Real Madrid revives at the expense of Barcelona

Madrid appeared confused at the challenge, distraught by its lack of skill and basketball at home – five defeats in five European games -, malnourished in hierarchical and results, a jug version of what it has been. And Barça received him reluctantly, since the season started like a shot, with an exhilarated and electric game melted after an anemic month. The Palau acted as judge and, after two extensions, ruled that Madrid will always have Barça, a rival that has had its grip on it for a long time, one that fears that everything will end like the Milkmaid’s Tale.

The duel began with emotions running high, as Laprovittola appeared, crutches in hand, and the Palau chanted his name with gusto, as few players have gotten along so well with the club and the city. But the effusiveness was quickly lost on the hardwood, since Zipi Pointer and Zape Parker were arguing with the shot. And that, in a street basketball team, with more individualities than choral play, is a fatality. A situation that Madrid took advantage of, with Rathan-Mayes in tune from the perimeter and Tavares solvent under the rim to score 8-17. Barça was corrected and the Double P He stopped risking everything to ally himself with his teammates, none like Vesely, who once again made things difficult. Although the prologue closed with a technique on Fall, with the shouts of “This way, this way, this is how Madrid wins!” and a 17-22 white.

The bench revived Barça, led by Juan Núñez and agitated by Brizuela, also by Neto (signed to replace Laprovittola), who presented himself with a triple from the corner and a layup to make Madrid tremble, which scored 12 points in the fourth Until Musa warmed up the wrist and Tavares ate the toast to a Hernangómez who is neither there nor expected, again even at the intermission (38-34).

Madrid’s guirigay was underlined before the second half, when Musa came out with the number 31, the one from the previous year, and was unable to enter the court until they brought him another shirt with the number 13. A minor problem that grew in the parquet, Hezonja jammed with the triple and Tavares for a moment misplaced. But Barça was not in attack either, water after water. Fallow for an already sharp Hezonja, also for Campazzo to take flight and Madrid to put the game on ellipsis: 52-54 with the last chapter remaining.

It was time to exchange blows: now the Brizuela chilli pepper to reply to Llull; now a Vesely dunk for a Tavares layup. But no one turned the other cheek. Thus, there were 25 seconds left and the Palau was bustling, the referees overwhelmed by the electricity of the challenge. Vesely raised his arms, Anderson put the radio to Campazzo’s ear, Tavares protested, Hezonja entered the basket and Punter set up the transition after a jump ball to make the jump (72-69). But a shot from Campazzo’s outside radius on the horn required extra time.

It was not resolved immediately, as Tavares imposed his law in the bottle and Punter in the rival hoop, summoned to a second overtime, where fatigue took its toll, missed shots, a drought of points. But there are those who do not fail, like Tavares under the rim and Campazzo in free throws. Then, the individualities of Parker and Punter returned, forced shots, and Barça won while Madrid, finally, put its wings in Europe.