Real Madrid-Partizan: all eyes on a Final Four place
Backed by the WiZink Center, our team will look for a win in the decisive playoff Game 5 (9:00pm CEST).
The WiZink Center and all madridismo are eagerly awaiting another magical European night in the fifth and final clash of their EuroLeague playoff with Partizan. Real Madrid, who levelled the series from 2-0 down in Belgrade, will now hope to complete what would be a historic turnaround to book their spot in the Final Four in Kaunas - for the ninth time in the last 12 years.
Chus Mateo's boys are gearing up for one of the biggest games of the season. It's a final, with a ticket to Lithuania up for grabs, and they won't be alone. They will benefit from the unconditional support of the fans to give them that vital extra push. With the series tied, our team will be fully focused on securing the decisive point which would see them achieve an unprecedented feat in the competition and come back to win from 2-0 down. If any team is capable of doing so, it's Madrid. Partizan won't make life easy, though. They have already won at the WiZink Center in both of the first two games and will be equally motivated to get back into the Final Four 13 years on.
Chus Mateo's boys are gearing up for one of the biggest games of the season. It's a final, with a ticket to Lithuania up for grabs, and they won't be alone. They will benefit from the unconditional support of the fans to give them that vital extra push. With the series tied, our team will be fully focused on securing the decisive point which would see them achieve an unprecedented feat in the competition and come back to win from 2-0 down. If any team is capable of doing so, it's Madrid. Partizan won't make life easy, though. They have already won at the WiZink Center in both of the first two games and will be equally motivated to get back into the Final Four 13 years on.
The mental side will have a crucial role to play and the team that manages the pressure best will surely have one foot in the next round. Madrid will have to close out the rebound and bring down the Serbians' percentages from the three-point line, their greatest threat. They will have Punter back in the side, while Chus Mateo will still be without Yabusele and Deck, injured in Game 4.
Team
If Madrid possess one trait, it's an ability to overcome adversity, as they have shown throughout this season and in the two games in Belgrade. There, an unplayable Tavares lead the team to victory, racking up a PIR of 71. Alongside the center, we'll need the whole team to be at their very best, as they were in games 3 and 4, where Williams-Goss, Sergio Rodríguez and Hanga all shone…Meanwhile, the experience of players like Llull and Rudy will of course be vital.
Game 5 for the home team
In the 15 playoffs that have gone to a fifth game, victory has gone the way of the home team. That is only a number, but Madrid will hope to continue the run. What's more, we've been in this situation three times before, making the final twice: against Valencia in 2011 and Olympiacos in 2014. Just forty minutes stand between us and the Final Four.
Team
If Madrid possess one trait, it's an ability to overcome adversity, as they have shown throughout this season and in the two games in Belgrade. There, an unplayable Tavares lead the team to victory, racking up a PIR of 71. Alongside the center, we'll need the whole team to be at their very best, as they were in games 3 and 4, where Williams-Goss, Sergio Rodríguez and Hanga all shone…Meanwhile, the experience of players like Llull and Rudy will of course be vital.
Game 5 for the home team
In the 15 playoffs that have gone to a fifth game, victory has gone the way of the home team. That is only a number, but Madrid will hope to continue the run. What's more, we've been in this situation three times before, making the final twice: against Valencia in 2011 and Olympiacos in 2014. Just forty minutes stand between us and the Final Four.