The third Clásico of the season, the second in the Euroleague, went to Madrid. The whites already won at the Palau and defeated a Barça team that had won in the capital twelve days ago. Madrid was very much to the liking of its coach: a granite team that only conceded 61 points. In a week without games and without trips, it was noted that the preparation for the Classic was not the usual one in a hectic calendar. That will return next week with Madrid trying to get closer to the lead with the visits of Milan and Monaco.
The Clásico moved to the tune set by Madrid’s defense. There was no trace of the swollen scoreboards in the previous two this season. Madrid conceded 14 points in the first quarter, 17 in the second, 16 in the third… and the entire game showed a fierce attitude. The best example was the dedication about Kevin Punter. Three points from the free throw and he missed all six field goals he attempted. Half a dozen defenders took turns guarding the New Yorker. Scariolo’s team responded to what Real Madrid fans required at the Movistar Arena after a turbulent week at the club. There was a big game atmosphere and the proof was the ovation that Causeur received, present at the Clásico after announcing his retirement this week. With the inertia of the applause for the Frenchman came the whites’ first escape. It was the result of the contribution of guys as granite as Deck (12 points with four three-pointers without a miss) or Garuba (16 points with only one miss in the shot). His weight in the game was the perfect summary of the dominance exerted by Madrid.
Xavi Pascual was desperate on the bench because he saw Madrid dominating like rarely before this season against a strong rival. His team was timid and the factor that both coaches pointed out as a determining factor, the rebound, was very favorable to the locals (36-28). The Barça bench tried to shake up the game in the third quarter with a more intense quintet. Brizuela tried to act as Punter, but Scariolo also moved his pieces. He sat Abalde down, opted for two point guards, rotated outside, turned to Lyles, Hezonja appeared and Madrid went on a 10-0 run that staggered Barça (55-40). The best thing about the whites was that with that advantage the team did not relax, they went over twenty points and Xavi Pascual’s Barça suffered its fourth defeat in 19 games.
80. Real Madrid (21+22+20+17): Campazzo (6), Abalde (2), Okeke (2), Hezonja (12) and Tavares (11) – starting quintet – Lyles (9), Maledon (6), Deck (12), Feliz (0), Garuba (16), Llull (2) and Len (2).
61. Barcelona (14+17+16+14): Satoransky (9), Punter (3), Parra (2), Norris (0) and Vesely (2) – starting quintet – Willy (6), Shengelia (10), Laprovittola (12), Brizuela (13), Cale (0), Marcos (0) and Fall (4).
Referees: Javor (Esl), Hordov (Cro) and Vilius (Lit). No eliminated.
Incidences: 11,398 spectators at the Movistar Arena. Match corresponding to the twenty-second day of the Euroleague.
22nd day: Partizan, 66-Olympiacos, 104; Dubai Basketball, 72-Virtus Bologna, 80; Anadolu Efes, 75-Kosner Baskonia, 89; Bayern Munich, 85-Panathinaikos, 78; Macabbi Tel Aviv, 100-Zalgiris Kaunas, 97; Armani Milan, 96-Red Star, 104; Paris Basketball, 87-Monaco, 95; Fenerbahçe, 82-Valencia Basket, 79; ASVEL Villeurbanne, 73-Hapoel Tel Aviv, 81 and Real Madrid, 80-Barcelona, 61.
Classification (wins/losses): 1. Hapoel Tel Aviv (6/15); 2. Monaco (7/15); 3. Fenerbahçe (14/7); 4. Valencia Basket (14/8); 5. Real Madrid (8/14); 6. Barcelona (8/14); 7. Olympiacos (8/13); 8. Panathinaikos (9/13); 9. Zalgiris Kaunas (12/10); 10. Red Star (10/12); 11. Armani Milan (11/11); 12. Virtus Bologna (11/11); 13. Dubai Basketball (10/12); 14. Maccabi Tel Aviv (9/13); 15. Kosner Baskonia (8/14); 16. Bayern Munich (8/14); 17. Paris Basketball (7/14); 18. ASVEL Villeurbanne (6/16); 19. Anadolu Efes (6/16); 20. Partizan (6/16).
