to the best start, building up a 16-point lead at an unnervingly early stage of the proceedings. 

Barça were far short of their rapid-scoring rate in the first two games in Granada, and took a long time to find the kind of ideas they needed to break a Madrid game plan that saw the all-whites go in at the break still leading by double figures. Barça needed to change something, and they needed to do it fast.

Points inspired from the back

The second half saw Barça continue to base their play on tight defence, and it was finally working. The deficit was cut to just six and the game was back on. Mirotic and Davies were finding points more easily now, and going into the final period, Madrid were right in their sights. Just three points separated them now. 

Points were scarce in a cautious, nervy final period, which saw a Laprovittola three finally get the sides back level at 46-46. Pulling level was the impetus Barça needed, and with six minutes to go, they led the game for the very first time.

Jokubaitis put four points between them. Then it was six. After playing catch-up almost all game, Barça were now powering their way to victory. 

There was still late drama to come though. Madrid pulled back level on 29 each. It could have gone either way. Hearts were pounding, but the blaugrana hearts pounded hardest and eventually they could celebrate a fabulous victory! Força Barça! 

MATCH STATS

Reial Madrid: Abalde (8), Deck (8), Poirier (4), Yabusele (4), Taylor (2), Tavares (5), Hanga (3), Rudy (6), Heurtel (10), Thompkins (3) & Llull (6)
Barça: Calathes (4), Laprovittola (5), Exum (2), Mirotic (19), Sanli (9), Davies (10), Kuric (3), Jokubaitis (12), Sergi Martínez (-), Hayes (-) & Abrines (-)

Periods: 19-5; 10-13 // 16-23; 13-23

Referees: Emilio Pérez Pizarro, Antonio Conde and Fernando Calatrava