Real Madrid loses to Hapoel Tel Aviv for third EuroLeague defeat

Real Madrid fell 75-75 in regulation before dropping a 11-point decision in the final quarter against Hapoel Tel Aviv on Thursday in Sofia, Bulgaria, marking the club’s third defeat to start the EuroLeague season, El País reported. Pedro Martínez’s squad faced a daunting 20-point deficit at halftime after a dismal defensive first half, mounted a roaring 19-0 run in the third quarter led by Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot and Theo Maledon, but ultimately faltered in the closing minutes to secure an unwanted historical milestone as the club’s first time losing its opening three European fixtures.

Hapoel Tel Aviv dominates early defense

The fixture in Sofia began with both sides struggling for offensive rhythm before Hapoel Tel Aviv seized control behind Zach LeDay. The Azerbaijani forward punished Real Madrid’s passive perimeter and interior defense, racking up 13 points in the first quarter alone. Hapoel’s aggressive defensive scheme effectively neutralized center Walter Tavares throughout the opening twenty minutes, forcing the towering Cape Verdean to drift away from the paint to create driving lanes that his teammates failed to convert.

Real Madrid head coach Pedro Martínez called an early timeout to stem the bleeding as the deficit stretched to 12 points, but the perimeter defense continued to yield open looks. Okeke contributed five points late in the opening frame, leaving the visitors trailing 29-20 after ten minutes. The defensive leakage worsened in the second quarter when Brazilian forward Bruno Caboclo sank four exterior shots to deepen the wound. Although Caboclo picked up four fouls in just 13 minutes and was benched by head coach Dimitris Itoudis, Vasilije Micic stepped in to slice through the paint at will, pushing the Israeli side’s advantage to 18 points. A late flurry failed to close the gap, sending the teams to the locker room at 63-43.

“Defensively is where we are losing the match, but this isn’t over,” Maledon said before heading to the locker room at halftime, as reported by El País.

Luwawu-Cabarrot leads a 19-0 third quarter run

The halftime adjustments paid immediate dividends as Real Madrid dismantled Hapoel’s lead with a ferocious 19-0 run in the third quarter. Luwawu-Cabarrot ignited the comeback, scoring 14 points in the period alone, while Maledon and an invigorated Tavares dominated both ends of the floor. Tavares established a commanding presence inside, and the Spanish powerhouse outscored their opponents 32-13 in the quarter. Tomáš Satoransky briefly interrupted the onslaught with a three-pointer, but Luwawu-Cabarrot immediately answered with another perimeter bomb. By the end of the third stanza, the scoreboard read 75-75, wiping out Hapoel’s comfortable cushion and setting up a decisive final frame.

Real Madrid loses first three European fixtures

The momentum built during the third quarter dissolved entirely during the opening five minutes of the final period. Real Madrid managed only three points despite defensive stops, allowing Hapoel to pull away by 11 points. Late attempts by Maledon and Luwawu-Cabarrot to orchestrate another rescue mission fell short as the clock ran out.

The defeat represents the first time in Real Madrid’s storied history that the club has dropped its opening three European fixtures. The slide follows a promising start to the season that saw the team claim the EuroLeague Super Cup against Olympiacos. Real Madrid will attempt to reverse its continental fortunes next Thursday, welcoming Partizan to its home arena for its first EuroLeague home fixture of the season.

Questions about the Real Madrid match in Sofia

Where was the match between Real Madrid and Hapoel Tel Aviv played?

The EuroLeague fixture was played in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Thursday, with Real Madrid serving as the visiting side.