Real Madrid held off a late charge from Unicaja to secure an 89–87 victory in the opening round of the Liga Endesa at the Movistar Arena, overcoming a turbulent fourth quarter.
A Fierce Battle at the Movistar Arena
Playing in front of 8,123 spectators in Madrid, Pedro Martínez’s squad extended a tense run of early-season form. All four of Real Madrid’s official matches this term have been decided by four points or fewer. The EuroLeague SuperCup champions struggled to establish a consistent offensive rhythm, trailing by eight points at 72–80 with five minutes remaining in regulation.
Unicaja, managing an incomplete roster and dealing with multiple injuries—including an in-game setback for Alberto Díaz—pushed the home side to the brink under Txus Vidorreta. The visitors controlled the tempo for large stretches of the match, replicating the tactical discipline Vidorreta previously displayed with La Laguna Tenerife.
Late-Game Heroics Spark the Real Madrid Comeback
Trailing deep into the final period, Real Madrid engineered a crucial 12–1 run sparked by Theo Maledon and Facundo Campazzo. Maledon finished with 17 points and seven assists, while Campazzo contributed 15 points and five assists.
Despite the hosts’ resurgence, Unicaja fought back to reclaim an 85–84 advantage with just 1:11 remaining on the clock. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot then buried a decisive three-pointer to shift the lead back to Madrid. With three seconds left, Campazzo made his first free throw and intentionally missed the second. Unicaja’s Noua launched a desperate, full-court heave at the buzzer that narrowly missed, sealing the narrow escape for the capital club.
Willy Hernangómez Sets Personal Block Milestone
The fixture marked a standout performance for Unicaja center Willy Hernangómez, who posted 20 points and six rebounds while establishing a new career milestone. Going head-to-head against Walter Tavares, Hernangómez recorded four blocks—the highest single-game rejection total of his professional career across the ACB, EuroLeague, and NBA.
Despite foul trouble affecting both Hernangómez and teammate David Kravish, Unicaja maintained pressure throughout the evening. Hernangómez fueled a third-quarter surge with 10 points, including six consecutive points that helped build Unicaja’s late advantage before Madrid’s backcourt reply.
Statistical Breakdown and Shooting Struggles
Real Madrid encountered severe difficulties from beyond the arc, converting just two of 15 three-point attempts by halftime and finishing 6-of-26 from long range. However, the hosts found immense success inside the paint, shooting 17-of-20 on two-point attempts.
Real Madrid built an early eight-point cushion at 40–32 in the second quarter before Ignas Brazdeikis orchestrated a 11–2 Unicaja run that gave the visitors a 47–46 edge at intermission. Brazdeikis finished with 14 points before fouling out in the final minute of regulation.
Match Statistics
Real Madrid (89): Campazzo (15), Abalde (9), Luwawu-Cabarrot (14), Pradilla (7), Tavares (4) — starting five — Shulga (4), Okeke (2), Maledon (17), Deck (9), Llull (-), Jones (8), Sarr (-).
Unicaja (87): Perry (9), Hunt (7), Brazdeikis (14), Noua (18), Kravish (3) — starting five — Barreiro (-), Díaz (-), Lukosius (9), Djedovic (-), Pantzar (7), Hernangómez (20).
Officials Antonio Conde, Sergio Manuel, and Roberto Lucas penalized Unicaja, resulting in Brazdeikis’s disqualification in the final minute. Prior to tip-off, Real Madrid formally presented their EuroLeague SuperCup trophy to the home supporters.
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