Madrid resorts to the epic and there will be ‘Clásico’ in the Final Four

Madrid came to lose by 18 (41-59) before the whites reacted at the hands of Sergio Rodríguez (19) to beat Partizan (98-94)

Barça and Madrid will meet again in the Euroleague Final Four as happened in 2022

In an epic second half, Madrid turned around the fifth and final match at the Wizink center (98-94) and eliminated Partizan, who had it in hand with +18 (41-59), but gave in to the push of a Madrid in a spectacular second half, led by Sergio Rodríguez (19). There will be Clásico in Kaunas, a repeat of last year’s semifinal in Belgrade.

Madrid reached the final match without Poirier, Deck or Cornelie, an important handicap that led Chus Mateo to put young Ndiaye in the starting team together with Tavares in the inside game. The tension was cut in the environment, especially for the whites, aware that they needed a monstrous game from Tavares to earn a ticket to the Final Four.

The duel continued iequalized in the first six minutes, without anyone taking the initiative, with many fouls on both sides and that led to Tavares to commit two fouls before the end of the first quartereither. First light of alarm for Madrid, who had to bring Randolph into the game, a player without rhythm, unable to replace the Cape Verdean.

with so many faults both teams were infallible from the free kick, so that the differences barely moved between one and three points, with a very serious Partizan in defense, and finding Madrid’s weaknesses with its attack. A very even duel in the first quarter, with minimal income for the Serbs (22-23).

The triples of Partizan arrive

The triples began to fall in the second quarter, with a Kevin Punter who woke up from 6.75 and Madrid soon panicked. He watched as the actions of the Partizan star together with an effective Lessort, opened the first important income (25-34).

Chus Mateo puts his team back together after a timeout and with Tavares back, the whites manage to reduce the rent to four (30-34). But it would be the closest Madrid was to a Partizan, that from that moment on, he completely controlled the duel against a white box who was beginning to get unhinged with the successes of the Serbian team that did not miss a free kick (18/18).

The white protests for the Serbian defense scratching the foul in each action, only had the technique to Chus Mateo as an answer, which he tried to press without success. Madrid had to win it on the track and the game was in the hands of Obradovic’s team.

Three-pointers from Nunnally (9), Punter (16) and Leday opened Partizan’s lead to 16 points at halftime (39-55) and with the clear feeling that Madrid was totally against the ropes. Either he reacted immediately, or the tie vanished for the whites.

Madrid’s reaction

And Madrid returned to the game ready to give the last effort. Partizan came to dominate from 18 (41-59) but the white reaction led them to reduce the lead to just 10 after a three-pointer from Hanga (51-61). The Wizink Center roared, giving encouragement to their own. Although the white 2-3 defense did not quite close the spaces to the Partizan shooters who responded with success.

Three pointers from Punter, Exum and Leday stifled White’s attempted reaction (56-72) that they opened an important gap again and with Tavares with four personal. There was no time to give him rest if Madrid wanted to have any option.

After a foul by Exum on Rudy Fernández that led him to the bench, Musa scored all three free throws and Madrid came within just seven at the end of the third quarter (69-76). The whites arrived very alive in the last quarter.

Sergio Rodríguez takes command

The white wishbone was the veteran Sergio Rodríguez who took the helm of the team and with two of his actions he brought Madrid within four points (74-78). A new triple by Hezonja and a new basket by ‘Chacho’ put Mateo’s team into the match (81-81) definitively against the revelry of the Wizink Center that now saw the doors of Kaunas more than open.

Those of Chus Mateo were a whirlwind in the final minutes. Partizan found itself unable to contain the barrage of points from the Whites at the hands of Sergio Rodríguez and Llull (95-87), who turned the game around against the ecstasy of Wizink.

Partizan still had the option of drawing a tie with a three-pointer from Punter that did not go in and a free kick from Hezonja sealed the game (98-94) and Madrid He returned to the Final Four where Barça awaits him on May 19.