Madrid could not add a victory in Monaco to look up in the Euroleague. The eighth defeat in 18 games came against the best attack in the competition and against a team that always found ways to counteract Madrid’s defense and the solidity that Tavares began with (21 points and 11 rebounds) and then Campazzo continued (28 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists). The problem is that when push came to shove, no one relieved the center and the point guard.
For Tavares, the prawns with pink sauce – his favorite dish at Christmas – must have been a luxury for his Christmas Eve dinner. His impact in the first two quarters, especially the first, in Monaco was brutal. Campazzo’s center and management were in charge of counteracting all the virtues of the Principality team. In the little more than eight minutes that Edy was on the court in the first period, he had 15 points and 7 rebounds. When Scariolo gave him a break, he went to the bench exhausted because the Cape Verdean was in charge of carrying almost the entire weight of the team on his back. When he left the track, Monaco was more aggressive and increased the difference a couple of steps in their favor.
Garuba and Len were not able to hide Tavares’s absence. It was not about reproducing their weight in the game, but both turned out to be inconsequential and did not govern the areas. That is why Monaco handled the match with relative authority. When Tavares returned he barely made a positive impression. And a technique due to absurd protests led to his third foul. Without his influence, the team clung to the improvement of the three-point percentage to remain engaged in the game.
The start of the third quarter was toxic. Scariolo’s team got stuck in attack. Orphaned by Tavares, Monaco moved the ball with great discretion, took over the offensive rebound and Mike James made a three-pointer from nine meters to set the alarm bells ringing (57-43). Without Lyles, with neck discomfort, without Maledon, with stomach problems, and with Hezonja misguided it was Campazzo’s turn. His direction and scoring rescued Madrid when things were worst. The point guard supported the entire team’s scaffolding until Scariolo decided to turn to Tavares again. Between the exterior success and the fact that the center did not add any more fouls, everything was to be decided for the final stretch (70-70).
Monaco struck first. And he did it with a player absent at this point in the game. Mirotic appeared (10 points in the last quarter) and unleashed a couple of triples so that the locals regained control. Scariolo’s response was to get Campazzo and Hezonja back. The challenge was a new comeback (89-77), but only with four minutes left. Without the ascendancy of Campazzo and Tavares, no new arguments appeared and Madrid closed 2025 in Europe with a defeat.
100. Monaco (21+26+23+30): Okobo (22), James (15), Diallo (11), Blossongame (4) and Theis (8) – starting quintet – Mirotic (10), Strazel (12), Hayes (4), Nedovic (12) and Tarpey (0).
95. Real Madrid (20+23+27+25): Campazzo (28), Abalde (7), Procida (3), Hezonja (6) and Tavares (21) – starting quintet – Kramer (2), Maledon (5), Deck (9), Okeke (12), Garuba (2) and Len (0).
Referees: Nedovic (Esl), Koljensic (Mon) y Udyanskyy (Gbr). Eliminate Hayes. Techniques a Theis, Nedovic, Scariolo y Tavares.
Incidences: 4,750 spectators at La Salle Gaston Medecin. Match corresponding to the eighteenth day of the Euroleague.
18th day: Dubai Basketball, 99-Armani Milan, 92; Fenerbahçe, 72-Barcelona, 71; Zalgiris Kaunas, 85-Panathinaikos, 92; Bayern Munich, 72-Hapoel Tel Aviv, 82; Valencia Basket, 91-Kosner Baskonia, 81; ASVEL Villeurbanne, 103-Anadolu Efes, 99; Paris Basketball, 102-Red Star, 92; Partizan, 87-Maccabi Tel Aviv, 112; Monaco, 100-Real Madrid, 95 and Virtus Bologna, 94-Olympiacos, 97.
Classification (wins/losses): 1. Hapoel Tel Aviv (5/13); 2. Valencia Basket (12/6); 3. Panathinaikos (12/6); 4. Barcelona (12/6); 5. Fenerbahçe (11/6); 6. Monaco (7/11); 7. Real Madrid (10/8); 8. Red Star (8/10); 9. Zalgiris Kaunas (8/10); 10. Olympiacos (9/7); 11. Armani Milan (9/9); 12. Dubai Basketball (9/9); 13. Virtus Bologna (8/9); 14. Maccabi Tel Aviv (8/10); 15. Partizan (6/12); 16. Anadolu Efes (6/12); 17. Kosner Baskonia (6/12); 18. Paris Basketball (6/12); 19. Bayern Munich (5/13); 20. ASVEL Villeurbanne (5/13). .
