UB Barcelona spectacularly overcame its second European challenge, beating Ekaterinburg, the current European champion, by an overwhelming margin: 94:70.
At the beginning of the match, both teams played a similar game: man-to-man defense with a lot of physical contact and quick offensive transitions. Laia Palau and Razija Brcaninovic were a difficult duo to stop, pulling down rebounds and initiating the fast break.
De Lisha Milton and Anna Arkhipova from the Ekterinburg stopped the Catalonian team from getting too far ahead in the first 10 minutes, but Barca pushed during the last minutes and gained the first head start: 27 to 18, thus ending the first quarter.
UB Barça didn't start to attack well in the second quarter, but the Russians couldn’t take advantage. Only Dixon reduced the points difference. Half way through the period, Sandra Gallego took over and started to do what she does so well: nailing three-point shots. Her teammates caught on to her good play and the game begun to flow.
To an 18 point difference. Visic requested timeout in order to stop U B Barça's game, but the remedy was worst than the illness, as from that time on, the home team played their best basketball. A timid reaction on behalf of the Russians during the last minute allowed them to improve the scoreboard: 47 - 36 at the end of half.
When the game recommenced, the visitors tried zone defense. UB Barça noticed the change, but as the minutes passed the Catalonians played more comfortably. They again imposed a quick transition game and when one didn't score, another did. For Ekaterinburg, Dixon and Milton were the only players putting up points. Brcaninovic was untouchable in offense, even when double teamed. Thus UB Barça obtained the best results at the end of the third period: 75 - 51.
In the last quarter, UB Barça continued its individual defense with many steals, always resulting in a 2 against 1 and even 3 against 1 fast-breaks. The Russians began to lose control, fouling as a result of their inability to stop the locals. The game became rough and the Russians got into serious foul trouble. Arkhipova fouled out first, followed by Milton and the game was effectively over for the visitors. Final score: 94 - 70.
