Virtus Bologna 80-75 Barça: Loss in the EuroLeague

Defeat in Bologna. FC Barcelona couldn't manage to the make the most of a 16 point lead after a superb first half and the Italian side came through to win. The blaugranes are now 9-3 in the EuroLeague.

Good in attack and defence

Once they got into the game, the blaugranes came back from an early Bologna three-pointer to take a 3-7 lead. Vesely helped to extend that to +6, but the Italians came back to score three times to redress the balance. Abrines then stepped up with two three pointers to send Barça 18-24 up at the end of the first quarter. 

Willy Hernangómez and Brizuela then showed their attacking prowess on the way to opening up a +16 lead, buttressed by a great defence, featuring two key blocks. Daniel Hacket then managed to cut into the lead and the blaugranes went in 33-45 at the break.

Bologna come through to win 

The side from Emilia-Romagna came out with a point to prove, managing to claw the score back to 44-49. Roger Grimau's side found it hard in the third quarter and despite Satoransky and Jabari bringing some respite, Bologna were definitely growing into the contest.

The Italians tied up the score at the start of the fourth quarter (61-61, min 31), Shengelia undoing a lot of the good blaugrana work from the first half. The game was now more even and the home side even took a +5 lead just when the visitors' attack was starting to falter. 

All the same, the game was tied in the final minute, before a three pointer by Satoransky but the visitors ahead. However, an inspired Lundberg poured water on Barça's parade with just 17 seconds to go. The +4 lead was too much to reel in and Virtus Bologna ran out 80-75 winners. The blaugranes now have a 9-3 record in the EuroLeague. 

GAME STATS

Virtus Bologna, 80
Barça, 75

Virtus Bologna: Cordinier (10), Belinelli (8), Hacket (14), Shengelia (14) and Dunston (1) - starting five - Lundberg (21), Cacok (-), Mickey (8), Smith (-), Dobric (2), Abass (-) and Mascolo (2)
Barça: Satoransky (9), Laprovittola (9), Kalinic (7), Da Silva (3) and Vesely (13) - starting five - Abrines (6), Willy Hernangómez (15), Parker (4), Brizuela (9), Jokubaitis (-) and Pauli (-)

Quarters: 18-24; 15-21 // 23-16; 24-14

Referees: Robert Lottermoser, Ioannis Foufis and Maxime Boubert