“There is no plan against him”

Second chapter of the miracle of Belgrade. What epic story of the best feathers ever, the Real Madrid faces a new odyssey. The Stark Arena, again. His 20,000 souls, Zeljko Obradovic and Partizan Belgrade, and neutralize a 0-2 against. It has never been possible, but Madrid took the first step on Tuesday and is facing the second today (8:30 p.m.). With a total paradigm shift, Walter Tavares has taken over the series. Panic spreads in the Serbian capital.

Tavares placed Madrid on his back. Giant in the area and nurtured over and over again so that he first equalized the contest and then settled it. That hook to tie within the final minutes was the finishing touch for him. “Poirier was injured and he knew he would have to play a lot of minutes. But that’s why we’re here,” confessed the Cape Verdean to the media displaced to Belgrade. 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 blocks and 41 valuation credits. Total and absolute domination.

I knew that I would have to play many minutes. But that’s what we’re here for

Walter Tavares

Obradovic found no cure. Smailagic is a good inside player, he has a hand and his progression will continue to grow. But it is not Tavares and every time he entered the zone of influence the power of the giant fell on him. Therefore, the return of Mathias Lessort for the third game seems vital. “Everything changes, it’s different… Although our problem is not having a game plan against Tavares and yes against Madrid,” Zeljko explained. But there is no fear in the white bosom. Quite the opposite. They call it a conspiracy. “Lessort is a great player, It is among the best in Europe. But we know what we have to do”, said the ’22’.

Particularly, in the case of Europe’s most dominant interior even more so. He has only missed six shots -plus three free throws- in his games against Partizan (24/30). It is a brutal production that accompanies with 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.7 blocks and 24 credits per valuation night. A torment.

Mateo finds the key

Nurturing Tavares, Hezonja’s work ‘in the mud’ and an absolutely elite Nigel Williams-Goss were the condiments of the first white victory. The point guard woke up on time, to his well-known condition as an excellent defender he added determination in the final shot. In a white direction that has a hard time starting, ‘NWG’ takes command. “We have the key to take the next step. I made the key play, but we knew how to keep calm, the rhythm and understand that they are very long games,” he said.

The blockade and continuation with Tavares, the area that made the poor static attack from Partizan without Kevin Punter’s dynamite and the final white inspiration changes the tables. There are ghosts for everyone in a series that lives a “constant elimination match,” as Williams-Goss muses. “It’s a playoff clash. The strange thing was the second, in which we did not have that consistency. The keynote is equality, being able to assert our defense and try to impose ourselves”, explained Chus Mateo.

mourning in the city

The Stark Arena will be full, with few tickets on sale and starting at a price of 40 euros. Relevant, since Serbian sources to MARCA affirm that a normal salary in the city does not exceed more than 500 euros. Partizan comes first. Although it will not be a party, quite the opposite. Belgrade experienced a tragedy when he suffered a shooting at a school in the center of the city. Official mourning was decreed and the future of the party was assessed. Will play.