FC Barcelona opened its Liga Endesa campaign with a hard-fought 119-101 victory over Leyma Coruña at the Palau Blaugrana. Aleksander Sekulic’s side relied on a standout performance from center Aleksander Balcerowski, who finished with 21 points and six rebounds without missing a shot, to wear down the newly promoted visitors.
The match marked an energetic, if disjointed, start for a revamped Barcelona squad featuring 11 new signings. Leyma Coruña kept the pressure on through the first three quarters, exploiting defensive lapses before Barcelona pulled away in the final period.
Balcerowski Leads Barcelona Past Resilient Leyma Coruña
Aleksander Balcerowski anchored Barcelona’s offense, shooting a flawless 21 points that overwhelmed Leyma Coruña’s interior defense. According to match reports, the Polish center added six rebounds for a total valuation of 30, proving decisive as the hosts struggled to find defensive consistency early in the contest.
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Leyma Coruña refused to roll over despite entering the matchup as heavy underdogs following their promotion to the ACB. Powered by strong minutes from Angel Conditt, who scored 17 points, and guard Brandon Taylor Verge with 16, the visitors briefly claimed the lead during the first half by capitalizing on Barcelona’s early turnovers and defensive rotation issues.
Sekulic Mixes Rotations as Young Talents Step Up
Head coach Aleksander Sekulic utilized deep rotations throughout the evening, giving early minutes to newcomers like Juan Núñez and Agustin Ubal to stabilize the backcourt. Núñez orchestrated the tempo during key stretches, helping Barcelona establish a transition game that eventually wore down the opposition.
To compensate, Sekulic shifted Chimezie Nkamhoua to the center position during Balcerowski’s rest periods, though Leyma Coruña repeatedly punished Barcelona’s lack of a traditional rim protector during those minutes.
Fourth-Quarter Surge Secures the Win
Clinging to a narrow 85-79 lead at the end of the third quarter, Barcelona finally broke open the game in the final ten minutes. A flurry of fast breaks led by Tyrese Martin, Kevin Punter, and Dario Brizuela stretched the advantage to double digits.
Brizuela contributed 15 points off the bench, while Martin chipped in 16 to suppress any hopes of an upset. Leyma Coruña’s physical resistance ultimately cracked under the pace, allowing Barcelona to salt away a comfortable 119-101 final scoreline that flattered the hosts after a surprisingly competitive 30 minutes.