Real Madrid-Barcelona: gunning to make it 2-0 in the league semi-finals
The Whites will look to repeat their victory at the WiZink Center before the series moves to the Palau Blaugrana (8:30pm CEST).
Real Madrid go into the second game of the LaLiga semi-finals today against Barcelona. After opening the playoffs with a resounding win last Wednesday at the WiZink Center, we have the opportunity, once again in front of our fans, to take a 2-0 lead. Chus Mateo's team could equal their record of 68 wins in a season, achieved in 2013/14. History says that the team that has won the first game has gone on to reach the final almost 93% of the time.
Our side could take a giant step forward in the semi-finals but it will be a different Clasico to the first. Madrid played a very solid game, at a very high level in attack (97 points) and with two great defensive quarters, the first and the last, which tipped the balance in their favour. They were very consistent throughout the 40 minutes and knew how to reactivate themselves in the only two moments when Barcelona put them under pressure. They once again relied on their teamwork to win, with seven players in double figures in scoring. Campazzo was the MVP and together with Tavares dominated the game (67 PIR between them with two double-doubles). But not just the two of them, because at times Llull, with a spectacular run of four consecutive three-pointers in the last period, or Yabusele came to the fore.
Defence on their perimeter will be key once again. We left Barcelona at 18% three-point shooting when in the quarter-final playoffs they were above 45%. In addition, we stayed on top of their most in-form players such as Parker, Abrines and Satoransky. Rubio, Laprovittola and Da Silva were the most outstanding players in the first game. Their percentage is sure to rise and we must be ready to counter them.
Another record to match
Chus Mateo's side have 67 wins from 81 games played this season and are one win away from reaching their all-time record, which was achieved by the side then coached by Laso in 2013/14. They have 31 wins in LaLiga, the same as in the Euroleague, three in the Copa del Rey and two in the Supercopa. Today, we are looking for victory number 68 at a WiZink Center that will once again be our sixth player.