Basketball isn’t like football. There’s no buildup to a goal. The play is faster, it changes direction in seconds. That’s part of what makes it so exciting to me.
This was more than just a game for Real Madrid, a win tonight would mark 34 consecutive home wins in the ACB: a new record.
Manresa have always been a tough opponent in Madrid but in this city, their wins have been only few.
First Quarter
Manresa struck first with a two-pointer. Straight away, pace was high. Counter attacks from both sides. Madrid missed two free throws. The kind of misses that set the tone.
Then Manresa punished that pause: another two, then a three. Madrid looked around. They needed to respond.
They did. A layup. Then one more quick finish. The game was on again.
Tavares was everywhere. Rebounds. Fouled. He made both free throws. Just like that, Madrid were back.
Three-pointers weren’t falling, but the defense, rebounding, that was the plan. A few quiet minutes followed. No change on the board.
Then, finally, the first three for Madrid. The crowd erupted. The long wait was over. Madrid led, for the first time in the game.
Tavares again with free throws, easy ones. Madrid looked in control. Another three. The crowd roared. After trailing 0–7 early, Madrid had flipped it. It was 14–7. They didn’t let Manresa breathe.
Manresa tried to fight back. They got a short run: 4–0. But Madrid responded. It was already too late.
Second Quarter
Madrid opened with a three immediately. Good defense followed. Another two. The two-minute break hadn’t cooled them down, if anything, it strengthened them.
Manresa came close: 28–27. Then a three by Madrid: 31–29. Fast reply from Manresa. They narrowed it again.
Manresa had a free throw. They made it. The tension rose. There was only a one point difference.
Scariolo brought Campazzo and Tavares back in. Things would get serious now. The substitutions worked. The one-point edge became a three. Then Hezonja made it five.
Madrid attacked: two points plus a foul, an extra free throw too. They stretched it to 38–30. Manresa stayed back.
Manresa hit a clean three. Tried another. Missed. Fouled Tavares. He punished them: two free throws.
First half ended: 42–35. Madrid slightly ahead, but not by much. Manresa was still alive.
Third Quarter
At the start of the second half Manresa started strong. Quick attack. Two points. The gap was down to five.
Tavares stepped up again, two more from the line. Eight out of eight free throws. A dunk immediately followed. Then a layup. At that point, he was everywhere: defending, attacking, leading. My man of the match by far.
Madrid slipped up once. Easy layup for Manresa. 48–41. But Tavares didn’t stop, another two from the line. Ten out of ten. He was untouchable.
The rhythm then slowed. Points came in on both ends, but the fire faded a bit. Most of Madrid’s points came from free throws now. Attacks weren’t as sharp and exciting.
When Tavares came off, Madrid lost presence inside. Rebounds, blocks, they were suddenly missing. Manresa used that gap to close in. Only ten points separated them now.
End of the third quarter: 65–55. Madrid still led. But the win wasn’t sealed yet. If they wanted to finish strong, they’d need that same initial starting trio: Campazzo, Tavares, Hezonja back on court together.
Fourth Quarter
Llull and Hezonja came back. The experience returned.
Then Campazzo re-entered. Madrid needed their general back on the floor. The tempo shifted almost immediately.
Llull sank two free throws: 73–59. Garuba followed with a slam dunk. The energy was back. The crowd woke up again.
The starting five were all back. The goal was clear: finish big, make the last five minutes count.
Campazzo hit a three. Timeout, Manresa. They were trying to break Madrid’s spell. They hadn’t led since that 0–7 start in the first quarter.
When Campazzo and Hezonja share the court, everything flows. Quick passes. Sharp reads. Assists turn into points in seconds.
Manresa kept trying. But Madrid couldn’t be stopped. A minute left, and Madrid was up by twelve.
Last thirty seconds. Manresa tried to cut the difference, but Madrid kept the ball.
Then, as if to wrap it perfectly, Campazzo scored the unscorable: a layup almost from the ground. The arena exploded. Final whistle.
Final score: 87–75 for Real Madrid.
Post-Game Reflection
The streak lived on. Thirty-four consecutive home wins. History made for Real Madrid.
Tavares was monumental: 10/10 from the line, dominating both ends. Campazzo, the mind behind every turn of rhythm. Hezonja, precise when it mattered.
This wasn’t Madrid’s flashiest game, but it showed why they’re nearly impossible to beat at home.
Manresa fought hard. They started with energy and kept pushing. But Madrid had something bigger, unbreakable momentum.
