Barcelona surprised before the third semifinal match against Real Madrid by excluding Serbian basketball player Nikola Kalinić from the team. Instead, Oriol Pauli was included in the lineup, although James Nunnally could have been an alternative.
The reason for this decision has not been officially confirmed, but there are speculations in the Spanish media suggesting internal discord within the team. Dissatisfaction within the team has been present for some time, and this decision has only fueled controversy.
While Barcelona continues the battle in the semifinal series, this unexpected change in the lineup adds a new dimension to the already tense rivalry between the two Spanish giants.