Ganja Basketball Club's historic 69-67 victory over Lisbon-based Sporting in the FIBA Europe Cup has sparked widespread reaction across the Portuguese sports media. The result came as a major surprise, with the Azerbaijani side handing Sporting their first defeat of the competition while claiming their maiden victory in European club basketball.
As reported by İdman.Biz, leading Portuguese newspaper A Bola reacted particularly strongly, publishing an article headlined "Unrecognisable Sporting lose to a team that had never won in Europe before".
"Sporting were unrecognisable in attack, repeatedly missing shots and allowing their opponents to score 23 points on fast breaks. As a result, the Lisbon side spent almost the entire match chasing the game," the newspaper noted.
The publication highlighted Sporting's numerous mistakes and missed opportunities, even from favourable shooting positions. Ganja, meanwhile, made the most of their opponents' weaknesses, building a lead of as many as 13 points.
"In the closing seconds, the Portuguese team had an opportunity to snatch victory but missed once again, allowing their opponents to secure their first-ever win in European competition," A Bola observed.
The reaction from popular Portuguese sports website Zerozero was equally revealing. The outlet acknowledged that Ganja had outplayed Sporting for much of the contest and that the Azerbaijani team's victory was a fair reflection of events on the court.
"Sporting still had a chance to win a match in which they had trailed for most of the game. However, a three-point attempt at the final buzzer failed to find the basket," the report stated.
The journalists paid particular attention to the decisions made by Ganja head coach Murat Dikmen. According to their analysis, a timeout called during the second quarter proved to be a turning point.
"From that moment, the Azerbaijani team's intensity increased, particularly in defence and rebounding, significantly disrupting Sporting's offence," Zerozero emphasised.
In the third quarter, the hosts responded to Sporting's attempts to turn the game around with three consecutive three-pointers, regaining control of the contest. Portuguese journalists noted that Ganja managed their advantage effectively and prevented the visitors from establishing any sustained momentum.
Portuguese broadcaster SPORT TV, meanwhile, pointed out that Sporting had arrived in Azerbaijan on the back of three consecutive FIBA Europe Cup victories but were unable to overcome Ganja's resistance.
"After surrendering the lead in the first quarter, Sporting never managed to move ahead again," the broadcaster noted.
SPORT TV also singled out three standout performers for the Azerbaijani club: Bakary Camara, who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, Xavier Rhodes, who added 18 points, and Kobe Magee, who contributed 15.
"They deserved this victory," was how the Portuguese outlet assessed the performances of Ganja's American players.
Leonino, a specialist website covering Sporting, focused on the dramatic closing stages of the encounter.
"Sporting let it all slip away on the final possession and suffered their first European defeat," the article's headline read.
The journalists noted that the Lisbon side retained a chance to rescue the game until the final seconds but failed to capitalise. The defeat also cost Sporting top spot in Group C.
Overall, a common theme emerges from the Portuguese media's reaction: Sporting delivered a disappointing performance, but Ganja's success was not simply the result of the favourites' mistakes. The Azerbaijani club imposed their own style of play, protected their advantage and secured a historic victory that ranks among the biggest surprises of the fourth round of the FIBA Europe Cup.
