It’s a story repeated several times this season for the Real Madrid. Good minutes of basketball, of dominance, of choral success and intensity that give way to disconnections that allow comebacks that seemed impossible and that They cost defeats. In Belgrade, the whites showed up dressed in blue, their beautiful alternative kit, and in the first quarter it seemed that it could be the day to win for the first time away from home after two falls: in Vitoria in ACB and in Bologna at the start of the Euroleague.
But no, none of that, quite the opposite. 20-31 of the 12th minute of the match at the Belgrade Arena was a mirage that faded little by little at first and, in the second half, suddenly, like the boxer he feels the direct hit on his chin, his vision blurs and collapses hard on the canvas.
This is how Real Madrid fell against a Red Star guided by its base, Miller-McIntyrewho first was alone fighting against the whites, supporting the camp with his twelve points from the first quarter, and who later welcomed teammates on board the ship of the comeback and the victory. A partial of 13-2 He put the tie at 33 with five minutes left before the intermission, and by then, the local team was already dominating (43-39, min 20). The score was not the worst news for those of Scariolo, who looked at each other without understanding too much. The good minutes of Okeke and the flashes of Maledon weighed less than the failures in free throws, the poor percentage of triples – which ended up being 5 of 27 with a 1 of 9 for Hezonja – and the drop in intensity in both rings. Because Real Madrid looked for the opponent with little faith and it began to be impossible for them to close their own.
The second half was already a monologue from Red Star, that grew on the back of the physique and faith of Nwora, MonekOjeleye and even Davidovac, who put an impossible triple jumping on one leg. That action was confirmation that Madrid was melted, sounded, out of the game, and without the possibility of returning, because the stands roared to every positive action of his people. The Scariolo technique Protesting did not change the inertia and nothing worked. Not even the classics: Tavares, two points, or Deck, who fouled early; nor the new ones, because Lyles committed two very consecutive ones at the beginning and could no longer show almost anything.
He best rated was Okeke, with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists, but it was a very small boat to withstand the Miller-McIntyre gale. Madrid’s usual hell away from home, where they still don’t know how to win.
90. Red Star (20+23+24+23): Miller-Mcintyre (18), Nwora (18), Kalinic (10), Moneke (15), Motiejunas (5), -starting five-, Izundu (6), Ojeleye (13), Dos Santos (1), Davidovac (4).
75. Real Madrid (25+14+14+22): Maledon (7), Abalde (7), Deck (2), Lyles (11), Tavares (2) -starting five-, Campazzo (1), Llull (4), Hezonja (15), Okeke (16), Bruno Fernando (3), Garuba (2) and Andrés Feliz (5).
Referees: Mehdi Difallah (France), Jakub Zamojski (Poland) and Saulius Racys (Lithuania). No eliminated. Technique to Sergio Scariolo.
Incidents: Fifth day of the Euroleague. Belgrade Arena. Partials: 20-25, 23-14, 24-14 and 23-22.