Real Madrid extends its unbeaten streak with a hard-fought win over Joventut
Real Madrid secured a fourth league win in a row, sealing victory with a final score of 96-79. The triumph kept the club as the lone undefeated team in the Endesa League as the match unfolded on a Sunday night. The visitors from Lenovo Tenerife had previously challenged Joventut, but Real Madrid showed why they remain on top, leaning on a deeper and more capable bench as the game wore on.
The Catalan side began strong, especially in the first two quarters, when they racked up 50 points before intermission and resisted until late in the third frame. After a brief moment of parity at 64-65, Real Madrid shifted gears and posted a 32-14 stretch to tilt the momentum in their favor. This surge underscored the physical and mental edge that Chus Mateo has instilled in his squad.
With the aim of securing a third win in eight days, the Catalans came to the WiZink Center intent on making a statement. They unleashed a sustained team effort that produced a substantial collective run, challenged Real Madrid on the boards, and controlled the scoreboard for large stretches of the first period. In that opening quarter, seven players contributed on offense, showing how deeply the rotation could influence the outcome.
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Real Madrid faced a tougher start, with their early composition leaning on Dzanan Musa who supplied seven of the team’s first nine points. Guerschon Yabusele provided a steady counterpunch and helped stretch the lead as the first ten minutes ended with Real Madrid ahead on the scoreboard and a rhythm that suggested a closer game would unfold. The opening period finished 23-25 in favor of Joventut, showcasing the high pace and contest mix that defined the game.
However, the Madrid side did not lack answers on the bench. Chus Mateo experimented with lineups in search of more fluid offensive movements, while Joventut remained faithful to their clear game plan and slowly began to take control as Real Madrid wrestled with consistency. The period concluded with the visitors maintaining a narrow edge and Real Madrid looking for a spark to get them fully in sync.
In another set of exchanges, Simon Birgander and the Madrid defense faced the challenge of slowing down the Catalan attack. The teams exchanged blows as the game progressed, and a back-and-forth sequence kept the atmosphere tense.
Kyle Guy delivered a series of reliable baskets, supported by the rest of the rotation. The absence of Walter Tavares in the second quarter slowed Real Madrid’s interior assault, but the Whites did not panic. The team pressed on and managed to reach the break with a narrow deficit, as they posted a 50-45 count at halftime, a sign that the defensive intensity of the continent’s leading defense was at the core of the standings after twenty minutes.
Coming out of the locker room, Real Madrid returned with renewed energy. An initial 9-2 run put them back in control, yet the team faced a continued struggle to land their outside shots and to pressure Ante Tomic effectively. The game then settled into a more strategic mood, with the ball movement and defense shaping the flow as both teams adjusted their tactics for the longer haul.
The final stretch carried the weight of the result. Real Madrid extended their lead through disciplined execution, while Joventut fought to keep pace. A decisive push in the last moments reinforced Madrid’s dominance, and the Catalan squad could not stem the tide that began earlier in the second half. As the minutes ticked away, the hosts solidified their command with a balanced attack that carried them to the final margin.
The trios built by Real Madrid, including a strong showing from their bench, anchored the late push. Joventut found no reliable counter to the homestretch rhythm, and the home team maintained a steady focus. The result confirmed Real Madrid as the league leaders with an undefeated record, a telling reflection of their depth and composure in high-stakes moments.
In the closing sequence, Sergio Llull helped lift the tempo and reached the double-digit mark with ten points, while Mario Hezonja extended the lead to thirteen with a decisive stretch that questioned Joventut’s will to respond. As the clock wound down, Carles Duran’s team could not find a remedy to reassemble their defense and offense under the mounting pressure.
Ultimately, the consolidated front that Real Madrid has built with its top-tier core and productive depth proved too much for Joventut. The home side closed the game with a resolute finish, maintaining the league’s best record while continuing to build confidence for the challenge ahead in the Endesa League.
Data sheet:
96 Real Madrid (23, 22, 24, 27): Rodriguez 8, Moses 18, Deck 11, Yabusele 17, Tavares 6, Causeur 2, Abalde 3, Cornelie 4, Hezonja 13, Poirier 8, Llull 4, Ndiaye 2.
79 Joventut (25, 25, 15, 14): Vives 4, Guy 15, Parra 6, Ellenson 7, Tomic 14, Ribas 2, Feliz 9, Birgander 10, Ventura 0, Jones 7, Kraag 5.
Referees: Daniel Hierrezuelo, Jorge Martínez, Cristóbal Sánchez. The fixture remained competitive throughout and delivered a dramatic finish.
Events: The match, part of the fourth day of the Endesa League, drew a crowd of 6,546 spectators at the WiZink Center in Madrid. [ACBCOM]