Casademont Zaragoza-Real Madrid: all out to finalise a perfect second half of the season
The leaders face the last game of the Regular League away from home, aiming to add their 22nd win in a row (18:30 CEST).
Today at Casademont Zaragoza, Real Madrid will play the last game of a Regular League in which they have been the best. Chus Mateo's men want to apply the finishing touch with what would be their 22nd consecutive victory to complete the second half of the season undefeated and equal the feat achieved by Lolo Sainz's Madrid in the 1984/85 season.
With four days to go before the quarter-final playoff against Baskonia at the Movistar Arena (Tuesday 3, 7pm CEST), this afternoon's game should serve as preparation to find some rhythm ahead of a tough game against the team from Vitoria, who finished eighth in the standings. The leaders are in excellent form, unbeaten in the league this year and with 21 wins in a row, 11 of them on the road. Casademont Zaragoza preserved their status two rounds ago with a win in Bilbao and will be looking to end the season with a win in front of their home fans.
Madrid have a difficult trip to Príncipe Felipe, where teams such as Barcelona, Unicaja, Joventut and Baskonia have lost. They will have to make their best defence record in the championship count (77.3 points against) in order to stop a very offensive team. The Aragonese have the fourth-best offense (89.2), and are a particularly strong opponent in offensive rebounding. Bell-Haynes, AJ Slaughter Spissu and Yusta form an assured perimeter. Dubljevic and Sulejmanovic are their pillars on the inside after Bango's departure to Fenerbahce. In the reverse fixture, Chus Mateo's team won 101-95 at the Movistar Arena with 7 players with a double-digit rating.
Hezonja’s first outing as an award winner
The Croatian forward has been selected in the league’s best five. The Madrid player has led the way for his team, averaging 13.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 14.3 in PIR in his 30 games played. Another player who is finishing the season in excellent form is Hugo González, who in the last game against Coviran Granada gave his best performance in our jersey.