Madrid redeems itself with victory over European champion | Basketball | Sport

Real justified itself with a convincing victory over the European champions, a team that its leaders say is in contention to win five Euroleagues in a row. These are, of course, wishes, but they speak of a powerful team that White opposed in the first place, ignored at times and eventually fought back, playing with great intelligence to save the result. The only problem of the team under the leadership of Chus Mateo, and it is not trivial, is that the decline in the game becomes obvious even when the first swords do not appear on the court.

Madrid started in a way they had not done in previous games, decisively, beating a confused Panathinaikos, with great rhythm and absolute success in trebles, five tries, five successful shots, converted by Mousa (2), Abalde, Ndiaye and Campazzo will reach five minutes with a final score of 19-5. In the Greek national team, only Juancho retained his style.

Madrid were lucid in attack in the first quarter and came out strong in defense. However, in the second the Athenians tightened the screws and although they continued to get stuck in the blow, they managed to stop the White attack. Suddenly, Mateo’s men were denied the opportunity to score so comfortably, so the partial score went to Panathinaikos, who were within five points at the break. Tavares kept Lessort dry for many minutes and the Frenchman only managed to score with five minutes remaining in the first half, but his every appearance punished Madrid.

Returning from the dressing room, the Greek team accelerated in what looked like it might be a return to the game; With a minute and a half left in the third quarter, they were within two points (47-45), but Madrid responded with a 9-0 run that put them up again with seven points from Abalde, who took control of the game. A three from Ferrol increased the difference to 17 points with one minute left in the third quarter after Campazzo’s counterattack. An almost terrifying margin against the European champions that worsened in the final moments with a partial score of 0–5 in Nunn’s most inspiring moments in charge of his team.

The 15 triples scored by Madrid were the ticket to a calm end to the game, in which the team led by Ataman fought hard, but only with the last basket managed to overcome the six-point difference barrier that the white team had. set as red line. The coach of the Greek national team probably regrets, among other things, the seven free throws that Panathinaikos missed, because against a high-level opponent every detail is important.