Real Madrid celebrates the ‘playoffs’ with an exhibition in Bologna
Hezonja and Yabusele carry a white team that takes revenge against Sergio Scariolo’s men
MADRID, 24 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid successfully paid (79-96) their visit this Friday to the Italian Virtus Segafredo Bologna on the thirtieth day of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague 2022-2023, with a solid victory to take revenge for the defeat at Wizink Center and go one step further to ensure the ‘home court factor’ in the ‘playoffs’.
The Real Madrid team, who arrived at Sergio Scariolo’s house with their ticket already secured for the qualifiers, once again showed their best version to almost secure that coveted ‘Top 4’ that would allow them to play three of the five theoretical games in front of their fans. crossing to the ‘Final Four’ in Kaunas.
The team coached by Chus Mateo is with a positive balance of 21-9 and installed in second place, thanks in part to the good work of players like Mario Hezonja (26 points) and Guerschon Yabusele (24p and 6 rebounds) who returned this Friday to give an exhibition to subdue a Virtus that barely appeared and that will continue one day further away from the top eight positions.
Thus, at the Virtus Segafredo Arena, the impetus of a keen Real Madrid prevailed from the start to overwhelm an Italian team that did not know how to react throughout the first quarter (12-26). Although the irruption of a great Belinelli from the line of three (3/4) at the beginning of the second stopped the bleeding at times, the presence of Yabusele in the paint, added to his triple on the buzzer from his own half, tipped the balance of a first part that arrived with the maximum advantage at halftime (33-50).
After the restart, the Italian push reduced the gap, with the Italian guard at the controls once again, but the defensive reliability of the Whites did the rest to close ranks on the rebound and not lower the ten-point lead. Deck’s contribution in attack was also key to helping an omnipresent Yabusele, who finished decanting a more even third quarter, although it was also favorable for Chus Mateo’s team (58-68).
In fact, Mario Hezonja’s two three-pointers in a row at the beginning of the last set marked the future of a match that had already been resolved for the Whites. The Croatian forward, who also wanted his share of prominence, took the roller for a walk with an almost infallible outside shot, which ended the hopes of a Virtus unable to stop him. The Madrid ’11’ took advantage of the Italian corner with a great success from the line of three (8/11) that was well worth the victory for the whites.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: VIRTUS BOLOGNA, 79 – REAL MADRID, 96. (33-50, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
VIRTUS BOLOGNA: Hackett (5), Lundberg (-), Abbas (-), Mickey (-) and Jaiteh (4) –starting five– Shengelia (10), Belinelli (26), Mannion (4), Bako ( 9), Camara (-), Weems (3), Ojeleye (18).
REAL MADRID: Hanga (2), Musa (8), Deck (11), Yabusele (24) and Tavares (6) — the starting quintet –; Causeur (-), Hezonja (26), Sergio Rodriguez (4), Abalde (7), Rudy Fernandez (6), Poirier (2) and Cornelie (-).
— PARTIALS: 12-26, 21-24, 25-18, 21-28.
–REFEREES: Hordov, Nikolic and Shemmesh.
–HALL: Virtus Segafredo Arena.