Madrid lose in Munich in the dying embers
FC Bayern Munich
FinishedReal Madrid
The home side come out on top in the last quarter in a topsy-turvy affair.
Real Madrid lost against Bayern at the Sap Garden in Munich on the opening day of the Euroleague. In an evenly-matched game with both sides taking big leads, Real Madrid went into the final quarter 9 points up. However, the home team's accuracy in three-pointers and free throws in the last 20 seconds proved decisive for the victory to stay on German soil. Campazzo (19 points, 9 assists and 21 PIR) and Tavares (12 points, 9 rebounds and 20 PIR) were the most outstanding players for our team.
There was a great atmosphere at the opening of the new Munich venue. And what could be more fitting than a visit from Real Madrid for their christening? After a tentative start, the home side took the first step forward thanks to their success in the three-pointer. Two from Obst forced Chus Mateo to call a time-out at 14-7 in the 4th minute. The team improved in intensity with the entry of Feliz, Hugo González, Deck and Ibaka, and was more focused in attack, where Musa had a sensational quarter with 11 points. Ibaka added 7 and a Rathan-Mayes' three-pointer from the centre of the court at the buzzer turned the score around with 26-29 at the end of the first quarter.
A scrappy encounter
Madrid gained a five-point lead with another basket by Rathan-Mayes, but Bayern again took advantage of our turnovers, adding speed to the game and picking up three-pointers (Napier, Edwards and Voigtmann). The Canadian shooting guard took the baton from Musa and carried Chus Mateo's team in scoring (10 points). History repeated itself in the second quarter. Bayern took advantage of the offensive rebounding and their 9 three-pointers to take an 11-point lead (49-38, min.16). But then came another great reaction from Madrid, always from the defensive line and this time led by Campazzo, who made several spectacular assists for dunks by Tavares and Llull. We quickly achieved a 5-13 run to level the game at half-time (52-51).
Chus Mateo‘s team got back into the game with a great performance in the third quarter. They upped their defensive level from the first play, with a block by Tavares on Booker, and drastically reduced Bayern's three-point percentage and closed down their rebounding. This resulted in almost five minutes without scoring from the Germans and a 0-13 in our favour with three-pointers from Abalde, Campazzo and Musa, which put us 10 up (54-64, min.23). Booker now held his side in a very good third quarter for Madrid, who, with a 12-22 run, went into the final stretch with a +9 lead (64-73, min.30).
The game was decided in the final seconds
In an ever-changing game, Bayern fancied their chances. Always from the three-pointer, with the same players generating points (Voigtmann, Edwards and Napier), they ate away at our team, who went through an offensive slump at the worst moment. However, they did not stop fighting and refused to give up. Trailing 90-82 with 1:37 to go, they made their final push. They got to within one point at 90-89 with 20 seconds left. On the next play it all came down to the wire. After two free throws scored by Lucic, Campazzo missed a three-pointer, in which he called a foul on the defender and nothing was called.
BAYERN MUNICH-REAL MADRID STATISTICS