Barcelona secures a commanding win over Fuenlabrada
The breakthrough in Fuenlabrada set the tone as Barcelona established a steady advantage from the opening minutes, building a lead that would stay out of reach. The visitors created early separation and kept a comfortable margin throughout the encounter, emphasizing their intent to control both ends of the floor.
The Azulgrana arrived with resolve after a tough Euroleague opener against Olympiakos. Their response was immediate and cohesive, showing strength on both ends of the court from the very first whistle.
Fernando Martín initiated the night with a brisk 7-0 sprint, powered by baskets from Vesely and Paulí and boosted by Laprovittola’s reliable triple. Eyenga’s response briefly tightened the gap, and Novak’s peripheral shot kept Fuenlabrada within striking distance at times, pulling the score to 6-10.
Barcelona’s pace and precision kept them ahead as the first quarter unfolded. The home side’s defense forced tough misses while their own offense functioned with crisp ball movement and executed sets. Jokubaitis contributed a sharp 8-22 night, helping push the margin to double digits and signaling the visitors’ intent.
As the game progressed, both teams experienced a noticeable dip in scoring, with mid-quarter scoring becoming uneven and uneasy. The teams traded possessions without sustained runs, and the scoreboard reflected a cautious tempo as the second period began, ending the half with Barcelona up 18-34 after a late surge by Senglin and a counter from Caicedo at the buzzer.
After the break, the rhythm swung back in favor of the visitors. The Barcelona defense tightened further, and the offense found more reliable flow, expanding the lead and keeping Fuenlabrada behind. The hosts faced a growing challenge as the blue-reds went on the attack with renewed confidence, yet the Catalan side maintained discipline and composure to extend the lead deep into the third quarter.
With nothing left to lose, Fuenlabrada pressed forward and managed a 5-0 sequence that trimmed the gap to sixteen, but Novak answered with a timely triple and Okouo converted a tough and-one, restoring momentum for Barcelona with a stretch that pushed the difference back toward twenty. A relentless Laurinaitis- era energy surged from Kalinic and company, helping to keep the scoreboard headed in the right direction for the visitors.
The Higgins-Nnaji connection added a spark as the crowd warmed to the emerging cohesion in Barcelona’s lineup. Higgins, in particular, delivered a string of six points to quiet any remaining doubts and reinforce the team’s control of the game.
Entering the final stanza, Higgins again seized the moment, delivering a sequence that silenced a brief domestic rally and effectively ended any realistic challenge from Fuenlabrada. The late flurry sealed the result, with Barcelona capitalizing on every opportunity and maintaining a steady, untroubled path to victory.
Data sheet: 56 points for Fuenlabrada (Novak 10, Senglin 7, Eyenga 2, Kromah 7, Ristic 4, plus five starts; Bagayoko 4, Hannah 6, Savkov 4, Juan Fernandez 3, Okouo 7, Samar 2). 84 points for Barcelona (Paulí 9, Laprovittola 6, Satoransky 12, Vesely 9, Nnaji 8, five starts; Higgins 11, Sanli 1, Jukaitis 10, Kalinic 5, Abrines 2, Caicedo 8, Da Silva 3). Referees: Perez, Martinez and Gonzalez. The match was played at the Fernando Martín pavilion before approximately four thousand spectators, opening the Endesa League regular season.