By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
With Pablo Laso at the center of attention, Real Madrid handed a loss to the longtime head coach of the team based in the capital of Spain on Thursday.
Solid starts to the third and fourth quarters put some distance and led to the win against FC Bayern Munich, 88-73, in WiZink Center. “We played much better. We passed to each other very well,” noted Chus Mateo on his side’s performance in the second half.
The defending champions of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague improved the league-high record to 13-1 with a seventh win in as many home games.
Spoiling the first return of Laso to Madrid following 11 years as the storied club’s play-caller, Sergio Llull tallied a game-high 16 points, including seven points in the fourth quarter. The 36-year-old guard made 6/9 from the field.
Among four more double-digit scorers for the team coached by Mateo in the Regular Season Round 14 affair, Vincent Poirier paired his 11 points with nine rebounds en route to a game-high performance index rating of 20. “I feel we put more rhythm. We controlled the rebounds, we ran more, and put them in trouble,” mentioned the 30-year-old French center, “When we run, we are hard to control.”
“We need to keep playing like this. We need to find our rhythm. We need to keep running,” underlined Mateo after the latest winning display, “We need to do what we are doing.”
Extending his streak of double-digit PIR outings to nine games, Facundo Campazzo put in 13 points to generate a PIR of 13. Coming in with eight straight double-digit scoring showings in the EuroLeague, Dzanan Musa was held to four points behind 2/10 field goals.
Dominating most statistical categories in the EuroLeague, Real Madrid went from strength to strength on the boards outrebounding the league leaders in rebounds, 42-29. “We knew we had to control the rebounds,” stressed Poirier.
A fifth consecutive win across all competitions added to the splendid start in the 2023-24 campaign. Alberto Abalde did not get in the action, Carlos Alocen was left out of the lineup along with Guerschon Yabusele (left knee) remaining on the injury list.
A lengthy standing ovation from the fans before tipoff celebrated the contributions of Laso to Madrid, including two EuroLeague championships.
Emotions, misty eyes and even tears are what sports are all about…
Don Pablo having a moment 👏pic.twitter.com/1VF7QHohUj
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 14, 2023
“He deserved it,” Llull commented on the reaction of the crowd toward Laso, “He taught me a lot of things about basketball and life. I love him. But in the end, we have to play basketball. We tried to beat him today and we are happy for the win.”
The second loss in a row sent Bayern to 6-8. Despite trailing for the entire second half, the visitors almost came back from a 12-point deficit, before falling into another double-digit hole and eventually out of contention for a win on the road. Isaac Bonga recorded a team-high 15 points as his side was forced down to 2-7 in continental matchups away from Munich.
“We know how difficult it is to match up with a team like this,” confessed Laso, “They punish you for every mistake. We did not commit many, but we committed enough for them to win.”
Niklas Wimberg and Elias Harris did not leave the bench. Resting Freddie Gillespie sat out alongside injured teammates Vladimir Lucic (hand) and Andreas Obst (foot).
Next challenges
In a quick turnaround, Los Blancos visit Monbus Obradoiro looking to improve 13-1 in Spain’s Liga Endesa on Saturday. Switching to the upcoming two-game week of Europe’s premier club continental competition and consecutive meetings with Belgrade outfits, they will be on the road against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet on Tuesday and back home to face Partizan Mozzart Bet on Thursday.
The team located in Munich will spend the demanding week at home as Anadolu Efes and AS Monaco play in BMW Park on Wednesday and Friday, respectively. A home game versus ratiopharm Ulm creates the opportunity to move to 7-3 in Germany’s easyCredit BBL on Sunday.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net