Real Madrid came out aware of the potential danger of Alba Berlin and paid attention to defense and speed in attack, with Dzanan Musa and Edy Tavares as first swords, although it was Peter Corneliawith two consecutive triples, the one who contributed the most to the first advantages, 16-8 (min.5).
The local rebound (13-5 at the end of the first quarter) and the good defense, drowning out the German attack in the first seconds, just when they are most dangerous, were the key to the 26-20 lead with which the first quarter ended.
Gabriele Procida was the most successful at Alba, although the best news for Real Madrid was the return, six months later, of Nigel Williams-Gosswhich was more than acceptable and provided external defense that the team was so lacking.
In the second room, Madrid’s dominance became much more evident with a Vincent Poirier who seems to have recovered his level of play and with an Eli Ndiaye who earned the entire fourth on the court due to his intensity, success and defense.
Israel González, Alba’s coach, could not find the antidote to stop a coral Real Madrid, plugged in and generous in the effort that left with a 16-point lead at half-time, 53-37.
The Germans, the best rebounding team so far (38.9 average per game), had just 9 rebounds in the first half to 24 for the Spanish team.
The twenty points of difference did not wait in the continuation with 4 consecutive points from Dzanan Musa57-37 (m.21.15).
Real Madrid continued with the sharpened fang while Alba was fading as they saw their fifth consecutive defeat this season approaching and their thirteenth against the Spanish team so far this century, as many as they have played against each other, with the 61-37 (m.22.30).
With 24 rental points, Real Madrid slightly lifted their foot off the accelerator and the Germans cut back, 63-48 (m.28), although the third quarter ended 70-52, after another local rush with a dominating Poirier and sparks of genius from Sergio ‘Chacho’ Rodríguez.
The last quarter, as usual, lacked substance. With the victory decided, the two teams temporized until the final 90-72.
Datasheet:
90 – Real Madrid (26+27+17+20): Hanga (0), Deck (4), Cornelie (8), Tavares (8) and Musa (10) – starting five – Williams-Goss (8), Abalde (3), Hezonja (9), Rodriguez (13) , Poirier (19), Llull (2) and Ndiaye (6).
72 – Alba Berlin (20+17+15+20): Smith (6), Thiemann (10), Lammers (0), Blatt (6) and Zoosman (6) – starting five – Lo (8), Procida (13), Delow (6), Wetzell (10) and Schneider (4), Koumadje (0) and Rapieque (3).
Referees: Borys Ryzhyk (UCR), Elias Koromilas (GRE) and Aare Halliko (EST). No deleted.
Incidences: Match corresponding to the eighth day of the Euroleague played at the Palacio de Deportes (WiZink Center) in Madrid before 6,512 spectators.
