Olympiacos also storms the WiZink
Real Madrid does not take advantage of its moments and ends up falling in a tough match 87-89
MADRID, 19 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid suffered its second defeat in the 2022-2023 Euroleague Regular Phase on Wednesday, losing a tight 87-89 against the Greek Olympiacos, after a tough game that the away side opted for a basket by Kostas Sloukas at the end .
As expected, the Hellenic team was a ‘bone’ for Chus Mateo’s men, who were almost always ahead on the scoreboard, but did not manage defensive minutes in the best possible way. After winning on the first day at the Palau Blaugrana, Georgios Bartzokas’ men also stormed another of the tournament’s most difficult courts to remain undefeated at this start.
The Madrid team, for its part, is left with a negative balance after conceding its second consecutive defeat after a duel where when he was able to stop Alexander Vezenkov (23 points and 12 rebounds), another rival player always appeared to hurt a defense that did not ended up being solid. Even so, Walter Tavares was able to take the game to extra time, but he was not successful.
It was difficult for Real Madrid from the start because Olympiacos were as competitive as usual and barely allowed their rival to impose their rhythm in attack. Chus Mateo’s team opted to go for the three-pointer a lot and had a good start from Guerschon Yabusele, while Georgios Bartzokas’s team, more confused in that facet, played their offensive tricks well.
The trio made up of Thomas Walkup, Moustapha Falla and Alexander Vezenkov did damage to the defense of the ten-time European champion, who had to resort a lot to playing from the outside, with good streaks and with Mario Hezonja the most unwise, since inside he did not he could dominate with his centers, not even with Walter Tavares.
The locals tried to take off on the scoreboard without success against the resistance of those from Piraeus with the game entering a lower scoring rhythm and more to the liking of the visitors. However, the appearance of Petr Cornelie, with two triples in a row, caused the first serious threat (37-29).
Bartzokas immediately stopped the clash and Mateo’s men, controlling the losses somewhat better, were unable to continue this good first moment because they did not score any more baskets in play in the last three minutes. Sloukas and Vezenkov teamed up to respond and leave everything very even with the arrival of the break (38-37).
Real Madrid managed to find better ways for Tavares and the Cape Verdean center, scorer of eight points in these third ten minutes, rewarded him with two ‘2 1’s, insufficient to break the resistance of an Olympiacos that did not stop clinging to the match and capable to respond to each small local arreón.
Vezenkov continued to do a lot of damage in his particular duel with Yabusele and now found the physicist McKissic as an ally, the protagonist on both sides of the track. Musa’s wrist from the triple helped the Madrid team, but the Greek team was the one that faced the final quarter ahead (62-63).
There the emotion remained despite the fact that the locals were the ones who took the lead thanks to Llull who shone with all his points (14, with three triples), well helped by the actions of Musa. Vezenkov did not appear, but the visitors found Larentzakis, Bolomboy and, above all, Sloukas.
Real Madrid came to enjoy good returns, but did not take advantage of them and Olympiacos punished them in a tight ending where the veteran Greek point guard managed the situation very well. He did not shake his pulse on the free throws and then penetrated and knew how to neutralize the arrival of Tavares to make the final 87-89, although the Spanish champion still had an option with a hook from his ‘giant’ that did not enter.
–RESULT: REAL MADRID, – OLYMPIACOS, (38-37, at halftime).
REAL MADRID: Sergio Rodríguez (3), Deck (5), Hezonja (5), Yabusele (13) and Tavares (14) –starting five– Musa (17), Llull (14), Abalde (-), Poirier (2), Cornelie (11) and Causeur (3)
OLYMPICS: Walkup (9), Canaan (3), Vezenkov (23), McKissic (10) and Fall (6) — the starting quintet– Sloukas (14), Peters (5), Bolomboy (11), Larentzakis (8). ), Lountzis (-) and Black (-).
–PARTIALS: 21-20, 17-17, 24-26 and 25-26.
— ARBITRATOR: Vilius, Petek y Balak.
–PAVILLION: WiZink Center.
