The Olympic holds the key to the final
Real Madrid and Joventut seek to take control of the series after the 1-1 in the capital
MADRID, 9 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid visits the Badalona Olímpic this Saturday (6:30 p.m.) with the intention of taking control of the Endesa League semifinal playoff, the same as a Joventut who has reason to believe in giving the bell against the current champion .
After two games at the WiZink Center, the series is at an uncertain 1-1, despite the whites’ favoritism. The Euroleague champion begins to notice the wear and tear of a long season, with all the demands made by a ‘Penya’ wanting to fight.
Chus Mateo’s men had to rearm on Thursday and ended up even sticking out their chests, with the power of a Guerschon Yabusele who finished with a PIR of 37, to put that vital 1-1 before traveling to Badalona. The numbers are in favor of the whites: 19 times there has been a 1-1 draw in the semifinals played in the best of five games and in 13 of them the final victory was won by the team that started with the home court factor in favor (68 ,4%).
However, the ‘Penya’ clings to their audience to return to compete against a Madrid that did their best to stop Kyle Guy, their executioner in the first match. Parra and Feliz were the ones who pulled the wagon in the second round, but the whites maintained a high defensive level and also showed their quality in attack.
Mateo recovered Poirier but confessed that the load of games is difficult to carry. More than 80 has brought Madrid to these heights, but it continues to find resources when necessary. Edy Tavares, Dzanan Musa and Sergio Rodríguez are at a high level, while Rudy Fernández and the hero of the eleventh against Olympiacos, Sergio Llull, are ready for battle whenever necessary.
Carles Duran’s men had made their intentions clear after eliminating Cazoo Baskonia 2-0 and they kept intact their ambition of a green and black final 30 years later. Now, Madrid raises the challenge and therefore they need to curdle two perfect games if they want to qualify for the title. Defense will be key and find more weapons than Guy and Ante Tomic, well tied on Friday.
DATASHEET:
–EQUIPMENT:
YOUTH: Vives, Guy, Brodziansky, Parra and Tomic –possible starting five–; Ellenson, J. Rodríguez, Birgander, Feliz, Busquets and Ventura.
REAL MADRID: Williams-Goss, Hanga, Musa, Yabusele and Tavares — possible starting quintet–; Poirier, Hezonja, Causeur, Llull, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez, Ndiaye, Randolph, Cornelie and Abalde.
–REFEREES: Peruga, Perea and Fernández.
— PAVILION: Badalona Olympic.
–TIME: 6:30 p.m./Movistar Sports.