Real Madrid wins, but doesn't convince

After losing in the final of the Endesa Supercup against Unicaja, in their league debut against Leyma Coruña, and in their Euroleague premiere against Bayern Munich, the team led by Chus Mateo has achieved an important victory of 101-95 against Casademont Zaragoza in round 2 of the Endesa League, although the competitive ability of Real Madrid still fails to convince.

Real Madrid showed solidity in attack but lacked intensity in defense. The performance of Bojan Dubljevic in the "Pick & Pop" play, where the Montenegrin moves out to the three-point line to threaten with his shot after setting a screen, continues to be the effective tactic against Tavares that creates so much space in the white team's defense. Casademont Zaragoza knew how to take advantage with swift ball movement and outside shooting (12/30 attempts, 40% 3P%), although Real Madrid's aggressiveness near the rim led them to the free-throw line a total of 29 times (scoring 25) compared to Zaragoza's 9/11, a 16-point difference crucial in deciding the game.

Dzanan Musa led Real Madrid with 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Gabi Deck contributed 14 points and Mario Hezonja, recently back from paternity leave, scored 13 points and grabbed 5 rebounds, including some key three-pointers that tilted the balance. Andrés Feliz, whose playing time has increased, also stood out with 13 points. The direction of Facundo Campazzo, bringing pace to the game and dishing out 8 assists, was crucial in the most tense moments of the match.

On Zaragoza's side, Bojan Dubljevic was the top scorer with 18 points, followed by Trae Bell-Haynes and Marco Spissu, both with 17 points, with the Italian standout shooting a perfect 4 for 4 from beyond the arc. AJ Slaughter rounded out Zaragoza's offense with 13 points, keeping his team in the fight until the final quarter.

Despite the victory, Real Madrid did not show the dominance expected from a team aiming to compete for all titles. Doubts persist, especially in the defensive aspect and in managing key moments. Hezonja's return has been a relief, and Andrés Feliz has made the most of his opportunities, but if Madrid wants to regain its top form, it must consider adding talent to the squad.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Real Madrid gana, pero no convence