Euroleague: Real Madrid seeks to stop its losing streak against Hapoel

Real Madrid faces a complicated scenario at the start of its journey in the Euroleague. After two rounds played, Pedro Martínez's team has yet to secure its first victory, a situation that contrasts with the pre-competition expectations. With two consecutive away losses registered, the whites visit Sofia to face Hapoel Tel Aviv in a match where the urgency to reverse the trend is evident.

The opportunity comes at a moment when the team needs to regain sensations and start accumulating victories. The performance shown so far is below expectations, and the numbers provide a clear snapshot of the problems afflicting the Madrid team in these early weeks of European competition.

Turnovers, the silent enemy of Madrid

One of the most concerning aspects for Real Madrid has been the number of turnovers they are committing. In the match played in Istanbul against Anadolu Efes, Pedro Martínez's team turned over the ball 21 times, a particularly alarming figure considering that 14 of those turnovers occurred before halftime. The opposing team ruthlessly exploited those mistakes, converting them into 30 direct points and adding another 27 in transition. The numbers speak for themselves about the devastating impact each turnover has had on the scoreboard.

The problem is not limited to the number of errors but also to the timing of their occurrence. During the game against the Turks, when Real Madrid managed to respond and came back to 84-80 with just over two minutes left, a new turnover abruptly halted their comeback, ending in an easy basket by Loyd. These critical moments, where a well-managed possession could change the game's course, are becoming missed opportunities that the team cannot afford.

Defensive circulation and control of tempo

With two losses in two rounds, improving the security in ball circulation has become an absolute priority for Real Madrid to establish its pace without granting too many options to the opponent. The ability to control possession is essential in the Euroleague, a competition where teams that protect the ball better tend to dominate matches. The whites need to learn from their initial mistakes and implement immediate corrections in their game.

Hapoel Tel Aviv, a rival that punishes mistakes

The next opponent of Real Madrid presents particularly dangerous arguments precisely in this aspect. Hapoel Tel Aviv ranks second in the Euroleague for turnovers, averaging just 10 per game, second only to Barça Basket, which averages 7.5. This means we are dealing with a team that protects their possessions very well and possesses the necessary tools to punish any mistake from Real Madrid in ball-handling or game circulation.

The Israeli defense is especially aggressive in pressure, which can amplify the problems that Madrid is already experiencing. A team that protects the ball well typically does so through suffocating defense, and Real Madrid must be prepared to withstand that intensity without making hasty errors.

The individual numbers that concern

Beyond the collective data, the whites must step up on an individual level. Campazzo averages 3 turnovers per game, a high number for a point guard who handles the ball a lot. Tavares adds 2.5 turnovers per game, while Maledon, Feliz, and Nick Smith Jr. each record 2. These numbers, while they may seem moderate in isolation, gain significance when considered in the context of the team's overall performance.

Reducing these figures, especially for players like Campazzo who have a high responsibility in directing the game, will be key for Real Madrid to control the pace of the match. The Euroleague harshly punishes mistakes, and each unnecessary turnover becomes an opportunity for the opponent to score easy points or launch counterattacks.

Pedro Martínez will need to work intensively in training to improve his players' decision-making. The coach is aware that he cannot afford a third game with similar turnover figures. The demands of European competition require almost perfect execution in ball circulation, something that Real Madrid has yet to demonstrate.

The trip to Sofia represents a golden opportunity for the whites to begin writing a new story in this Euroleague. With the right corrections in ball protection and a more cautious mindset in critical moments, the team can turn around a situation that, while complicated, is still far from being irreversible. What is clear is that the next hours of work will be decisive for the immediate future of the Madrid team in the continental competition.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Euroliga: El Real Madrid busca frenar su racha de derrotas ante el Hapoel