Scariolo also conquers the Palau

Barça did not make good the momentum with which they arrived at the match against Virtus de Bologna and received the near post of 2023. After the victory in the Clásico, they returned to the Euroleague with a defeat at the Palau. And with feelings far removed from what happened against Real Madrid three days before. Regret, bad ideas in attack, rivals roaming freely inside and outside, lack of bellows in some players and the direct absence of another, Tomas Satoransky. It was known in the preview that the Czech has tendonitis in his right ankle and it was reported that evolution will mark availability, a formula that does not invite optimism. It is a low blow to everyone’s options and, for more pain, when the exNBA was improving his performance compared to the start of the course. Barcelona was touched by it, or so it suggested, and only some coup de grace made it stay in the match until it expired, with the Bolognese at the top, with 75-83 on the scoreboard taken to the minutes.

Iffe Lundberg (20 points) was the main promoter of Virtus, a group in which they also stood out Ojeleye (14 points) either Jaiteh (10 points)above ten. oscar da silvawith a PIR of 18, moved minutes to Nikola Miroticto which efforts are being administered with caution after his serious injury, but not even with strategies of this style were it possible to stop the leaks from the culé ship.

The Italian team started off strong, damaging an injured opponent before starting without needing to push him too hard. The plays at half court gave the measure of how reckless Barça entered the game. With that starting lineup, Laprovittola in front, they weren’t right to score or contain the one in front of them. A 0-5 as an appetizer and the arrival at 10-19 with which, after a triple, they made things serious. It was the exit to the track of Cory Higgins, Álex Abrines and Da Silva, distributing space, which offered another kinder side of Saras’ men. The power forward opened the field and closed it when it was time, that mining job that his coach is beginning to appreciate so much, and the Catalans were able to end the streak.

However, the errors inside the area, especially offensive rebounds and second options, were constant. If it wasn’t Jaiteh, it was Bako. Vesely had a job he couldn’t do and Lundberg attacked those inner weaknesses to offer the most lethal version of him.

The local squad was not going to give up. It wasn’t far. He knew he had to push the button that they have, even struggling to build the lineup, to make it happen. To frame Kuric’s streak at the beginning of the third quarter, with seven of his eleven points almost consecutively. He hadn’t played a few games and was a handhold for Barça. That got them to 53-51 after two Vesely free throws. They were already above playing quite stuck. Laprovittola would later ensure a double-double carved the day he was left alone in command. The young audience of Twelfth Night got into the meeting. But no, it was clear that no, nothing would be this beautiful at the end of the evening. Virtus, especially after a technique to Scariolo for asking that the arbitration level be equalized, left. A partial of 10-20 was lethal.

Two triples from Teodosic when he had four misses from the outside, in true Milos style, set off the alarms in the last period. Two losses in two minutes put them out. They were no longer needed. Barça could not come back a second time.

The Spanish coach, also the architect to a large extent -he closed the tap on Barça well- of this success, has won in the pits of Madrid and Barça on his return to the Euroleague with a club. In order not to disdain This campaign is not easy for them, it is a complex challenge in a competition in which you have to sweat every inch of the field, but happiness like this is important. The party was spoiled for Barcelona, ​​not only because the party was in their pavilion but because the victory placed them as the sole leader. Baskonia first and Monaco later also fell, the three that continue to share the first position -now with 11-6, one more defeat- in the standings, on the same day and against teams that are not among the eight best placed. The tournament has become a blessed madness.