Hapoel Tel Aviv 102-98 Real Madrid | Real's worst-ever start in Europe | OneFootball

The dreadful first half (63-43) weighed down Madrid’s comeback, as they erased a 22-point deficit thanks to outstanding Maledon (40 efficiency) only to be matched by a sensational Bryant

Madrid have once again started badly. Something similar happened last year, although the record was not broken. This year, it has been. Three consecutive defeats, on a road trip from which little positive can be taken, with losses to Anadolu Efes and now Maccabi Tel Aviv. What this team seemed to promise in the SuperCup has, for now, been put on ice, as the Israeli side showed all their firepower and knew how to hold on when necessary. They held on because Madrid once again found themselves at the bottom of the mountain and tried to climb it in a hurry. They went into halftime trailing 63-43 and produced a 12-32 quarter, enough for Tavares to cap off a miracle with a dunk, one that ultimately took its toll in the closing minutes.

After the 0-2 start, Pedro Martínez’s team were looking for redemption, but from the very beginning it was clear who would call the shots at the arena in Sofia, Bulgaria. Dimitris Itoudis organized his troops and, led by Elijah Bryant and Vasilije Micic, who are difference-makers in Europe, they conducted an orchestra backed by highly effective supporting pieces, such as a superb Bruno Caboclo, who seemed to know only one verb: to score (4-for-4 from three, and he would finish a perfect 5-for-5), or Zach LeDay, who was a headache for Pradilla—who did not play—and Tavares, who today was the top scorer and the player who logged the most minutes.

Micic led the way in the first half, and with Hapoel sharp from long range (9-for-14 from three), Madrid were thoroughly exposed. Down by 20 at halftime, many thought the game was over, but just when it seemed most unlikely, Los Blancos were filled with pride—and with Maledon.

The French No. 12 spearheaded a “brutal” comeback, with a 0-19 run in which he drew fouls on Micic and showed his teammates the way forward. It is no coincidence that when Théo shines, his compatriot TLC shines alongside him. Luwawu-Cabarrot contributed his smooth three-point shot, knocking down four from beyond the arc to cut into the lead, until Tavares, on the break, completed the comeback with a dunk.

If something works, you do not change it, and Pedro Martínez decided to trust his instincts rather than go to the minutes sheet. He kept Maledon, Smith Jr., Luwawu, Jantunen, and Tavares on the floor, hoping another run would tip the balance and blow the game open, but when fatigue set in, the opposition turned to their other star. Elijah Bryant started scoring with astonishing ease and left a Madrid defense in despair, one that still has a lot of improving to do.

So Madrid were left stranded at the shore once again, just as happened in Dubai. It is still the early part of the season, but this competition has already shown Los Blancos that there are new heavyweights, that the rich recruit well, and that if you do not maintain and raise your defensive level, there may be more doubts than certainties.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.