Euroleague: Real Madrid Breaks Its Drought Against Partizan in the Fourth Round

The first victory of Real Madrid in this Euroleague comes on the fourth matchday with a solid performance against Partizan. The Madrid team wins 86-76 at home, at the Movistar Arena, achieving a necessary victory that keeps alive the hope of changing the negative dynamics of the first few games. With a record of 1-3, the whites demonstrate that the situation can still be reversed before it's too late.

Maledon leads the Madrid attack in the final quarter

Theo Maledon was the protagonist of the final stretch of the match, awakening in the last quarter to lead the team in scoring with 13 points. His contribution was crucial in the decisive minutes when Madrid needed to secure the victory against the Serbian team's comeback attempts. Nick Smith, in his debut at the Movistar Arena, contributed 9 points, while Ethan Thompson added 14 points to the white score. Meanwhile, Carlik Jones had an offensive showcase with 19 points, although his effort did not translate into enough points for Partizan to claim victory.

Madrid dominance in the first half

The Real Madrid started with a confident attitude from the perimeter, with Nick Smith omnipresent in the attack. Abalde worked tirelessly without the ball, creating space for his teammates to operate comfortably. Carlik Jones responded with the team's first 8 points, maintaining the initial tie on the scoreboard (10-10). Defenses took center stage in the early moments, and Luwawu-Cabarrot showcased his defensive talent at the end of the first quarter, allowing the Madrilenians to head into the second quarter with a lead of 27-19.

An 8-0 run in favor of the whites lit up the Movistar Arena, which needed these moments of joy after the disappointing opening games. Maledon's third foul came earlier than expected, forcing Pedro Martínez to make rotations in the game. However, the Madrid team remained very comfortable on the court, playing with fluidity and clarity of ideas. The whites drove the opposing bench, with Peñarroya on the sidelines, to despair at their control of the game. With a substantial lead of 53-37 at halftime, Madrid took a necessary balm after the previous defeats.

Defensive control and offensive rotations

The second half began with Partizan coming out with renewed energy from the locker room, relying once again on the scoring of Jones and Thompson to close the gap (57-50). The Madrid team went through moments of doubt where the defense struggled to find its usual rhythm. However, through quick transitions and with Pradilla and Okeke growing in importance during the game, the lead increased again heading into the final round (71-57). Maledon and Campazzo provided the spectacle in the final minutes, combining offensive talent with control of the game’s pace.

Resilience in the final minutes

Partizan tried to come back until the last second, showing competitive spirit at all times. The Serbian team never gave up and sought to close the gap with quick transitions and defensive pressure. However, Real Madrid managed key moments, avoiding hasty decisions and maintaining possession when necessary. The comfortable victory of 86-76 allowed the Madrilenians to redeem themselves from the poor results of the previous rounds, lifting their audience in the Movistar Arena and making it clear that the situation can be reversed before it's too late.

With this first victory in the competition, Real Madrid under the guidance of Pedro Martínez shows that they have enough resources to compete in Euroleague. The confidence generated by this victory will be crucial in facing upcoming matches. Now, all that remains is to row and take it game by game, seeking to add consecutive victories that allow the Madrid team to climb the standings and regain the confidence lost in the early rounds of the continental season.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Euroliga: El Real Madrid rompe su sequía ante Partizan en la cuarta jornada