Real Madrid need two overtime periods to beat Barca for first Euroleague away win

It cost Real Madrid more than necessary, but they finally secured their first victory away from the WiZink Center in the Euroleague. Chus Mateo’s team needed six games, but it finally broke this bad dynamic in the best possible scenario, at the Palau Blaugrana against Barça (90-97). [Así hemos vivido la victoria del Real Madrid en el Clásico]

Players from both teams were excited about the opportunity that awaited them. Barça and Real Madrid are having an irregular season, but as happened in the Spanish Super Cup, the Whites came out on top… after needing two overtime periods to win the match.

Joan Peñarroya and Chus Mateo have insisted a lot this week on the importance of playing a good defensive game to win. Both teams improved in this area, but Real Madrid were the ones who executed Chus Mateo’s approach better in a big match between Tavares and Mario Hezonja.

From the start of the match, it was a very tactical match. Both coaches had enough time to prepare for the clash and the improvement of both teams was noticeable at the Palau Blaugrana. The result was the two overtimes needed to win the match.

Real Madrid equal the win-loss record in the Euroleague, although Chus Mateo’s team remains in tenth place in the standings; while Barça is provisionally seventh with seven wins and five defeats.

The party’s strategy

Real Madrid went from more to less in the game. The aggressive defense of the Whites limited the creation of offensive plays for a Barça team which, although it failed to score a basket, was also very vulnerable in defense.

Chus Mateo’s side started off with great success thanks to Rathan-Mayes scoring two consecutive triples. In addition, baskets from Tavares, Mario Hezonja and Campazzo’s triple put the score in the balance.

However, when the Blaugranas were at their worst, the figure of Jan Vesely emerged. The Czech’s good performance took a back seat at the end of the first quarter when Youssoupha Fall committed a technical foul which allowed Real Madrid to lead in the second quarter, 17-22.

In the second quarter, Joan Peñarroya’s team improved significantly on defense and the team also improved its performance on offense. The Whites’ three-point shooting success in the first quarter was not the same in the second quarter, and Real Madrid also suffered from several inaccuracies.

Barça’s attack was led by Jan Vesely and Darío Brizuela, while Madrid suffered on rebounds. 23-16 for the Blaugranas, these are records which allowed the Blaugranas to enter the break with a lead of 38-34.

Tavares and Hezonja, protagonists

After the break, Mario Hezonja was the name of the third quarter. The Croatian needed five triples to score the first, but he put the team on his back and scored Real Madrid’s first 12 points in the third quarter. His performance is scandalous. Barça woke up thanks to Abrines and especially Darío Brizuela, but they could do nothing to stop Hezonja, who scored 15 of Madrid’s 20 points, 52-54.

News in update

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