Real Madrid bids farewell to the year with eleventh consecutive victory

Real Madrid said goodbye to 2023 by beating Valencia Basket at the WiZink Center and chalking up their eleventh consecutive win. Chus Mateo's team, who are league and Euroleague leaders, led throughout and defeated the third-placed team with a great team performance in an intense game. Our team's great third quarter made the difference. Campazzo (17 points and 21 PIR) and Tavares (13 points, 10 rebounds and 29 PIR) were outstanding. Real Madrid finish December without defeat, as they did in September and October.

The first quarter was played at a spectacular pace. Despite the fact that both defences were superior in intensity to the attacks, in which the scoring was very evenly spread between both teams, Chus Mateo's team always had the lead and ran away 14-7 with 3:15 to go after a 2+1 from Tavares, the top scorer of the first quarter with 6 points. Valencia Basket reacted, but a final push from our team left the game at 20-15.

Constantly ahead on the scoreboard

The second quarter started with a tricky three-pointer from Llull and a basket from Poirier to put the team ten up (25-15). Our opponent did not want to fall behind and reduced the deficit again with 5:35 to go (27-23). They even tightened the score even more after Jones scored (31-29) with just over three minutes left in the quarter. From there until half-time, great defence from Chus Mateo's team and moments of offensive inspiration to finish 41-34 after baskets from Hezonja and Poirier, and four consecutive points from Campazzo.

Crucial third quarter

Valencia Basket, aware that their victory depended on defence, came out harder and in less than a minute had already committed three fouls. Our team accepted the challenge and in a spectacular quarter of offensive inspiration, with a three-pointer by Musa and another by Campazzo among other plays, overcame the ten-point barrier (55-44). Another three-pointer from the Argentine, one from Abalde and a free throw from Poirier made it 67-53 at the end of the third quarter.

Unbeaten in December

Ndiaye shone at the start of the final quarter with two consecutive scores to thwart the visitors' comeback attempt, who did not give up and reduced the deficit with two consecutive three-pointers from Robertson. Ndiaye emerged once again with a three-pointer to slow the Valencians down. Robertson, with his third triple of the quarter, seemed determined to keep his team on the scoreboard. Sergio Rodríguez responded from outside the D to make it 81-68 with just over two minutes remaining and seal the eleventh consecutive victory for Chus Mateo's team.

REAL MADRID-VALENCIA BASKET STATISTICS