Madrid secures their 10th consecutive home victory in the EuroLeague

Real Madrid defeated Virtus Bologna on matchday 30 of the EuroLeague, continuing their spectacular home winning streak with 10 consecutive victories out of 14 achieved in front of their fans. This time it was a hard-fought win that wasn't decided until the end, despite Scariolo's team leading for a significant portion of the game with advantages of up to 11 points. The Italians tied the game in the final quarter, forcing the team to make an extra effort to clinch the win with a spectacular 17-5 run in the last three minutes. Tavares (14 points, 5 blocks, and a PIR of 22) and Hezonja (19 points and a PIR of 22) were the standout players for the team.

Virtus, led by a sharp Edwards (10 points), controlled the pace in the opening minutes. Madrid found themselves trailing by 7 points (10-17, min.5) in an exchange of baskets that did not benefit them. Hezonja and Tavares shared the scoring responsibilities. However, a timeout by Scariolo and the introduction of Feliz, Deck, and Garuba changed the game's dynamics. A more energetic and aggressive defense began to disrupt the Italians' offensive flow, making it difficult for them to score. 

Madridista Reaction
Our team strung together their best minutes immediately afterward. With over 70% shooting from two-point range and contributions from several players in the attack (Lyles, Feliz, and Deck), they turned the game around. They achieved a 21-6 run to go up by 7 points at the start of the second quarter (31-23, min.13). From that point until halftime, they held onto the lead. Edwards, with 22 of his team's 40 points, kept Virtus in the game. Llull held off the Italian surge with two three-pointers and two assists, while Campazzo capped off a strong quarter for our team (24-17) with a half-court three-pointer, leaving the score at 46-40 at halftime.

The break significantly slowed the pace of the game, especially for our team. Madrid extended their lead to 11 points early in the second half (51-40, min.23), with Tavares and Hezonja taking the lead offensively. The center also shone on defense (finishing with 5 blocks) alongside Feliz, who worked hard to contain Edwards. However, Virtus gained confidence near the basket and, through Diarra and Niang, managed to tie the game at 61. Deck's buzzer-beating three-pointer allowed Scariolo's team to enter the final quarter with a slight edge.

Final Push to Win
The game remained tight in the final stretch. Edwards and Vildoza put the score at 69-72 in the 33rd minute. Their offensive rebounding was causing problems, and Madrid relied on three-pointers from Llull, Maledon, and Okeke. The power forward played a crucial role with his offensive rebounds (4) during the most challenging moments, providing second-chance opportunities for our team. With the score tied at 77-77, the last three minutes began. At that point, the madridista team stepped up, showcasing their best basketball on both offense and defense to secure the victory. Feliz shut down Edwards, Tavares locked down the paint, and Campazzo and Hezonja led the offense. A 17-5 run sealed the game and secured the 19th win in the EuroLeague (92-84). 

Real Madrid-Virtus Bologna Statistics

Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.