Yam Madar finished overtime with a decisive basket that sealed Real Madrid’s first Euroleague defeat this Thursday, as Fenerbahce Istanbul edged them 100-99 in a dramatic away game that also marked Facundo Campazzo’s personal best of 33 points.
The opening period looked tailor made for Campazzo who moved with authority, scoring from every angle and leaving 16 points on the board without a miss in seven attempts. Fenerbahce matched him in the first ten minutes, trading baskets and staying competitive from the tip to the horn.
Real Madrid dominated the boards, out-rebounding their opponents 12-3, a stat that underscored their early intention to control the game and push for a quick finish. The home side held firm as the first quarter progressed, signaling that a tough battle lay ahead against a dangerous host.
The month’s first quarter was framed by precise execution and confident scoring, with Campazzo drilling 16 points on perfect shooting and the team showcasing strong offensive chemistry. The momentum was clear to observers, with Real Madrid establishing a clear tempo in the early stages.
The second period began with a slower tempo, producing just 11 points in the first four minutes, seven of them from free throws. Fenerbahce briefly halted visiting momentum, mounting a 10-0 run to pull within striking distance.
After the half, Real Madrid surged again, narrowing the gap to a single possession. Consecutive buckets from Campazzo, followed by a 3-point play from Sergio Llull and a 2+1 from Deck, tightened the ropes and set Real Madrid on the path to reclaim control. Campazzo’s scoring burst reached the 10-point mark toward the end of the third period, extending Real Madrid’s lead at a critical moment.
A highlight reel moment added to the drama as Llull, who would later join the club’s 600 three-pointers in Euroleague history, opened the fourth period with a burst of offense. Vincent Poirier then moved the needle for Real Madrid by scoring and powering the offense to push the lead forward.
Mario Hezonja showed signs of life at the line, though his scoring touch at the charity stripe remained a work in progress. Guduric answered from distance, keeping the Turkish side within reach as Calathes and Guduric connected on consecutive triples to spark a late charge. The game slid toward a tense finish, with Real Madrid clinging to a slim advantage as the final minutes arrived.
The hosts briefly seized the lead after a late defensive stand, but Gabriel Deck and Campazzo answered in a decisive final sequence. Despite Calathes’ relentless pressure and an earlier miss from Guduric, Madrid managed to force a last-second restart and place the ball into play with a chance to clinch the win. Campazzo found space and struck from beyond the arc to push Real Madrid ahead by a single bucket with seconds on the clock.
Calathes answered with a late flurry, drawing contact and hitting a pair of free throws after a foul. But the final sequence produced by Wilbekin, who tied the score with a timely triple, forced overtime and left the outcome to extra time. The closing minutes of regulation produced a finish that delighted Fenerbahce fans and left Real Madrid with a difficult, immediate reaction to the setback.
In overtime, Llull opened the scoring and joined the club’s 600 three-pointers milestone, signaling a veteran’s presence on the court. Poirier supplied a timely basket to extend the advantage, while Hezonja struggled to replicate earlier success from the line. Guduric, meanwhile, delivered a crucial score to keep the offense humming and maintain pressure on Real Madrid. The visitors responded with strong defense, ending Campazzo’s late run and making Yam Madar’s last basket the difference that decided the match.
Final score reflections showed Fenerbahce 100, Real Madrid 99. The scorers listed were Calathes with 13, Hayes-Davis 16, Guduric 21, Wilbekin 19, and Madar 17 for Fenerbahce, with Campazzo leading Real Madrid on 33, Deck 14, Llull 14, Tavares 7, and Hezonja 3 among the top contributors. The game, played at Istanbul Ülker Sports Arena, delivered a memorable Euroleague night with a dramatic finish and a new chapter in the teams’ competitive history.
Notes: An outstanding clash that featured late-game tension, clutch shooting, and a final line that reflects a hard-fought battle between two Euroleague powers.