BarcelonaBarça and Real Madrid open an exciting Endesa League final this Monday (9pm, #Vamos). The fight for the title will be marked by the absence on the bench of Pablo Laso, who suffered a heart attack a few days ago. “He is recovering very well and that is the most important thing. He can lead a normal life and the news is that he is perfect “, says Chus Mateo. The Real Madrid assistant coach did not want to specify how he will communicate with the Basque coach during the matches or when his reappearance is scheduled.
The final, scheduled for the best of five games, cannot be analyzed without remembering Real Madrid’s victory in the last classic. The white team surprised Barça in the Euroleague semi-finals in a match that changed the mood of both teams. “The final will be very difficult because we play two of the best teams in Europe, two rivals we know very well. The Palau Blaugrana puts a lot of pressure and having an advantage on the pitch is important, it’s always better to play at home “, admits Sarunas Jasikevicius. Coach plans to dismiss Dante Exum again. “Every game is different. We must be prepared to suffer and to react. The key is to adapt to each game and find the pieces you need to overcome the difficult moments “, he explains.
Barça’s big concern is Real Madrid’s inside game, as Brandon Davies is not having his best moment and both Sertaç Sanli and Pierre Oriola are suffering from physical problems. “Madrid’s home game will hurt us, but we have to know how to react,” said Saras. The weakness of the white team, on the other hand, must be sought in a basic position in which it accumulates many injured players. “We have had a difficult year, with many ups and downs and many variables that have made us doubt. If we have reached the end it is because adversity has united us. We came out strengthened. The lesson is to stay together in difficult times “, analyzes Mateo.
“We are two great teams that know each other very well. The difference will be marked by the details. We have to play well and concentrate. When we play our game, we are a very difficult team to beat “, says Nico Laprovittola, whom Jasikevicius has been using as game director in recent games. The Argentine sees no problem. “I’ve played grassroots all my life and that’s my natural position. Beyond the fact that this season I played a lot with Calathes, I didn’t feel weird “, he adds.
Madrid, with confidence
Madrid, who have had more days to rest and prepare for the final, arrive in Barcelona’s first two games with confidence. “Both teams are doing well and we are one of the best in Europe. We are motivated and eager to face the final. We hope to live up to it and compete to the end. We are ready to play good basketball “, admits Mateo. “We want to enjoy and play good basketball. Getting here is not easy and no matter what, we want to give it our all. We’ve had a lot of injuries, but we’ve always managed to lift our heads, “said Edy Tavares, a Real Madrid center-back.
