On to the final of the Copa del Rey

Real Madrid have gone through to the final of the Copa del Rey for the tenth time in the last 11 years after beating Valencia Basket in the semi-finals with great composure and a spectacular performance. The team showed great solidity and mental strength against a physically powerful opponent. Our team, who were at a very high offensive level with 5 players in double digits in scoring led by Musa (18) and Yabusele (14), broke the game open in the third quarter with a 32-16 run. Campazzo and Poirier had the highest PIR with 22. Barça or Lenovo Tenerife will be our opponents in the final (Sunday, 6:30pm CET).

It was going to be a tough game against Valencia Basket. This was evident from the start, as the opposition opted for a very physical game. Madrid did not shy away, maintained a very high level of concentration and focused on the game plan. Intense at the back, with great work from Deck on Jovic, and the whole team closing down the defensive rebound with Tavares at full throttle. After a one-on-one between Deck and Davies in the early stages, Madrid gradually loosened up in attack. Before the eight minute mark, all the players had scored their first points. Seven from Musa led a 13-0 run (19-6, min.7). The entrance of Ojeleye brought more offensive presence to Valencia to reduce the difference to 6 points at the end of the first quarter (23-17).

Leading throughout
Madrid worked hard to take the lead into half-time. They did not start the second quarter with much success, to the credit of Valencia's defence and also due to the inspiration of López-Arostegui in attack to try to take the lead. But our team always found a player to stop their opponents' expansion: Sergio Rodríguez, Poirier with his blocks, Campazzo (17 PIR in 13 minutes) and Llull. The captain stepped to the fore midway through the quarter and with 8 points in a row gave Madrid some breathing space. With 3 up, a spectacular last minute from Chus Mateo's men, who put together a 2+1 from Musa, a triple from Hezonja and a block from Poirier, closed the first half at 48-39.

Madrid went into the third quarter with a very high offensive rhythm. Everyone was playing their part, making them very difficult to beat. In addition, in defence they had closed off Valencia Basket's scoring channels, which saw their production drastically reduced. They were still very hungry and that resulted in a spectacular quarter from our team, in which they doubled their opponents by 32-16 and reached a difference of up to 27 points at 80-53 (min.29).

Strength in numbers
Madrid took a breather at the start of the final quarter after their display in the third. They let Valencia Basket play a little more and the gap was reduced, but without ever being in any real danger. Chus Mateo's men were in control and, with three-pointers from Llull and Rudy, some of Campazzo's signature baskets and the success with the free throws, they went into the final minutes with the game under control. It was a great collective performance. Six players with +10 PIR and three of them reaching 20 (95-76, min.40).

REAL MADRID-VALENCIA BASKET STATISTICS