He Real Madrid returns this Sunday to the Euroleague final in Kaunas same as a year ago Belgrade, convinced of his strength and determined to raise one more trophy and add it to the ten titles that already shine in his record. Opposite, in the impressive Zalgiris Arenayou will meet him Olympiakos (7:00 p.m., Dazn), the team that has applied with manu militari during and to which the bets give as a favorite. Shortly before they will face each other Barca and Monaco for third place (4:00 p.m.) in a match that became almost a penance.
“”We always look for our opportunity and we are only one victory away from the title. We are close to the final, our goal is very clear and this type of adversity has made us stronger”, he assured Chus Mateothe Madrid coach in the hours before a final that will face two of the great basketball clubs, with a favorable balance of 2-1 against the whites, who lifted their last title in 2015 in Madrid.
Tavares as a reference
Grown in adversity after overcoming the playoff against Partisan with a 0-2 against, strengthened emotionally after beating Barça in the semifinal despite the significant casualties with which they arrived in Kaunas, those of Yabusele, Deck y Deck, he Madrid feel capable of anything at this stage of the competition, clinging to that resilient character of the entity, to the dominant moment of Eddie Tavares, the key piece that has brought them to the Final Four (20 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks, 9 forced fouls and a PIR of 39), and the invaluable experience of their veterans, both Sergio Rodríguez, as Llull and Rudyin whom Chus Mateo delegated command of the semifinal against Barça in the last eight minutes.
“Winning or losing is part of the game, but leaving your soul is part of our history and of our club,” he proclaimed. Mateo at the official press conference of the tournament, with the Olympiacos coach, Georgios Barztokas, and with the Greek base Kostas Sloukas, nodding, aware of the incredible battle that awaits them.
“They are here despite the great absences, they beat the Partisan and yesterday to BarçaThey have shown the possibilities they have and their talent. We already know that nothing is easy in a final”, recalls the ex-Barcelona Bartzokaswho led Olympiacos to glory for the last time in 2013, in Istanbul, precisely against Madrid.
Own style
In Piraeus, Bartzokas has managed to build a solid and competitive block, which never gives up and which is personified by two Greek players: the point guard Sloukas and the eave Father Nicholasalthough those virtues can also be seen in this season’s MVP: Sasha Vezenkovan ex-azulgrana, just like Papanikolau, who did not materialize at the Palau.
Unlike Barça, the Olympiakos It also has a 2.20 in its ranks: Moustapha Fall, which suggests a splendid battle within the area. “Fall is going to make it very difficult for me. But I feel good. He does things like me, it’s going to be a pleasure to play against him”, he remarked Tavares, who said he did not feel like the key piece of Madrid, but he has been an important player for a long time. “I have been very clear about what I had to do. My main job is defense and attack is a gift for me, because many times it is not necessary for me to intervene, because we have a lot of talent in attack”, he assured.
2023-05-21 07:18:35
#Euroleague #Final #Madrid #feels #capable #Olympiacos #Euroleague #final
