By Stathis Trapezalnidis/ info@eurohoops.net
It’s time for the finals in Liga Endesa and one of the oldest and most illustrious duels in European sports. Real Madrid and Barcelona are meeting for 24th time (12th for ACB) in Spanish finals. Madrid has won the trophy 15 times against Barcelona, which has 8 wins. However from the 1983-84 season there’s balance in their final duels as the score is just 6-5 for Real Madrid.
In recent years, this pair tends to become an institution in the finals, as this is the third consecutive year they are fighting each other for the title. In the two previous series a Game 5 was needed in order to have a champion. Barcelona won the trophy in the 2011-12 season (Erazem Lorbek was the MVP) and Real Madrid answered next year (Felipe Reyes was the MVP). Both teams had the home advantage when they won the title.
During last two seasons Real Madrid seems to have at least a physiological edge against Barcelona and always manages to dominate most of their games. In the last 15 contests between the two teams, Real Madrid counts 10 victories, of which six were keys in winning titles and two in Euroleague semifinals! In contrast, Barcelona has just 5 wins from which only one (the semifinal of Copa Del Rey last season) led to a title.
As we said before, in Euroleague Final Fours Pablo Laso and his players beat Barcelona twice during last seasons (2012-13, 2013-14), although they didn’t manage to win the trophy in the end. Indeed, the smell of the blood is still fresh for Barcelona after this year’s semifinal in Euroleague and the 38 (!) points defeat, the worst ever in Final Fours’ history (100-62). Of course this is not something that can be easily forgotten by Xavi Pascual and his players.
Barcelona knows that a championship title against Real without home advantage would be the best answer against their critics. On the other side, Real Madrid wants the best finale in a season where the main target (Euroleague) was lost once more in the final. Liga Endesa title is a must, especially against their arch-rival.
We shouldn’t forget that this is a historic season for Madrid in Liga Endesa. They managed to stay unbeaten for 27 straight games from the start of the season, a number that is the best ever start in the league. If we also add the fifth final against Barcelona last year, this year’s match for Super Cup and three games for Copa Del Rey, then the number goes to 32 domestic games without defeat! The 32-2 record in regular season is also the best ever in Liga Endesa.
The odds are not favoring Barcelona. As the Catalans won the championship against Real Madrid without home advantage just once in past, in the 1996-97 season, when coach Aito Reneses and his players won the Game 5 in Madrid 82-69 (Mustafa 18p, 13p Duenas, Djordjevic 16 p – Arlauskas 22 p, Bodiroga 15p). However, the Catalans dominated the last 30 years in the league, having 14 victories in a total of 23 appearances in the final, while Real follows with 9 victories in 15 appearances in the finals.
It is difficult to decide, who is the MVP for Real Madrid this season, but undoubtedly Sergio Rodríguez – despite the fact that he always comes from the bench, as happened in past with Thodoris Papaloukas in CSKA Moscow – is the mind of the team. He is able to score and pass in any possible way and takes usually the crucial decisions in crunch time.
Juan Carlos Navarro is the biggest question of the finals. In the last games against Real “La Bomba” just wasn’t himself and had a lot of problem on both parts of the court. Although Barcelona knows how to play without him (because of his age and injuries) and the team has found other scoring options, Navarro is unique – the top scorer ever in Euroleague – and when he is in a good condition, the whole team plays much more better.
*From their last game for Euroleague final four there aren’t big changes in the way they play, so you could read our post and see our videos about their game.
Last 15 games between the two teams:
Season 2012-13:
Liga Endesa regular season:
Barcelona – Real Madrid 96-89
Real Madrid – Barcelona 78-65
Playoffs finals 2012-13:
Barcelona – Real Madrid 81-80
Barcelona – Real Madrid 69-75
Real Madrid – Barcelona 85-59
Real Madrid – Barcelona 75-81
Barcelona- Real Madrid 73-69
Euroleague semifinal 2012-13:
Barcelona – Real Madrid 67-74
Copa del Rey 2013:
Barcelona – Real Madrid (111-108)
Super Cup 2012:
Real Madrid – Barcelona 95-84
Season 2013-14:
Liga Endesa 2013-14:
Real Madrid Barcelona 98-84
Barcelona – Real Madrid 86-75
Euroleague semi final 2013-14:
Barcelona – Real Madrid 62-100
Copa del Rey 2014:
Barcelona – Real Madrid 76-77
Super Cup 2013:
Real Madrid – Barcelona 83-79
Real Madrid and Barcelona’s Numbers:
Real Madrid:
Best offense (3001p, 88.26 per game)
80,12% 1p, 57,07% 2p, 37.23% 3p, 36.03r, 18as.
Barcelona:
Best defense (2382p, 70.06 per/game)
73% 1p, 56% 2p, 37% 3p, 37.2r, 17.9 As.