FCBARCELONA.CAT

18.03.2007 14:49

A team win (73-68)

Winterthur FC Barcelona were the better team in the 100th edition of the classic derby match in ACB league. Dusko Ivanovic's men dominated the game and showed superior concentration to Real Madrid that didn't show itself as a worthy leader.

Although Rodrigo De la Fuente, with 15 puntos, and Michalis Kakiouzis, with 14, were the most outstanding players, the crowd in the Palau Blaugrana were able to verify that Barça is in a very positive mood. If we compare the team that played the first match in Madrid to today's which has given such joy to its supporters, there is a world of difference. In the first game the Barca team were 6 games behind Madrid, and looking like a team going through a process of adaptation. Now, Barça is only 3 behind and playing like a fully fledged team.

Great respect

In the first period there was little to choose between the teams. As usual when two big teams face each other there was mutual respect. This was the order of the day for the first two minutes the 100th classic in the ACB. Joan Seat's Real Madrid were the first to score through Mumbrú. Gianluca Basile gave away a height advantage in marking the ex- Penya player, and the Madrid player took full advantage at the start of the match. All the rebounds were Madrid's giving them second and third chances.
This was the moment for Denis Marconato. The Italian took charge of neutralizing Madrid's attack under the hoop by intimidating and also scoring. The other Italian in the team, Gianluca Basile, with his two baskets, gave Barca their first important lead (17-10). The first quarter, finished with a four point advantage for Ivanovic's team (19-15).

Vázquez turns the game round

The second was the spectacular of the four quarters. Largely down to Fran Vázquez who, on replacing Marconato, showed his class, spurring the 8,000 crowd on and making the Palau rock. Another important player in this second period was the Greek Kakiouzis who was a nightmare for the white defense. With Vázquez on song, Barca reached their biggest advantage (27-15). An 8-0 scoring stretch helped build Barca's confidence and the spirit between the team and their fans in the Palau. As well as fluidity in attack, a solid azulgrana defense in the final part of this period caused Madrid to lose possession on a pair of occasions. Seat couldn't find a way to restrain Winterthur Barça and then saw how Rodrigo de la Fuente scored a triple right before the break, dashing Madrid's hopes of only having six points to make up. (34-25).

A turnaround

Sooner or later it had to happen. As you might expect, the leader of the ACB, despite not being at their best , had to show signs of reaction and this they did in the 3rd period, traditionally Barca's worst. Mainly through Felipe Reyes, Madrid steadily reduced the difference and changed the dynamic of the game which until then had been dominated by Dusko Ivanovic's team. The coach from Montenegro tried constantly rotatating his bench in order to breakdown the 2-3 zone that Joan Seat had started to use. But just as they were almost level (46-45), a 7-0 score left Barca once again with a nine point lead (55-46).

Intelligent play

The strength in depth shown from the bench of Winterthur FC Barcelona put paid to White hopes, despite the efforts of Felipe Reyes who, as usual was the best of the Madrid team against Barca. He was, however, too alone, never getting the support he needed from Louis Bullock. With little more than two minutes to go, Raül Lopez scored a triple that seemed to give Real Madrid a chance to get back (63-60), but intelligent play from Winterthur FC Barcelona, with Rodrigo de la Fuente really showing spectacular form, and a Lakovic triple giving Barca a final push, finished off any hope of Madrid leaving the Palau Blaugrana victorious . In the end, 73-68, and Barça is now only three wins behind Real Madrid.