Real Madrid cuts the wings of ASVEL
Mateo’s men add a firm victory in search of regularity and the ‘Top 4’ against a Villeurbanne that arrived motivated
MADRID, 22 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid defeated ASVEL Villeurbanne (92-73) this Thursday on matchday 15 of the Euroleague in search of recovering sensations and streak in the heat of the WiZink Center, which enjoyed victory in the last home exercise in 2022 for the white team .
Chus Mateo’s men had two defeats in the last three games and, at the Palace, against a recently motivated rival, he wanted to have the situation under control to put the table at 10-5 and leave the European neighbor at 6. The second and last quarter were the convincing moments for the locals, with minutes after injury to Rudy Fernández and Gabi Deck, and with Musa (15 points and a PIR of 19) and Poirier (19 and 25), outstanding.
The white team began running at will, in a transition that made Musa great, Tavares even more so and Yabusele (23-17). A very high-level first quarter that Madrid continued with a good defense that suffocated the Gauls. Nando de Colo and Diot got rid of the local tangle to give their team points.
ASVEL conceded a 14-2 run in the first almost six minutes of the second quarter and Madrid threatened to break away (39-24). Sergio Rodríguez’s direction left beautiful details and a full Gabi Deck in his return after injury, although TJ Parker’s men managed to hold on to Noua and De Colo.
Youssoupha Fall’s injury before the break did not prevent Lyon from seeing their faces come from their last three consecutive victories. Madrid could wait for the Gauls to take the lead in the second half and they searched for it with De Colo balls. However, the white intensity and the wardrobe background left ASVEL behind.
Mateo’s men found the door open from the inside, in an area well surpassed by the locals, although without all the success possible to break the game. All in all, the cushion for Madrid remained more or less at ten (62-51), with some offensive thickness, which Hezonja alleviated with three, and forced to finish off.
The French team did not throw in the towel, after Noua’s contribution at the restart, until the Whites pressed again in defense and with a good start to the quarter-final. Poirier extended the lead (76-59) and not even De Colo’s return to the track prevented Madrid’s triumphant path. Llull and Rudy, also back, were not successful, but the French center was enough (78-59).
The set, like the second quarter, clipped the wings of the French, with their countryman Poirier, to avoid a close finish. Mateo’s men, leaders of the Endesa League since Sunday, tied an almost obligatory victory after losing some of the good dynamics and are pushing again for the ‘Top 4’ of the Euroleague with their tenth victory. The next game at the Palace will be against Barça in the League.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: REAL MADRID, 92 – ASVEL VILLEURBANNE, 73. (45-34, at halftime).
–TEAMS.
REAL MADRID: Williams-Goss (5), Abalde (1), Musa (15), Yabusele (8) and Tavares (8) –starting five–; Sergio Rodríguez (4), Cornelie (5), Llull (10), Hezonja (7), Deck (10), Rudy Fernández (-), Poirier (19).
ASVEL VILLEURBANNE: Obasohan (10), De Colo (13), Mathews (3), Noua (17) and Fall (-) –initial quintet– Diot (7), Tyus (14), Risacher (4), Kahudi (-), Jackson-Cartwright (5), Pons (-).
–PARTIALS: 25-22, 20-12, 25-25, 22-14.
–REFEREES: Belosevic, Mogulkoc and Giovannetti. Fouled out Mathews.
–PAVILION: Wizink Center.