Real Madrid-Baxi Manresa: all out for a fourth straight win at the WiZink Center
Chus Mateo's men will be looking to remain unbeaten at home before going into a week of three away games (12:30pm CEST).
Real Madrid hosts Baxi Manresa in their fifth league game of the season, closing a series of four home games which, so far, have ended with a full house of wins and displaying excellent performances. The Whites will be looking to continue their winning streak against a rival with the same record (2-2) before facing a very demanding next week with three away games against Olympiacos (Tuesday), Maccabi (Thursday) and UCAM Murcia (Sunday).
Our team is unbeatable at the WiZink Center. Last Thursday's victory against Estrella Roja (95-72) endorsed the current momentum of the team coached by Chus Mateo, which has amassed three wins in a row, adding those against Panathinaikos and Bàsquet Girona. Against the Serbians we achieved our best performance of the season with 137 PIR, and in the last three wins we have averaged 93.3 points (41.5% success rate in three pointers), conceding an average of 75. A +18 between attack and defence.
In the league, we have the same number of wins as losses and we face a Baxi Manresa team that is going the same way as us. They have won their two home games, but have not yet opened away. A complicated team, capable of beating Gran Canaria and Valencia Basket. It will be a tough test in the paint, where Manresa are powerful in rebounding (2nd) and blocks (1st). On the parquet of the WiZink Center will be the 4 top blockers in La Liga (Tavares and Ibaka against Sagnia and Brimah). Cameron Hunt, Obasohan, Steinbergs, Steinbergs and Cate (Madrid youth player) complete a team that also stands out for its good defence.
Growth of the team
Madrid's collective and individual performances have been improving, with players such as Rathan-Mayes, Abalde and Ndiaye taking a step forward. A key factor in the growth of Chus Mateo's team has a name and surname: Facundo Campazzo. The point guard has started the season at a spectacular level with his best numbers as a Madrid player. In 10 games he averaged 15.4 points, 3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 23.7 PIR. But beyond the numbers, there is his influence and leadership. He is also the most valued player in the competition and today he will face another challenge in the form of Derrick Alston Jr, son of the former Madrid player in the 2002/03 season, and one of the sensations of LaLiga. The Argentinian is coming off the back of duels with Lorenzo Brown, Sloukas, Teodosic and Dos Santos.