FCBARCELONA.CAT

Liga ACB

In the 2006-07 season, FC Barcelona came second in the ACB league and earned a spot in the Euroleague. In the title play-off, without home court advantage, Barça were beaten by Real Madrid.

They finished fourth in the regular season, behind first placed Real Madrid, second placed TAU Vitoria, and third placed DKV Joventut. The side coached by Dusko Ivanovic won 23 of their 34 regular season games, averaging 77.75 points for and 71.66 against. FC Barcelona started the season with unexpected defeat at Etosa Alicante (58-51).

In fact, the whole early season was highly irregular, with another shock defeat at home to Bruesa (65-67) and humiliating loss in their first visit of the year to Vistalegre to face Real Madrid (90-73). The side was so poorly placed in the table that it looked they might even miss out on a Copa del Rey berth, but a five-match winning streak made amends, meaning they did eventually qualify, and after Christmas FC Barcelona improved considerably and a 14-3 streak moved them back into the top positions. Losses late in the season at Bilbao (82-69) and Granada (75-68) meant Barça finished fourth, and missed out on direct access to the Euroleague unless they could make the final in the end season.

That end season started with a match-up against fifth placed Akasvayu Girona, who they brushed aside 3-1, winning game four on the road to clinch the series (75-90). Into the semi finals, and it was Tau Vitoria, who had home court advantage and won the opener, although FC Barcelona took game two to level the series. Now at the Palau Blaugrana, Barça won game three but Tau took the fourth to take the game back north for the decider in Vitoria, where FC Barcelona put on the performance of the season to win 79-95 and not only make the final, but also ensure a place in the Euroleague. The final saw them up against Real Madrid, who had home court advantage, and it was an uphill struggle after losing both the opening matches in Vistalegre.

Barça restored some hope by winning game three (75-70) but the fourth was not to be their day and Real Madrid celebrated their ACB championship at the Palau (71-82).