Real Madrid raises spirits at the Palace
Chus Mateo’s men gain confidence and stability at the expense of champion Anadolu Efes
MADRID, 10 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid beat Anadolu Efes (94-85) this Thursday in matchday seven of the Euroleague held at the WiZink Center, a small revenge for the final lost in Belgrade against the Turks six months ago, to gain confidence in a new project and put the positive 4-3 on the table.
Those led by Chus Mateo, at the helm of Pablo Laso’s continuation ship but with new cards and concepts, dominated the defending champion throughout the match, commanding 15 in the second half. Doubts appeared in a Madrid that came from a blushing defeat in Zaragoza in the Endesa League, but conviction was stronger in a year with a long way to go.
Efes, wandering like last season in the first section of the course, showed up in the third quarter but the blood did not reach the river on Goya Street. Mateo’s men brought out the defense that is required of them, with a Tavares from less to more, while Sergio Llull and Adam Hanga gave courage to the local attack to prevent the reaction of a champion in the lower part of the table (2-5).
Yabusele’s 11 points in the first quarter helped the Whites get off to a smooth start. Three-pointers entered Madrid, 1/8 Efes went into the break, including one by Llull at the buzzer from midfield (54-43), but was not able to break the game despite having up to 12 of rent.
Adjusting the defense continues to be Chus Mateo’s biggest challenge, but Efes left the championship suit at home and did not misbehave at the Palace. Clyburn (25 points) was the one who most threatened the Whites, but the rest of the Turkish stars, with Larkin missing, did not work. Madrid dominated from the start until both wanted to defend.
In the fight in the second quarter, Deck, Musa and Poirier added for the locals, while Zizic contributed inside in that defensive duty for the Whites. With the score 35-23, Clyburn returned to the court, but Madrid endured the lead and arrived in the locker room plugged in with Llull’s ‘tangerine’. In the resumption, the maximum grew.
Efes was entangled in losses and the 10-time European champion put the 15th (60-45). The rebound, another war that the Whites won, gave Ergin Ataman’s men some life, while Clyburn and Bryant woke up the visiting triple. Madrid lifted the Palace at times with an ‘alley oop’ from Hezonja and a stopper from Tavares (66-51), but Efes was again able to erase the disadvantage.
From putting out fires, Ataman’s team went on to want a more leading role to put fear in the body of the local fan. Micic threatened to get the quality out of him, Clyburn followed his side and Zizic became owner of the paint at times (69-67). The start of the last quarter left the duel in a handkerchief and there Hanga’s penetrations and Llull’s success were decisive.
The ball burned but the ’23’ returned the mattress (77-67) for the last six minutes. Then, Tavares planted the wall behind and Madrid grew collectively to fasten a triumph of those that repairs and redeems, in the heat of home, while gathering arguments and connecting players to be back in the fight for the eleventh.
–RESULTADO: REAL MADRID, 94 – ANADOLU EFES, 85. (54-43, al descanso).
REAL MADRID: Hanga (11), Deck (13), Musa (9), Yabusele (11) and Tavares (8) — the starting quintet — Sergio Rodriguez (2), Llull (10), Hezonja (9), Poirier (13), Cornelia (4), Abalde (4).
Micic (15), Clyburn (25), Beaubois (2), M’Baye (-) and Zizic (17) — the starting quintet — Polonara (-), Ilyasoglu (-), Bryant (9), Dunston (-), Pleiss (4), Taylor (13).
–REFEREES: Jovcic, Vilius and Nedovic. Tavares fouled out.
–PAVILLION: WiZink Center, 7,345 spectators.
