Real Madrid edged Partizan Belgrade 80-82 in a tense Euroleague playoff game, surviving to keep their series alive. The visitors faced a rocky start, surrendering 32 points in the opening quarter, yet a monster performance from Tavares (26 points, 11 rebounds) alongside a standout display from Williams-Goss (22 points) steered the Whites toward a decisive late push and extended the series to a critical game tomorrow in the Serbian capital.
The Stark Arena atmosphere in Belgrade turned dramatic as Partizan unveiled their lineup under a sky lit with moving lights and flames. The home crowd created a thunderous backdrop—an intimidating stage that challenged Madrid from the opening tip. The scene, with black jerseys and waving scarves, felt like a battle before the ball even touched the court. Obradovic set the pace, insisting on a pace that would test Real Madrid’s resolve.
Basketball unites people
Prior to the second leg in Madrid last week, both teams displayed banners declaring Basketball unites people, a message met with a chorus of whistles from the Belgrade stands. Despite the charged atmosphere, the game remained marked by cordial conduct, with no on-court altercations emerging from the heated crowd.
Real Madrid arrived ready to contest what could be a decisive moment in a season trying to rewrite its own history. A win would keep their hopes of hoisting the trophy alive, and more importantly, keep them within reach of the Final Four, a milestone no club has achieved under the current format since its inception. Once again, the white team faced a strong Serbian side, even as Lessort soldiered through a tough interior battle and Kevin Punter sat out a game with a suspension, narrowing the margin of error for Madrid yet not erasing the possibility of a comeback.
9-0 run to start the night
The night began with a miscue for Real Madrid as Moses committed an offensive foul on Madrid’s opening possession, followed by quick fouls on Cornelie and Llull before the clock could breathe. The first basket was slow in arriving, and Partizan seized the moment with a 9-0 burst that set an early tone of anxiety for the visitors. Madrid battled to steady itself, finding rhythm as Williams-Goss opened Madrid’s scoring from the free-throw line. With Cornelie stabilizing the lane and Moses contributing, the team began the process of clawing back into a game that had started with a harmful burst of nerves, tension, and inaccuracy that echoed their earlier encounters in the series.
Madrid found themselves in foul trouble and in the bonus early, but a sequence of timely plays—Williams-Goss’ early scoring, a notable pull-up by Moses, and timely defense—brought Madrid back from the brink. Partizan’s outside shooting continued to threaten, with Smailagic delivering a 15-point performance that underscored a night when outside precision made the difference. The first-quarter tally finished 32-19, a scoreboard that hinted at a long and grueling night for the visitors.
Tavares emerged as a force to be reckoned with, featuring a memorable display that would be echoed by fans and analysts alike. A highlight captured attention on social media as he dominated the paint, anchoring Madrid’s interior alignment through a pivotal stretch of the game.
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague highlights posted on social channels provided a glimpse of the height and impact of Madrid’s center, underscoring the night’s physical intensity.
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
Rhythm shifts and a bold response
The second quarter shifted the momentum. Sergio Rodríguez increased Madrid’s pace, injecting speed and decision-making into the offense, though mistakes persisted from behind the arc. A pair of three-pointers from Rudy combined with a strong interior contribution from Tavares helped Madrid approach 41-31, with a 14-minute mark showing renewed life. The center’s two-plus-one play nudged Real Madrid closer to parity, 41-37, as the second quarter progressed.
Partizan’s legs grew heavier as the period wore on, and Madar, stepping in for the suspended Punter, logged 12 points, six rebounds, and three assists before a foul trouble foul halted his momentum. Obradović’s expression showed the frustration of a coach watching a familiar script tilt against his team as the Serbian unit saw its percentages dip while Tavares asserted control on both ends of the floor, totaling 16 points and seven rebounds at the half.
Hezonja’s timely return and a contest of grit
Madrid carried the momentum into the third period, starting with Hezonja’s two timely three-pointers and a continued push from Williams-Goss. The score moved to 53-54 in a back-and-forth that kept the outcome in question. Obradović instructed extra effort for Tavares, and his leadership in the paint helped blunt Madrid’s early offensive pressure. Hezonja and Williams-Goss continued to drive the guests, with a sequence featuring a dynamic dunk from Tavares standing in contrast to Musa’s longer-range misses. As the final frame approached, the game had settled into a tight duel—63-66 on the board with both teams trading blows.
Fatigue began to show, and the finale unfolded with a slate of tough decisions and missed chances. The intensity remained high as Moses delivered several plays, while Madrid searched for a decisive strike that would turn a difficult evening into a triumph. Partizan retained one final possession with a chance to win, but Punter remained unavailable, leaving Madrid to face the next challenge on Thursday at 20:30 local time. The goal remained the same: seize control at Stark Arena and prevent another fatal night from staining the slate of the series.
Data from the night shows a balanced scoring table with Real Madrid’s top scorers including Williams-Goss and Tavares, while Partizan leaned on Smailagic and Madar to keep the scoreboard moving. The referees, Ryzhyk, Difallah, and Moğulkoç, oversaw a game that lived up to the playoff atmosphere, with Madar’s late exit due to fouls marking a decisive moment in the closing minutes.
Event notes remind fans that this Euroleague playoff game drew a crowd of around 20,000 at the Stark Arena, and the banners stating Basketball unites people served as a thematic reminder of the competition’s broader spirit. The result left Real Madrid clinging to life in the series, with a critical rematch on the horizon that will determine whether the team can push deeper into the playoffs or bow out at the doorstep of the Final Four.