He the real Madrid reaffirms its leadership in the ACB League after a victory at Hiopos Lleida, the tenth of the season, with only one defeat. Owners of the first quarter, lazy and imprisoned in the second and third, … and relieved by the freshness of Gabriele Procida in the final, they disrupted a great local team which put pressure on the attack and made Scariolo’s team sweat.
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Real Madrid had a clear plan from the first minutes, strong in attack and dazzling in the line of three. From this efficiency was born a partial 0-10 in an undeniable first quarter against an Ilerda team supported, and not too much, by Kristers Zoriks. The white team felt comfortable, without any opposition when reaching the basket and with a very connected Maledon.
Seven, nine, ten points gap that Gerard Find’s team tried to reduce, but failed to hold the line, and Madrid finished the first quarter with a crushing 19-28.
Neither the fans who filled the Barris Nord nor the Find Pavilion, nor the players themselves were satisfied with the performance of the first ten minutes. Well below what everyone wanted and knew they could demonstrate, located in the middle of the table and eager to climb positions to aspire to the Copa del Rey. Three home wins and that big Barcelona home win on Matchday 2 and against Baskonia gave them the confidence to come out with more momentum in the second quarter, thanks to absolute control from them.
The change occurred in the pressure, the locals much more active in disrupting the comfort of the whites, who began to see themselves trapped outside their own field and tied when they reached the rival basket. Thefts and errors multiplied, stopping the scoreboard for several minutes while Lleida, with Ejim and above all a star Gyorgy Golomanwhich turned into a nightmare.
It was he who led the team in those minutes where they minimized Madrid’s options and the distance on the scoreboard. Very attentive to taking advantage of offensive rebounds and blocking Tavareswhich he stopped so that the scoreboard illuminated the supporters with a 39-38 and a tie at 41 one minute from half-time (43-46). We were starting to believe it.
The break didn’t go well for Madrid, who were overshadowed by a Lleida side that raced to a 12-4 lead with Agada and Mikel Sanz at full capacity (55-50). The level of the match increased during these minutes, with White being forced to multiply their revolutions against the locals, with unfailing confidence.
Madrid, of course, have more guarantee reserves than almost any team. Lulle sat down, got up Hézonjaon their shoulders the responsibility to return. He did everything he could without the ball and with the ball in his hands; him against everything else, the rivals and the lack of clear approach in the Madrid ranks. Lleida’s defensive intensity allowed the hosts to stay in the lead for much of the third quarter, but Scariolo’s team closed ranks and also increased the pressure, efficiency and numbers, with only one trailing entering the last ten minutes (67-66) where everything was decided.
It then appeared Gabriele Procida to the relief and joy of Madrid, who clung to his triples and his freshness to catch his breath, not without suffering, but with Llull who walked his wrist and accompanied Hezonja to take control of the match, and of the victory, the hands and resistance of Lleida exhausted.
It is Madrid’s tenth victory in the national championship which keeps it in the lead, and with the distance against Valencia and UCAM Murcia, and which almost ensures the classification in the Copa del Rey.
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