There were two games tonight at the Palau Blaugrana. One on the court, with Barça fighting for their life in the Euroleague. Another in the stands, and in the hearts of a fanbase that had not forgotten what it owes to Svetislav Pesic. And Barça won both.
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Before the tip-off, the Palau stopped. Vice president Rafael Yuste presented the Serbian coach with a framed photograph bearing the message “Thank you, Sveti!”, and the fans responded with a long, heartfelt standing ovation. Pesic, visibly moved, raised his hands to the roof of the arena and placed his hand on his chest. Almost 77 years old, 46 on the benches, a figure that needs no introduction. On the court were the two European champions of Barça, those of 2003 and 2010, to support the man who lit the first flame.
🔵🔴 The Palau Blaugrana pays tribute to Svetislav Pesic
✅ The Serbian coach receives a special recognition before his last Euroleague gamehttps://t.co/jeLG6pNtMN
— Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) April 17, 2026
Afterwards, basketball took over, as Pesic has always wanted. And Barça quickly made it clear that there was no room for nostalgia tonight. The azulgranas started with too many turnovers and Bayern, with nothing to lose and the boldness of someone playing freely, took advantage to get ahead on the scoreboard (7-12 at minute 7). But Pascual’s team did not lose their composure. Clinging to Clyburn, Brizuela, and a Youssoupha Fall who has been the giant no one expected for weeks, Barça gained ground until sneaking ahead on the last play of the first quarter (20-19).
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From there it was a different story. A 12-2 run at the start of the second quarter deflated a Bayern team that, as soon as they found themselves behind, seemed to remember they had had no chances for weeks. The 42-31 halftime score still left some intrigue, but Barça came out of the locker room with very clear ideas. Three consecutive three-pointers from Vesely, Clyburn, and Satoransky, the latter returning after four games out, blew the game wide open (55-36) and turned it into a walkover.
Clyburn was the best of the azulgranas with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Fall posted a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds that sparked chants of “MVP” in the Palau. Brizuela contributed 16 points and covered for a bad night from Punter, who did not score his first basket until the last quarter. And Satoransky, despite arriving with medical clearance just minutes before the game, showed that his presence changes the team’s face.
Pesic had already won his game before the tip-off. The final score, 95-69, is so large that it almost seems cruel for his last night in the Euroleague, but the Serbian coach experienced it with his usual dignity. Barça finishes ninth and will host Red Star on Tuesday in the play-in. If they win, on Friday they will have to travel to face the loser of Panathinaikos-Monaco. The European playoff is still alive. For now, one more week. If they pass the cut, they will face Olympiacos for a spot in the Final 4.
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