Monaco was no match on Thursday in Madrid against Real (91-73), reigning European champion, conceding a second consecutive defeat in the Euroleague during the 9th day. No exploit this time for the Roca Team. Winner last year at the Madrid Sports Palace after extra time snatched by a miraculous shot from Mike James, Monaco was logically beaten by the Spaniards who are still undefeated this season.
The Monegasques (4th, 10 points) suffered their second setback in three days in the premier competition of European basketball after that in Istanbul on Tuesday and saw their competitors return to the Top 6, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Olympiakos. The Spanish club, which won its 11th continental crown last season, is still in the lead with 8 victories in 8 matches and more than ever the favorite for its own succession.
James and Walker in the hard
ASM was too clumsy (a pitiful 27/73 shooting), like the two American stars Mike James (4/13) and Kemba Walker (1/7, 0/5 at three points), to believe to the feat. Real, much more successful (30/54), took the opportunity to take a 10-point lead (30-10) at the end of the first quarter thanks to the decisive impact of Cape Verdean giant Edy Tavares (2.20m) in both rackets and to Musa (21 points, 14 in the first quarter).
Sasa Obradovic’s men, with no solution to the collective performance of the Spaniards, said goodbye to any chance of returning to the match when veteran Sergio Llull, 36, set the room on fire with three winning shots in a row to take a 20 point lead. The Spanish legend even increased the gap to 30 points (80-50) in the third quarter, prolonging the Madrid demonstration and the ordeal of the Roca Team players, who left the floor with their heads down (91-73 ).