Madrid lose a closely contested Clásico

Real Madrid couldn't get the win in their visit to the Palau Blaugrana in a Clásico that was a game of two very different halves. The first half saw Barcelona take a big lead and the second half saw Real Madrid show their best to get back into the game and come within a whisker of a comeback. Deck, with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 25 PIR, was the standout performer for Madrid, playing a pivotal final stretch without Tavares and Poirier, who were both sidelined due to fouls. Level on 23 wins with Unicaja Malaga, first place in the Regular League will be decided in the remaining six games.
The Clásico started with Barcelona dominating the first quarter with three-pointers. Six three-pointers in seven attempts set the tone and Madrid went 3-7 down in the second minute. But the introduction of Ricky Rubio and a very sharp Laprovittola led to a 27-11 run. The biggest problem for Madrid, apart from an attack in which they were not scoring comfortably, was the defence. With a lack of aggression and allowing a lot of second chances that their opponents converted into easy baskets, they took a +21 lead midway through the second quarter (40-19).
Madrid come back into the game
Chus Mateo's side improved on both sides of the court. The presence of Campazzo, Llull and Deck gave the team more character and grit, and they matched their opponents' intensity. Some bright moments in attack, stringing together a series of impressive plays.
Madrid started the second half intent on changing the course of the game. It was clear to them that the comeback would be based on controlling the basics such as rebounding and turnovers. They also had to lower Barcelona's three-point percentage. Campazzo gave the team more energy and got down to work. Tavares was then penalised for a fourth personal foul in the 26th minute. But Poirier was there, and together with Llull and Hezonja, brought our team to within three points two minutes later. Barcelona's reaction in the final stretch of the third quarter gave them some breathing space in the face of Chus Mateo's team's impetus (64-58, min. 30).
Impossible without pivots
Madrid were focused on turning the score around and with a 0-5 run in the final quarter they got within one point and had several possessions to take the lead. They failed to do so and the Catalans again took a small lead. Our team continued to fight and gave their all in their efforts to win the game. They didn't anticipate being without Tavares, first, and Poirier, later, due to five personal fouls. The Frenchman had to go to the bench with two minutes to go when the team was 5 down. Deck, with an enormous job on the rebound (he finished with 13 and 14 points) and the emergence of Musa kept us with a chance in a finale that was decided in the last minute (85-79, min. 40).
BARCELONA-REAL MADRID STATISTICS