Real Madrid faced their first back-to-back losses of the season, slipping by twelve in Murcia before a tougher Euroleague setback in Monaco, 98-76, in a demanding road game.
From the opening minutes the atmosphere carried a distinctly local flavor. The home side Monaco started with higher energy and seized the tempo early, striking first with two triples from Alpha Diallo and Yakuba Ouattara. Madrid looked out of step, unable to lean on Walter Tavares or Sergio Llull while Dzanan Musa, Rudy Fernández, and Gabriel Deck worked through recent physical niggles but could not yet find their rhythm.
Ouattara’s second triple widened the gap to 11-2 in the opening minutes as Monaco asserted control. Madrid struggled to find a basket, and the principality’s offense looked sharper, punishing every Madrid mistake with surgical precision. The lead grew as Madrid’s defense unsettled and failed to match the relentless start set by the hosts.
Mike James ran the Monaco offense with nine assists before halftime, with Jordan Loyd and Diallo contributing crucial scoring as the hosts surged ahead. A 15-6 burst late in the first quarter forced Chus Mateo to reset the defense and try to slow the tide that Madrid could not reverse early on.
Marquee success for AS Monaco continued into the second period as Donatas Montiejunas and James paired for baskets that extended the cushion to 11 points just after the break. The reigning continental champions looked unsettled, unable to exploit space and struggling to sustain offensive rhythm against a stubborn Monaco defense that kept Madrid outside comfortable shooting ranges.
The pressure persisted as Sergio Rodríguez tried to spark something for Madrid with a couple of midrange hits and a foray to the basket. Yet the ball moved slowly at times, and a lack of fluency allowed Loyd to keep the advantage climbing, reaching 15 points for the first time at 47-32 midway through the period. Mateo signaled for renewed effort, but the momentum continued to tilt the scoreboard away from Madrid.
Madrid’s defense faltered repeatedly, and the attack was interrupted by turnovers. The Spanish club could not find consistency, and Monaco exploited those mistakes to push the lead to 20 early in the second half at 56-36, a troubling signal for Madrid and a mirror of their rising frustration during the half. The mood in the stands mirrored the visitors as a sizable slice of European basketball watched intently from afar.
Monaco showed no sign of easing up. Musa remained a constant threat, and the hosts racked up points quickly, with James already approaching double digits in assists while contributing to the scoring as the team built a substantial cushion, reaching 67-42 midway through the third stanza, underscoring the magnitude of the challenge Madrid faced that night.
As the game tilted further, Madrid found themselves chasing momentum that proved elusive. Mistakes in attacking rhythm and the tireless ball movement of Monaco intensified Madrid’s difficulties, widening the gap toward a near 30-point margin as the third period concluded, 80-54. The clock edged toward the final act, and a further setback arrived when Fabien Causeur exited with an ankle issue, a blow to Madrid both on the court and in morale.
Data sheet:
98 – Monaco (33+23+24+18): James (15), Blossomgame (5), Diallo (14), Jaiteh (8) and Ouattara (9) – in the top five-, Okobo (7), Loyd (19). ) ), Cornelie (4), Montiejunas (13), Hall (4).
76 – Real Madrid (20+20+14+22): Campazzo (7), Causeur (10), Musa (12), Hezonja (6) and Poirier (5), -starting lineup-, Fernández (11) , Abalde (2), Rodríguez (8), Deck (4), Ndiaye (4), Alocén (2) and Yabusele (5).
Referees: Olegs Latisevs (Latvia), Gytis Vilius (Lithuania) and Saso Petek (Slovenia).
Events: The match took place on the 22nd Euroleague regular-season game at the Salle Gaston Medecin stadium in Monaco, providing a tough test for both teams as the season presses on in North American markets and Canada-wide interest grows for the continental competition.