Youssoupha Fall signs his best game of the season and Barça starts 2026 strong
FC Barcelona perfectly started the year 2026 with a commanding victory over Zaragoza (100-80) at the Palau Blaugrana. This seventh consecutive win in Liga Endesa allows the Catalans to maintain their unbeaten streak since Xavi Pascual’s arrival on the bench and climb to fourth place in the standings.
The game tipped in the second quarter when the Blaugranas raised their defensive level to post an impressive 27-11 run, taking command at halftime (48-33). This comfortable lead allowed the Catalan coach to intelligently manage the playing time of his key players like Kevin Punter and Tomas Satoransky ahead of the January marathon.
Youssoupha Fall signs his best game of the season
Despite a difficult start where Zaragoza led 20 to 14 after seven minutes, Barça found their solutions thanks to 3-pointers from Punter and Miles Norris. The return of Toko Shengelia, absent for seven games, and the presence of Youssoupha Fall (11 points on 5/7 shooting and 9 rebounds in 17 minutes) brought the necessary consistency near the rim to reverse the trend. The French-Senegalese center, taking advantage of the absence of other big men, matched his season scoring record and set his rebounding record.
The decisive acceleration came from a small ball lineup with Punter, Laprovittola and Brizuela that allowed the game to flow. Led by Punter’s inspiration and a tightened defense, the Catalans allowed only 3 points in the final six minutes of the second quarter to take a 15-point lead at halftime.
Perfect management ahead of the Clásico
After the break, Barcelona was able to preserve their advantage despite a technical interruption of nearly twenty minutes. Strong performances from Laprovittola and Shengelia allowed them to extend the lead (84-59 at the 33rd minute), giving Pascual the opportunity to rest his starters before the clash against Real Madrid on Sunday.
Juani Marcos brilliantly responded to the confidence given with two 3-pointers that ignited the Palau, contributing to the final offensive showcase. With Miles Norris (15 points) and Youssoupha Fall in great form, Barça confidently approaches their trip to the Movistar Arena, bolstered by this seventh consecutive championship victory that confirms their excellent momentum under Xavi Pascual.
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