Euroleague leaders lose to Fenerbahce

Real Madrid lost to Fenerbahce in Euroleague game 28. Chus Mateo's men fought back in the second half but were unable to complete the comeback in a game in which they suffered from a lack of accuracy in the three-pointer and offensive rebounding against an opponent who proved to be very consistent throughout the 40 minutes. The playoff berth will have to wait one more game for the leader of the competition, who today had the most outstanding player in Sergio Llull with 17 points.
The equality with which the game started, with four points scored in the same way by both teams (basket by the centre and two free throws), continued throughout the first quarter with constant alternations on the scoreboard and a scoring rhythm that increased gradually. Madrid scored 15 points in six minutes, with 7 from Tavares, but stagnated there. Fenerbahce went to 20, with more players contributing, after a short 0-5 run (15-20, min. 10).
The visitors lead the way
Madrid's play in the second quarter was a carbon copy of the first. Sergio Rodríguez reactivated the attack in the first few minutes and had his usual ally in Poirier, but then he again suffered a drop in energy. Fenerbahce punished us with offensive rebounding and a defence full of obstacles, and to make matters worse we had no joy from three-point range either. At 25-27, the Turks, led by Hayes-Davies, opened another half to end the first half 10 up (33-43).
Madrid entered the third quarter with more energy and aggression. They upped their level at the back by switching defenders and anticipating and were direct in attack, where they began to add players. Campazzo, Llull, Hezonja and Yabusele reduced the deficit from 11 points to three in the 26th minute. It looked like the comeback could be undertaken, but Tavares' fourth personal foul and a hat´trick of three-pointers from the Turks at important moments prevented it. The tension was at its peak, whichwas reflected in a play between Campazzo and Calathes that ended with a double unsportsmanlike penalty and a technical foul for both benches (58-67, min. 30).
Madrid tried in vain
Llull scored Madrid's first three-pointer in the 32nd minute and it became very difficult to cut points off a Fenerbahce side that always found a player to maintain a gap of more than 10 points. In addition, the Turkish side continued to edge the game in rebounding and that forced a double effort. Even so, Madrid, with the captain carrying the team, fought to reach the final minutes with a chance of turning it around, but today things did not work out and the victory went to the visitors (79-89, min. 40). Next stop is Sunday's home game against Lenovo Tenerife (12:30pm CET).
REAL MADRID-FENERBAHÇE STATISTICS