By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos destroyed Real Madrid in a crucial game for the Greens in the Top 16 and forced last season’s finalists to their heaviest defeat in the Euroleague during the last three years.
The Greens beat 85-69 Real Madrid and the final points margin of 16 points is the heaviest defeat for the Spaniards in the Euroleague during the last three years. The previous one was also in the Top 16 of the season 2011-12 by Bilbao (93-69) which was decisive and kept Real out of the playoffs!
After the loss by Bilbao, Real suffered 18 defeats, but none of them was by 16 points or more. The Madridistas lost 8 games in the season 2012-13 and the heaviest one was by Olympiacos in the Euroleague final (100-88). Also, last season CSKA beat Real by 14 points (85-71) at Moscow in the Top 16.
Real already qualified to the playoffs since last week thanks to the excellent start in the Top 16 (9-1) but this defeat by Panathinaikos will help Pablo Laso and his players get focused again.