Real Madrid-Valencia Basket: aiming to extend the home winning streak in the EuroLeague
Scariolo's team looks for their eleventh consecutive victory at the Palacio and to surpass the taronja team in the standings (8:45 pm; #Vamos).
A thrilling game at the Movistar Arena between the two best Spanish teams of the moment. Real Madrid hosts Valencia Basket in round 31 of the EuroLeague with the goal of securing a victory, their eleventh consecutive home win, to catch up with Valencia and even surpass them in third place if they win by 8 points. They will count on the support of the Palacio, where they have been undefeated in Europe for nearly four months, achieving 14 wins in 15 games.
This will be the third consecutive home game and possibly the toughest, following victories against Bayern Munich (93-70) and Virtus Bologna (92-84). After this, three more games remain to conclude the month, including a visit to Zalgiris Kaunas and a double round at the Movistar Arena against Hapoel Tel Aviv and Anadolu Efes. This final stretch of March will be key to positioning the team for the playoffs. Scariolo's team, currently in fourth place before the start of this round, is just one win away from second place, shared by Olympiacos and Valencia Basket, but they must stay vigilant as only three wins separate them from the eleventh spot.
In the last five EuroLeague games between these two teams, Madrid has won four. This season marks the fifth meeting between them, with two wins each. The most recent encounter was three weeks ago in the semifinals of the Copa del Rey at the Roig Arena, where our team defeated the taronja side by overcoming a 5-point deficit in the final 18 seconds with two three-pointers by Hezonja (106-108). However, Pedro Martínez's team will be a tough opponent. They are having a spectacular season and have won four consecutive games in the EuroLeague, half of them on the road. As visitors, they have triumphed in challenging arenas such as Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, and Hapoel Tel Aviv, among others. They played here in the League in mid-January, a game in which Madrid secured the victory after a strong comeback (94-79).
Two key aspects
Defense and rebounding will be crucial to minimize Valencia Basket's direct and fast-paced play. Quick transitions, shooting, and crashing the offensive boards—they excel in these areas with many players capable of scoring from the perimeter, such as Montero, Badio, Puerto, Moore, or the inside players Reuvers and Pradilla. Taylor is doubtful. Valencia boasts the best offense in the competition (91 points per game) and ranks second in rebounds and assists. On the other hand, Madrid allows fewer points and, at home, increases their scoring average from 87.5 points to 92.2. Tonight, the team aims for their twentieth victory in the EuroLeague.