Real Madrid’s comeback remains half-finished and Chus Mateo’s men lose Euroleague opener at WiZink

Real Madrid succumbed for the first time this season at the Euroleague’s WiZink Center. Until now, playing at home was a guarantee of success for Chus Mateo’s team after winning four times in front of their home crowd, but Anadolu Efes managed to emerge victorious from the White stronghold (64-74). [Así hemos vivido la derrota del Real Madrid]

After a poor first half where Efes took a 27th lead, Real Madrid reacted in the second half with the leadership of Campazzo who carried the team on his back. In the final quarter, Chus Mateo’s team got within one point, 62-63, but Beaubois ended up putting the game away.

The Madrid team remained on the verge of a comeback. In the third and final quarter, Real Madrid were a cyclone against an Efes unable to react. The mood generated at WiZink suggested that the Whites could pull off a miracle and complete the second-best comeback in Euroleague history, but it was not possible.

During the first half, Chus Mateo’s team played a very poor game offensively, they only scored two baskets in the first nine and a half minutes of the match. Moreover, in defense, they could not stop a Turkish team that did not speculate in search of the opponent’s basket. Tavares’ individual marking on Poirier didn’t go well for Chus Mateo and the team blamed him on defense.

The triple condemned Madrid

Real Madrid were imprecise throughout the first half and players made inappropriate mistakes due to rushing. The very tight defense of Efes forced the Whites to attempt an outside strike, but without success. In nine and a half minutes, they only managed two baskets against the avalanche of a Turkish team led by Osmani, Poirier and a huge Stanley Johnson. The rhythm of the first quarter did not change as the minutes passed, Madrid tried, the goals failed and the rapid attack of Anadolu Efes always ended in a basket (6-19).

The second quarter began with a little more hope after Hugo González’s attack, but anxiety invaded the Madrid players who continued to fail in the triple, 0 out of 13. Oturo and Elijah Bryant were Chus Mateo’s headaches. Above all, Bryant, the scorer for the Turkish team, was a real dagger.

Campazzo led the timid reaction of a Real Madrid trailing 27th (18-45). The Argentinian opened the scoring with three points, although he only scored one in the second quarter. Mario Hezonja also did not succeed in his match and it was only on the ninth attempt that he scored the first basket. Tavares, for his part, was overwhelmed.

Cape Verde did not find a teammate to watch his back when he came out to put pressure on Poirier. The players arrived at halftime with a resounding 25-47 and Campazzo reflected Madrid’s image in the first half: “we didn’t do anything. All the time we were catching the ball under the basket.” , admitted the Argentinian after going to halftime 25-47.

After the break, Real Madrid’s comeback began. Deck carried the team on his back with baskets and forced fouls, although the best was yet to come after triples from Campazzo and Hezonja. The Croatian apologized to the crowd for his lack of success in the match, but he would end up playing a key role in the team’s return aspirations. Madrid stopped losing so many balls and the offensive efficiency allowed the Whites to finish the third quarter with a score of 49-58.

In the last quarter, Real Madrid were a cyclone. The Whites achieved a score of 36-13 after the maximum advantage of Anadolu Efes (18-45), but the comeback was interrupted halfway.

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