Real Madrid dominates Fenerbahçe in EuroLeague with a great Maledon

Real Madrid achieved a new victory in the Euroliga by defeating Fenerbahçe 95-76 at the Movistar Arena during round 9 of the continental competition. The whites have now recorded ten consecutive wins across all competitions, solidifying their form. The team led by Pedro Martínez reached a record of 6-3 in the European competition and maintains its unbeaten streak at home this season. Fenerbahçe, coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius, also maintains an identical record of 6-3 after this defeat.

Maledon and Campazzo lead the Madrid comeback

Théo Maledon was the top scorer of the night with 26 points, completing a solid performance with 3 of 4 from three-point range and grabbing 7 rebounds. His rating of 35 reflected the overall impact he had on the court during the forty minutes. Facundo Campazzo, while scoring 10 points, was crucial in team play with 10 assists that orchestrated the Madrid attack, accumulating a rating of 25 points. Walter Tavares contributed with 14 points and 5 rebounds, providing essential interior presence in both phases of the game.

Real Madrid demonstrated effectiveness from the perimeter by scoring 11 three-pointers out of 32 attempts, which is a notable conversion percentage that allowed them to maintain offensive fluidity throughout the match. The distribution of the game and the ability to generate quality scoring opportunities were hallmarks of the Madrid team, enabling several players to contribute points evenly. On the side of Fenerbahçe, Will Clyburn led the Turkish attack with 21 points, while Talen Horton-Tucker added 16, but their efforts proved insufficient to contain the whites' dominance at crucial moments.

From the first quarter to dominance in the second half

Fenerbahçe started with an advantage, winning the first quarter with a score of 22-24, with Talen Horton-Tucker being the main offensive threat for the Turks. However, Real Madrid responded immediately and went into halftime ahead with a score of 47-42, demonstrating their ability to adapt to the game's changes. The key moment in the match came after halftime when the Madrid team executed a nearly perfect third quarter with a score of 23-13 that shattered any hopes of a comeback from the opponent.

The whites' lead reached 15 points on the scoreboard (70-55) before the last period began, at which point the match was already decided. Real Madrid controlled the last ten minutes without excessive difficulty, allowing Pedro Martínez to manage the game's tempo and rotate his players without unnecessary risks. This progressive dominance in the match reflects the defensive solidity and the Madrid team's ability to adjust their systems according to the circumstances of the game.

The concern for Jantunen and Martínez's analysis

The main shadow over the victory came with the injury to Mikael Jantunen, the Finnish forward who had to leave the court unable to put weight on his foot during the second half. Pedro Martínez confirmed in a press conference that the initial diagnosis points to a plantar fascia injury, although the exact details will be known after medical tests scheduled for Friday. The Madrid coach expressed concern about the potential severity of the injury, raising doubts about the player's participation in upcoming matches.

“It doesn’t look very good, but he will undergo tests tomorrow. We don’t know the extent of the injury, but I don’t think he will play this week, and I would be surprised if he plays next week,” Martínez explained, as reported by Eurohoops. In the official club press conference, the coach balanced satisfaction with the result with concern for the physical situation: “Good win with the bad taste of Jantunen's injury, which seems a bit serious. We must congratulate the players because they played with a lot of determination against a difficult team that defends very well.”

Absences and perspective for improvement

Real Madrid once again played the match without Nick Smith Jr., who had already missed the previous victory against Baskonia in Vitoria. The absences in the rotation quintet did not prevent the whites from maintaining their performance level, although Jantunen’s injury adds an additional complication to Martínez's plans for upcoming matches. The coach took the opportunity to warn that there is no room for complacency, despite the good results accumulated.

“We shouldn’t get too comfortable. We are still in formation, like everyone else. It’s still October. There’s a lot to improve as a team,” Martínez stated, as reported by AS. This reflection contrasts with the optimism that a streak of ten consecutive victories might generate but reflects the Catalan coach's work philosophy oriented toward continuous improvement. Facundo Campazzo, for his part, acknowledged the difficulty of the opponent: “We beat a great team with a great coach. Double merit for the team.”

Rebounding, an alert indicator for the future

One aspect that stood out in the post-match analysis was Fenerbahçe's dominance in offensive rebounds, where they captured 20 compared to the 24 defensive rebounds achieved by Real Madrid. This data suggests that although the whites won clearly, there were moments when control of the paint was not absolute. Offensive rebounds represent second-chance opportunities that can be decisive in tighter matches, especially in European competitions where margins are usually small.

Pedro Martínez used this indicator as a starting point for his comments on the need to continue improving. The balance in defensive rebounds, although favorable to Real Madrid, was not as overwhelming as one might expect given the final score. This technical observation reflects how elite coaches analyze matches beyond the result, identifying specific aspects that are susceptible to optimization. Fenerbahçe demonstrated that despite losing, they were able to compete in key physical aspects of the game.

Real Madrid's upcoming commitments include facing San Pablo Burgos in the Liga Endesa on Sunday, November 1 at 12:30 PM during round 6 of the domestic competition. In the Euroliga, the whites will visit Panathinaikos on Wednesday, November 4 at 8:45 PM at the Movistar Arena, matches that will define the continuation of their winning streak and their ability to maintain the level displayed against Fenerbahçe.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Real Madrid domina al Fenerbahçe en Euroliga con un gran Maledon