Madrid win comfortably in Bologna

Real Madrid defeated Virtus Bologna on Euroleague gameday 29. A vital away win to keep them in the playoff race with five games left in the Regular Season. Chus Mateo's men set the win in motion with a first half in which they achieved a 17-point lead that they defended firmly until the end in a game they dominated from start to finish. Tavares and Musa, with 13 points each, were the team's standout performers, with Garuba, Campazzo and Hezonja also posting double-figures in PIR.

Our boys went into the game fully focused and put in a great first quarter. They were solid in defence, with an outstanding performance by Garuba against Shengelia and Tavares in terms of intimidation, and brilliant in attack. They reached 30 points, moving the ball with skill and with high shooting percentages (50% in three-pointers and 87.5% in two-pointers). Musa (9 points without a miss) and Garuba (7) carried the scoring load in an offensive game that revolved around the Cape Verdean centre, who handed out two assists (17-32, min. 10).

Visiting control
Madrid extended their dominance and momentum for the rest of the first half. They were far superior with the second unit contributing. Feliz showed his power in the penetrations (6 points) while Ibaka (7) and Bruno Fernando (4) maintained Chus Mateo's team's dominance in the paint. Cordinier tried to carry Bologna Virtus but found an almost flawless and uninterrupted rival, who on several occasions came close to a 20-point lead in the second quarter (33-50, min. 20).

Campazzo set the pace in the opening minutes of the second half. The point guard continued with his repertoire, scoring and assisting Garuba and Tavares. With the score at 22 (35-57, min. 23), the Italians attempted to close the gap by increasing their aggressiveness at the back and with the presence on the court of Morgan, Tucker and Grazulis. They reduced the difference to 14 points in the final stretch of the period (54-68, min. 30).

Important away win
But Madrid were in control. When they pressed in defence, the difference increased; when they didn't, Virtus believed in themselves and reduced the difference. It was a low-scoring last quarter (25 between the two teams) in which the Whites knew how to manage their lead and had no trouble in taking the victory. Campazzo, Tavares and Musa, who finished as the madridista's top scorer along with the centre (13 points), sealed a clear victory (67-80). A win that, together with Red Star's defeat, puts them one win away from the playoffs.

VIRTUS BOLOGNA-REAL MADRID STATISTICS