Barça 90-63 Fenerbahçe: Much needed win

Barça took a vital win at the Palau Blaugrana when they dispatched Fenerbahce 90-68 in the Euroleague. The return of Šarūnas Jasikevičius, now coach of the Turkish side, to his former club as player and coach was a bittersweet one with blaugrana Kevin Punter scoring a decisive 25 points in the encounter. 

Initial advantage 

The blaugranes started strongly and some excellent defensive work confined Fenerbahce to just 12 points in the opening quarter as Joan Peñarroya's team took a 20-12 lead into the second period. Barça's Turkish opponents took a step forward in the second quarter and brought it back to 26-24, at which point coach Peñarroya called a time out. Barça regrouped and a period of 12-2 helped the blaugranes to a 44-37 lead at the break. 

Barça solid 

The home side were solid after taking the lead and in the second half a run of 11-2 with Satoransky leading the team and Parker and Punter keeping the score ticking over. Barça took a 10+ lead for the first time in the game and at one point were 55-39 ahead. With the final quarter to come the blaugranes lead by 12 at 65-53. 

Showtime at the Palau

Barça showed no mercy and kept on pressuring Fenerbahce in the final quarter. Punter and Anderson combined for a spectacular alley-oop as the blaugranes extended their lead to 90-63 at the final buzzer. Barça now have a 9-7 record ahead of their next fixture which comes on Friday at 8pm CET away at Bologna. 

MATCH STATS 

BARÇA, 90
FENERBAHÇE, 63
 
Barça: Satoransky (5), Punter (25), Anderson (18), Parker (15), Vesely (2) -starting five- Sarr (-), Brizuela (11), Hernangómez (4), Núñez (4), Abrines (2), Parra (4).

Fenerbahçe: Baldwin (4), Hayes-Davis (7), Hall (9), Colson (15), Birch (8) -starting five- Melli (3), Sanli (2), Mays (8), Biberovic (4), Eksioglu (-), Guduric (3).