Real Madrid began the EuroLeague double-header away from the WiZink Center with another win on the road, their fourth on the bounce in Europe, as they overcame Bayern Munich. The Whites produced another fine display on their travels in a demanding match against a side who pose a real threat from the three-point line. Tavares and Llull spearheaded Chus Mateo’s side. The former produced 14 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks, to become the competition’s joint all-time blocker alongside Dunston (317). While the captain racked up 11 points and hit several decisive three-pointers, as he moved level with Spanoulis as the fourth all-time appearance maker in the competition (358).
Madrid got off to a flying start in a first quarter and got better as it progressed. They stuck to the game plan, thwarting the German offensive rebounding and their outside shooters. They also flourished in attack with Williams-Goss on song (5 points). Tavares rallied (10 points in 9 minutes) to build a 5-point lead (6-11, min.5). But Bayern, who only managed two three-pointers through ex-Madrid man Hunter, began to strike from 6.75m (5 in total) to finish on top in the opening 10 minutes (22-21).
Visitors hit back
The hosts' outstanding shooting from the perimeter, as well as their inside players with an in-form Hunter, caught the Madrid defence by surprise and helped them hold a commanding lead until the midway point of the second quarter (34-27, min. 16). Nonetheless, once Madrid found more consistency in attack, they turned the game around - the return of Tavares also played a part in this. A three-pointer from Llull and another from Hezonja triggered a 15-2 run over the next two minutes (between 27' and 29'), which sent the team into the break ahead (39-42).
Video.64-68: Victory in Munich to kick start EuroLeague double-header
The clash became tighter and tighter after the restart - now the attacks were less polished. Madrid managed to regularly hit the personnel line, with Tavares and Musa drawing fouls from the Germans. This allowed the Whites to gradually increase their lead, although the difference, which rose to eight points at 39-47, remained the same. A couple of three-pointers from Bayern in the final stages of the third quarter kept the contest wide open (50-54).
Belief in victory
The final quarter followed in the same vein as the previous one in terms of the shortage of points. Both teams were making more and more mistakes and the tension was building. Bayern took a 58-59 lead on 34' and the score remained that way for three minutes, until the madridistas, led by Llull and Tavares, stepped up. The captain struck two three-pointers when it mattered to spark a 0-7 run that sent the visitors on their way. The home side huffed and puffed to get within two points in the dying seconds at 64-66 after an unsportsmanlike foul against Abalde and a technical foul by Musa for stepping on the baseline when defending a throw-in. But then Tavares stepped up on the defensive rebound. In the next play, Musa hit two free throws and with the score at 64-68 with 13 seconds left, he produced a decisive block, his sixth of the night to make history and clinch the win for Madrid (64-68, min.40).
BAYERN MUNICH-REAL MADRID STATISTICS
