Real Madrid made home advantage count as they moved 1-0 up in the Liga ACB finals with Friday's 78-72 victory over Barcelona at the Barclaycard Centre.

The sides have traded the title over the past three seasons, having each contested all three final series during that time.

And following Friday's opener, in which Rudy Fernandez contributed 17 points for the victors, it is Real who hold the early advantage as they look to wrestle the title back off Barca.

In 29 of 31 cases, the team to win the first match of the finals has gone to claim overall victory and after starting slowly, Real gradually got into gear.

Deshaun Thomas put Barca 2-0 ahead before assisting Maciej Lampe's triple inside the first minute.

However, the likes of Felipe Reyes, Fernandez and Sergio Llull helped Real establish a seven-point lead by the end of the first quarter.

Real's momentum was curtailed in an even second period as the game tightened up, but Barca were only able to reduce their deficit by one point in the third.

Protecting a six-point advantage going into the final 10 minutes, Real held on with relative comfort to move 1-0 ahead.

The sides will lock horns again in the Spanish capital on Sunday. Two contests in Palau Blaugrana are then scheduled, with Madrid the venue for game five.