Real Madrid – Murcia
ACB League Round 5
Madrid, October 15, 12:30 CET
European champions Real Madrid are in a superb form, and will be ready for another impressive attacking performance against Murcia on Sunday.
The match in Madrid puts the hosts in the role of absolute favorites in the Spanish ACB League round 5. In the last 35 days, Real has won as many as nine in a row, and the impression is that the most trophy-winning Spanish club is playing better and better. Behind them is an exceptional edition on Thursday in a victory over Efes 103:80 in Istanbul in the Euroleague.
Real is the only team with the maximum score after four ACB League rounds and will be a strong favorite to inflict the opponent's second defeat this season in the domestic league. On the other hand, Murcia have also performed well in attack in recent weeks, so it is easy to expect a lot of points in this game.
The home team scored at least 82 points in each of the last five matches in Madrid, and they won 86:79 against their biggest rival Barcelona in the match played on October 1. The victory over Zaragoza on September 24 (101:70) is the best indicator of what kind of edition to expect from Real Madrid in front of its fans.
Murcia lost in Bilbao last weekend, and before that they played very well on the road against Granada in a 104:101 victory. In both victories at home, this team scored at least 80 points, and has been playing in the same and recognizable transitional basketball system for years. They will not give up on that game plan, even in Madrid.
In February, Real won in Murcia 88:80, in a period when the famous club was in significantly worse shape and burdened with injuries. In November last year, the home team won 93:57 in Madrid. In each of the last 15 matches against this opponent in Madrid, the Real team managed to score at least 80 points (since April 2012)!
Real Madrid is counting on the excellent form of the ever-improving French power forward Yabusele, who had eight rebounds and four assists in addition to 22 points against Efes. Playmaker Campazzo, famous Argentinian, is playing better and better, as well as French center Poirier, guards Musa and Causeur, Croatian forward Hezonja, experienced Spanish guard Llull...
Great news for the hosts is the recovery of the famous center Walter Tavares, who according to many is the best and key player for the Euroleague champions. With the exceptional experience and quality of Argentinian forward Deck and Spanish guard Rodriguez, it is clear that Real Madrid has 12 players for the team which can score 90 points against any rival at any time, especially on their own court.
Counting on the quality of Murcia this season, players like Canadian guard Ennis, Montenegrin power forward Radovic and the ever-improving Swede Birgander under the hoop - we should also expect a solid attacking edition of the guests. For at least 165 points in the match, and an overall exceptional offensive performance, in a game that will be played on Sunday early afternoon.