Unicaja-Real Madrid: second game on the road this week
Our team face another tough away game just three days after their win in Athens (12:30pm CEST).
Real Madrid will be looking to close out a week which has seen them play twice away from the WiZink Center with a 100% record. Following victory over Panathinaikos on their Euroleague debut 68-71, Chus Mateo's team head to Unicaja de Málaga on matchday three in the League aiming to extend their unbeaten start to the season. Up the other end, opposition who have strengthened with 9 new faces and who will have the support of a packed out Martín Carpena. Abalde is back in the squad.
The madridistas are enjoying a sublime start to the season - five wins in five, one trophy and the sense that the team is making light work of adapting to recent changes. In the League, they've won both games in convincing fashion, at Bàsket Girona 88-94 and at home against Monbus Obradoiro 93-79. Unicaja got underway with defeat to Baskonia 103-89 but have won two since - in the League against Gran Canaria 70-63 and in their Basketball Champions League opener this week against Sassari.
Madrid are once again showing they have a deep squad to pick from, and they will have Abalde back today after he made the trip to Malaga. The two opening games have seen the team make full use of their firepower, scoring an average of 93.5 points. Seven players have posted between 7 and 18.5 points despite none playing more than 25 minutes. Musa, Hezonja and Yabusele are leading the madridista offense, and our boys boast the highest PIR 108, most assists 21 and best three-point percentage 50%.
The madridistas are enjoying a sublime start to the season - five wins in five, one trophy and the sense that the team is making light work of adapting to recent changes. In the League, they've won both games in convincing fashion, at Bàsket Girona 88-94 and at home against Monbus Obradoiro 93-79. Unicaja got underway with defeat to Baskonia 103-89 but have won two since - in the League against Gran Canaria 70-63 and in their Basketball Champions League opener this week against Sassari.
Madrid are once again showing they have a deep squad to pick from, and they will have Abalde back today after he made the trip to Malaga. The two opening games have seen the team make full use of their firepower, scoring an average of 93.5 points. Seven players have posted between 7 and 18.5 points despite none playing more than 25 minutes. Musa, Hezonja and Yabusele are leading the madridista offense, and our boys boast the highest PIR 108, most assists 21 and best three-point percentage 50%.
Unicaja top the table for steals 15 but have also made more turnovers than any other team in the competition 19. Ibon Navarro's team have undergone quite the transformation - only European champions Alberto Díaz and Brizuela remain, alongside former Whites' academy player Barreiro. Coming in, are Perry, Carter, Kalinoski and Djedovic on the outside and Kravish, Thomas, Lima, Ejim and Osetkowski, on the inside.
Madridista dominance
The two teams have already crossed paths in pre-season, at the Torneo Costa del Sol, which was ultimately won by Real Madrid, having come through that game 91-98 thanks to Musa's exhibition 30 points. In previous meetings, Madrid have won the last six in a row in the League against Malaga, including on all of their last 3 visits to the Martín Carpena. Let's hope that run continues today.
Madridista dominance
The two teams have already crossed paths in pre-season, at the Torneo Costa del Sol, which was ultimately won by Real Madrid, having come through that game 91-98 thanks to Musa's exhibition 30 points. In previous meetings, Madrid have won the last six in a row in the League against Malaga, including on all of their last 3 visits to the Martín Carpena. Let's hope that run continues today.