There are triumphs that go beyond the scoreboard. Triumphs like the one Grimau's Barça achieved this Friday in Piraeus against the current Euroleague runner-up. Continuity and uncertainty were measured, a consolidated project and one under construction. Hence the significance of the Blaugrana's feat, hitting the table in Europe and silencing the disbelievers who have gathered at the doors of the Palau since the beginning of the season. Beating Olympiacos is a major accolade for this Barça, in need of joy like this to find peace of mind on its path towards the unknown.
The Blaugrana team based its victory on its success from the perimeter, we don't have to look much further. He scored more triples than two-pointers and with very high percentages (15/26 from the arc). He did not excel in the statistics but Barça's second pillar in Piraeus was, indisputably, a giant Vesely, with a defense in the final stretch to frame.
The match reached half-time with the Blaugrana ahead on the scoreboard after a great first half. But bitterness made its way into Grimau's locker room, which had left the rival alive despite his superiority. He offered a very convincing version of Barça on a field as complicated as Peace and Friendship always is – paradoxes of life. To a more solid and intense defense than usual, the Blaugrana team combined an extraordinary success from the goal that allowed them to take control from the beginning. Bartzokas lamented from his bench about the losses of his players, situations that Barça took advantage of intelligently, running and scoring.
A triple by Abrines made it 11-23 just before the first quarter horn. Only Papanikolau seemed plugged in, as if assuming the role of team leader after Vezenkov's departure in the summer, and keeping Greek pride alive. But the Blaugrana's outside shot acted like a sledgehammer on Olympiacos' morale. All of Grimau's disciples seemed to have a hot wrist and it was Laprovittola, the best on his team, who increased the maximum difference on the scoreboard with another triple (20-35, minute 14).
The Greek team then calmed down, taking their defense up a gear and in attack decided to impose their superiority in the paint, with Fall and Milutinov making life difficult for Hernangómez. Not even Vesely's return to the court stopped the growth of those from Piraeus, who cut the score to 34-40 before heading to the locker room.
That trend continued after the break and Olympiacos began to grow. But with each growth spurt he received a Blaugrana response based on triples. With five minutes left, Walkup drew the maximum for the locals (66-59), a scenario that seemed apocalyptic for Barça with an infernal atmosphere in the stands. But Grimau's men had one last bullet left in the chamber, and between Abrines and Vesely they completed a 0-14 run that gave the Blaugrana their second European victory. A colossal victory.
68. Olympiacos (16 18 20 14): Walkup (14), Canaan (9), Papanikolaou (7), Peters (11), Milutinov (10) -equipo inicial-, Brazdeikis (5), Fall (4), Larentzakis (5) y Lountzis (3).
77. Barça (23 17 16 21): Satoransky (5), Laprovittola (17), Kalinic (8), Da Silva (7), Vesely (8) -starting team-, Hernangómez (-), Jokubaitis (10), Parker (3), Abrines (16), Parra (3) and Brizuela (-).
Referees: Sasa Pukl (ESL), Gytis Vilius (LIT) and Sergio Silva (POR). Sin eliminated.
Incidents: match of the second day of the Euroleague played at the Peace and Friendship Pavilion in Piraeus (Greece).
