Real Madrid were unable to emerge victorious from the EuroLeague Clásico at the WiZink Center against a Barcelona side who burst into a strong lead in the first quarter and did enough to see the game out. The Whites show great determination as they improved as the contest went on, but their three-point percentages were not quite enough to draw the side level. Tavares (25 points and a PIR of 35) was the team's standout performer, and Madrid will now have to shift their focus from the EuroLeague to Sunday's game against Unicaja and next week's Copa del Rey. Before the match, Felipe Reyes was presented with the award after being named as a EuroLeague Legend.
The Clásico contest became a struggle for the hosts early on, with Barça on song from the three-point line (5/9 and 12 points by Laprovittola), while remaining solid in defence. The visitors dominated the first quarter (8-28) and increased their lead to 26 points in the 15th minute. Pablo Laso’s side then improved defensively, allowing the team to open the game up more. From that point, the madridistas were more clinical in attack, with Tavares dominating on the inside, but the team’s lack of precision from the perimeter prevented them from reducing the deficit. Barça managed to keep Madrid at arm’s length to go into the break with the score at 31-52.
Video.68-86: Real Madrid slip to Clásico defeat in the EuroLeague
Madrid regroup to take the game to Barça
The hosts came out a different side after the break, with Albalde spearheading the side by producing the team’s first three-pointer in the 22nd minute. An 8-2 scoring run installed extra belief in the players, but Barça replied with a series of three-point plays to keep Madrid at bay. However, our side refused to lie down and upped the ante with Tavares once again bossing the inside zone (11 points in the third quarter). The Catalans were now pinned back by the madridistas who won the third quarter by 24-19 as the third period came to an end (55-71, min. 30).
Laso’s troops threw everything they had at Barcelona to produce a final quarter to be proud of, getting to within 13 points on several occasions, the last of these with three minutes left on the clock. But Barça dug deep once again to thwart the hosts’ onslaught and secure the spoils. In less than 48 hours, the Whites are back in action when they visit the Martín Carpena arena in the league (Sunday, 6:30 pm CET).
