Anadolu Efes secured a 94-84 victory over Real Madrid in the second round of the EuroLeague, capturing their first win of the European campaign at the Turkcell Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi. Pablo Laso’s squad bounced back from an opening defeat, overcoming a tight first half to fend off a late push from the Spanish side.
The fixture saw both teams trade blows early on, with Real Madrid edging the opening period 29-27 behind high shooting percentages. Anadolu Efes seized momentum late in the second quarter, hitting a flurry of perimeter shots during a decisive stretch that pushed the lead into double digits. The Turkish side carried a 53-41 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
Real Madrid trimmed the deficit to seven points during a fast-paced third period, but Anadolu Efes maintained control to enter the final frame ahead 72-65. The visitors clawed back within four points at 82-78 in the 37th minute following aggressive plays in the paint. However, Anadolu Efes executed cleanly down the stretch to seal the ten-point win and drop Real Madrid to an 0-2 start in the standings.
Tactical Execution and Turning Points
Anadolu Efes head coach Pablo Laso pointed to a defensive sequence as the game’s turning point. Laso highlighted Mike James stealing the ball from Campazzo as the momentum shift that grounded Real Madrid’s comeback bid, noting that defence secures titles even while offence wins individual games.
Real Madrid head coach Pedro Martinez attributed the defeat to turnovers and defensive lapses. Martinez noted that his team performed well during the opening 13-14 minutes before careless ball-handling gifted Anadolu Efes easy scoring opportunities. Despite an intense push in the final two minutes that brought the Spanish club back into contention, late miscues sealed their second loss of the season.
Scoring Breakdown and Team Statistics
Performers paced the scoring sheets for both benches. For Anadolu Efes, Dozier led the charge with 18 points, followed by Strazel with 14 points. James and Loyd contributed 12 points apiece, while Saric added 10 points in the winning effort.
Real Madrid relied on Campazzo, who recorded 16 points. Feliz and Smith each chipped in 10 points.
Match Officials
The officiating crew for the encounter at the Turkcell Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi featured Milan Nedovic from Slovenia, Saulius Racys from Lithuania, and Vasiliki Tsaroucha from Greece.
