ANKARA
Barcelona beat their archrivals and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague leaders Real Madrid 83 – 78 in Wednesday’s basketball El Clasico.
Barcelona’s Czech center Jan Vesely scored 27 points to be the game’s top scorer and played an important role in the home victory at Palau Blaugrana.
Nicolas Laprovittola had 14 points, Nikola Kalinic scored 13, and Jabari Parker added 10 for Barcelona.
Bosnian forward Dzanan Musa led Real Madrid with 19 points, and Croatian teammate Mario Hezonja, who played for Barcelona, racked up 16 for Real Madrid.
Barca took the game’s first double-digit lead at 72 – 62 after Kalinic hit a three-pointer in the middle of the fourth quarter, and Vesely-led Barcelona did not let Real Madrid come back to tie or lead for the rest of the game.
Third-place Barcelona are 12 – 6 while Real Madrid, who are still leading the EuroLeague, dropped to 16 – 2 for the season.
Real Madrid’s nearest opponents, Virtus Segafredo Bologna from Italy, are 13 – 5 as they beat Bayern Munich 85 – 83 late Wednesday.
Earlier Wednesday, Spain’s Valencia Basket won against Turkish club Anadolu Efes 93 – 88 to move into the ninth spot with 10 wins in 18 games.
Anadolu Efes, the 2021 and 2022 champions, are upsetting fans this season.
The Istanbul team are in 15th place after losing for the 11th time in 18 games.
Wednesday’s results:
Valencia Basket – Anadolu Efes: 93 – 88
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Bayern Munich: 85 – 83
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz – Panathinaikos: 75 – 73
Barcelona – Real Madrid: 83 – 78
