Madrid is a survivor

Barça seemed better, it was for several minutes, but they lost. Madrid was seen below, sometimes even somewhat impotent, and won (91-86) because it was never deliveredbecause he knew how to come back from defense, with some important recovery, with Hezonja, Rudy and Deck pressing a lot behind and with the fierce irruption in Lull’s attack (15 points in the last quarter) and Musa in extra time (9 of his 18 goals then). This time, Tavares never felt comfortable (Jasikevicius played Nnaji’s card and ruled out Tobey) and Deck was the only lifeguard in sight for three quarters of the duel. Magnificent performance by the Argentine facing one-on-one up to the very hoop (23 points and a PIR of 33), and in everything else.

“we did not know kill the match”Saras repeated for the umpteenth time. Mirotic (17) was not a factor in the outcome and he missed an important ball (he was the main player in 5 of the 25 visitors’ losses), Higgins had a while and his team needed at least two, Satoransky and Kalinic did not persevere in their previous success, Laprovittola did not appear and Kuric did not act. The Catalans were somewhat orphaned when it was time to cross the finish line (now, 2-2 in the Clásicos this season). And Madrid won, who needed to knock down one of the greats in the Euroleague, because of the first seven they had only beaten Fenerbahçe. And he continues up, for now and until the end of the day, solo leader.

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Madrid did not lack intensity at the start, as in the League Clásico on January 2, when they were clearly outplayed on the rebound. It wasn’t that, because the team came out active, it was just beaten by the rival game: more accurate, better in the pass and in the mobility to search and find spaces, and much more consistent behind. In less than three minutes, 2-9 and in seven, 6-18, which forced those of Chus Mateo to travel in the trailer. Only Deck’s entry with his verticality and strength to face the rim, even with Sanli planted below, cut the disadvantage. The Turkish center scored four triples without opposition that stopped the culé inertia. The initial Merengue bet in the point guard position was Hanga, but he received a blow and Williams-Goss entered (barely 57 seconds) and soon Chacho, who was not fine in the shot although he contributed creativity. And then Llull there, so it seems that the cards in that position are face up and do not bring news.

Real reduced to three (28-31) with a three-pointer from Rudy and the return of Musa and fell back again against the success of Satoransky and the presence of Nnaji, which limited a lot to a Tavares who returned to the track with two fouls after a long stint on the bench. His space had been taken by a misguided Poirier. Since Cornelie was ruled out before the duel, Deck played four. And Hezonja started with a bad result at the beginning (he couldn’t find his space) and fantastic at the end. Barça had the aim and consistency, Madrid advanced languidly, jerkily, with Tavares neutralized (great culé merit) and Deck almost as the only stiletto. And despite this, in the third period, he got to two: 42-44. A momentary flash, because Jasikevicius’ men continued to do their thing with their occasional very fine shooters (Satoransky before and Kalinic later). And again +10: 47-57.

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The road seemed cleared for the culés, although that in the current Euroleague is usually a mirage. Barça’s veins did not swell, they lacked that lethal instinct that their coach demands, they piled up losses in a cascade and let Madrid, Llull, kick back, who linked 13 points without fail (he had 0) in 7 minutes and turned around the omelette like a majestic chef: 69-67. And he would have finished off with another three-pointer if the referees hadn’t annulled it due to a previous foul on a block by Tavares, who seconds later committed the fourth. Higgins (69-73) answered and… Hezonja and Llull, this one from personal, equalized at the last minute. There was time left: Mirotic was running away, Llull was taking steps and with two seconds Hezonja was taking it from Nikola again. Extension.

Sanli was out and Tavares would soon follow. Each foul gave two shots and Madrid clung to that and to Musa, who dominated the scene and controlled the tension: basket, forced personnel, another basket, triple and assist for Hezonja (87-78). There were 70 seconds left and no, this time nothing was resolved either. Barca pressure clean several balls to the whites and Mirotic put his team within a triple: 87-84. Llull sentenced from the line, now yes. He and Musa, also Deck, decisive. They grabbed a victory that for many minutes seemed ready to take the airlift to Barcelona. The Euroleague does not stop.