The Real Madrid basketball squad maintained its status as the league’s pace-setter with a 83-76 victory over Covirán Granada on Sunday. The win keeps Madrid at the top of the Endesa League standings, even as Granada fought hard and pushed their visitors throughout a challenging Sunday matchup at the Palacio de los Deportes in Granada, in front of more than eight thousand fans.
Madrid arrived in Granada after a week carved out for Euroleague duties, balancing rest with focus. The visitors opened strongly, delivering a bold early assault led by Fabien Causeur, who rattled off a 0-10 burst and finished the first quarter with a 3-for-4 display from three, finishing the period on a high note with Madrid up 13-25. Causeur would contribute 12 points across the game, including four three-pointers that defined the opening tempo and set the tone on offense.
The home team’s response came from Lluis Costa and Germán Martínez, who kept Covirán Granada within striking distance as the second quarter unfolded. The Granada pair sparked a push that trimmed Madrid’s early advantage to a five-point margin at 27-33 by the 14th minute, signaling a contest that would tilt more toward defensive intensity and physical play. Real Madrid’s offense, which had clicked in the opening period, began to stall into the second quarter, allowing Granada to tighten the gap and persevere as the first half progressed.
As the scoreboard approached the break, Covirán Granada had narrowed the gap to just six points, with the halftime tally standing at 34-40 in favor of Real Madrid. The game’s rhythm shifted as Granada increased pressure on the ball, and the visitors found it harder to sustain their scoring bursts. The stage was set for a dramatic second half, with the home crowd hopeful of a late surge and Real Madrid seeking to reassert control on both ends of the floor.
In the third period, Granada carried the momentum from the locker room and produced a strong outside shooting performance, crafting a run that kept the game close. Facundo Campazzo, who had moments earlier been quiet, stepped forward in pivotal moments to steady Madrid’s offense. His late third-quarter push helped Madrid regain a two-point advantage at 51-51 midway through the period, and the atmosphere at Palacio de los Deportes grew tense as Granada’s defense clamped down on Madrid’s ball movement.
The third quarter concluded with Granada taking the lead at 65-62, as the Spaniards fed off the energy of the home fans and converted several key possessions. The tone of the game shifted again in the final ten minutes, where Madrid’s experience and depth began to show. Campazzo remained a decisive factor, guiding Madrid through critical stretches and keeping the scoreboard within safe reach for his team when the pressure peaked.
With the outcome still in doubt, Madrid found a fresh gear in the closing minutes, building a decisive 12-0 run that stretched the cushion to 79-67 by the 37th minute. Granada battled on, but the late surge proved decisive, sealing an 83-76 victory for Real Madrid. The Spaniards benefited from a balanced scoring effort across the lineup, with Campazzo leading the way while Causeur, Musa, Deck, and the supporting cast contributed valuable points when needed.
The end result reflected Real Madrid’s ability to manage stretches of adversity while maintaining focus on the defensive end, as Granada’s lineup, despite the absence of American Joe Thomasson due to injury, battled through fatigue and continued to compete at a high level. The game served as a reminder that the league title race remains open and fiercely contested, with Real Madrid continuing to set the pace through consistent execution and timely scoring.
Data sheet
Covirán Granada, 76 (13+21+31+11): Costa (9), Kramer (16), Tomás (9), Cheatham (13), Felicio (10) -starting lineup- Díaz (5), Martínez (8), Kairys (6), Konontsuk (-).
Real Madrid, 83 (25+15+22+21): Campazzo (21), Causeur (12), Musa (15), Deck (6), Tavares (2) -starting lineup- Rudy (-), Llull (5), Hezonja (8), Abalde (5), Poirier (9), Ndiaye (-).
Referees: Juan Carlos García González, Arnau Padrós and Yasmina Alcaraz. There is no elimination due to foul.
Events: The match, which coincided with the eighth day of the Endesa League, was played in front of 8,014 spectators at the Palacio de los Deportes in Granada. Fully loaded.