Olimpia Milano dropped its fifth consecutive EuroLeague match and sixth overall in the continental competition on October 22, falling 89-81 to Barcelona at the Forum in Milan. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the defeat leaves the Italian club anchored at the bottom of the standings alongside Baskonia. Kevin Punter led the visitors with 17 points, sealing the contest in the final minutes after the hosts had trimmed a 14-point deficit.

The loss marks the club’s worst start in the EuroLeague since the 2009/2010 season, according to ANSA. Boos echoed through the stands at the final buzzer, with sections of the crowd directing jeers at the team heading into the tunnel and singling out several players, including Darius Thompson and Alec Peters, alongside Marko Guduric.

Barcelona Exploits Milano Defensive Weaknesses After Intermission

Milano chased the score for nearly the entire evening. While the defense held firm during stretches of the opening half, the offense sputtered intermittently, particularly in the second quarter. Trailing by as many as eight points at 29-37, the hosts fought back just before halftime. A jumper by Leandro Bolmaro on the buzzer cut the gap to 44-40 in favor of the Spanish side.

Barcelona seized control after the intermission by exploiting Milano’s defensive weaknesses in the pick-and-roll at the center position. Josh Nebo e Umoje Gibson hanno spinto gli ospiti avanti nel punteggio durante il terzo quarto. Jason Burnell sparked a brief 7-0 response for Milano, finishing the period with a three-pointer on the buzzer that narrowed the margin to 71-64.

Missed Shots Allow Visitors to Build Early Lead

The visitors hit six of their first seven shots and converted early second-chance opportunities, using two corner three-pointers from Joel Parra to set the tone. Milano gradually raised its intensity, tying the score on a Devin Booker triple to finish the opening period down 23-21. Four early ties marked the second quarter, featuring a Thompson triple and three free throws from Burnell, before a stretch of missed shots and untaken rebounds frustrated the hosts and allowed Tyrese Martin to push the lead to eight points. Two unfortunate misses at the rim by Wright hindered Milano’s rhythm in the third quarter, during which a spell of despondency pushed the deficit to 16 points.

Turnovers and Offensive Rebounds Decide the Contest

Sky Sport highlighted that 19 turnovers and 17 offensive rebounds conceded to Barcelona proved decisive for the Italian side. Despite outshooting opponents from beyond the arc at times, Milano failed to sustain momentum when closing the gap.

With 6:24 remaining in the final quarter, Jason Burnell hit his fourth three-pointer of the night to pull Milano within four points. However, Kevin Punter answered immediately with a four-point play, drawing a foul on a successful perimeter shot and converting the free throw. That sequence extinguished the home team’s momentum, and Barcelona closed out the match with a 6-0 run.

Jason Burnell Leads Scoring Despite Defeat

Jason Burnell paced Olimpia Milano with 15 points off the bench, shooting 4-for-5 from three-point range. Alec Peters contributed 13 points, while Leandro Bolmaro and Darius Thompson added 12 points apiece.

For Barcelona, Kevin Punter’s 17 points led all scorers. Tyrese Martin added 14 points, Umoje Gibson chipped in 13, and Joel Parra contributed 12 points to secure the road victory.

Coach Peppe Poeta Assesses Physicality and Urgency

Speaking after the final whistle, Olimpia Milano head coach Peppe Poeta pointed to physical lapses and execution errors as primary factors in the defeat. Basketinside.com reported his post-match comments regarding the team’s struggles on the boards.

Nel primo tempo abbiamo sofferto contro la loro fisicità, abbiamo concesso 11 rimbalzi d’attacco, Poeta stated, noting that conceding extra possessions against an opponent like Barcelona proved fatal. He added that the team’s sense of urgency surfaces only after falling behind in difficult situations.

Milano Faces Virtus Bologna Before Greek Road Trip

The schedule offers little respite for Olimpia Milano. The team returns to the Forum on Sunday at 16:00 to face Virtus Bologna in the fifth round of the Italian Serie A championship. Following the domestic clash, Milano travels to Greece for a demanding EuroLeague double-header in Athens, facing Panathinaikos and Olympiacos within three days.