50th anniversary of club's fifth European Cup in basketball
On 3 April 1974, Real Madrid were crowned champions after defeating Varese in the final.
Fifty years ago today, Real Madrid claimed their fifth European Cup in basketball. On 3 April 1974, the Whites edged Ignis Pallacanestro Varese 84-82 in the final in Nantes. Wayne Brabender (22 points) and Carmelo Cabrera (16) were the driving force behind Madrid's comeback in what was a very evenly matched game.
Pedro Ferrándiz's charges reached the final after beating Freiburg in the first round, Heidelberg in the round of 16, topping Group B in the quarter-finals and beating AS Berck Basket in the semi-finals over two legs. The heroics of the madridistas, who won the continental title again after six years, were even greater when they defeated the Varese team, who had reached the last four European Cup finals. The victory in Nantes is another landmark for Real Madrid in the history of the top continental competition, whose trophy cabinet is replete with 11 trophies.
MATCH INFO
84-Real Madrid: Ramos (0), Brabender (22), Szczerbiak (14), Luyk (14), Rullán (14) – Cabrera (16), Corbalán (4).
82-Ignis Pallacanestro Varese: Ossola (4), Raga (17), Morse (24), Bisson (10), Meneghin (25) – Zanatta (2), Rusconi (0), Polzot (0).