By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid defeated Fenerbahce Beko 81 – 77 in a EuroLeague classic between the 2018 and 2017 champions that took place in the opening night of the new season.
The trio of Jeff Taylor (19 points), Anthony Randolph (15 points) and Facu Campazzo (14 points, eight assists) played big for Real Madrid on both ends. For Fenerbahce, newcomers Nando De Colo (22 points, five rebounds, seven turnovers) and Derrick Williams (19 points, EuroLeague career-high 10 rebounds) were the top contributors.
However, it was Campazzo who stole the show.
“We were patient enough to find advantages around the basket and got a difficult, tough win. This is the EuroLeague – we know we have to be focused at all times because you play against great teams and any player can hurt you,” Real Madrid coach Pablo Laso said.
Williams also had some big plays to help his team tie it 73 – 73 with 2:39 following a jumper by Kostas Sloukas, after a comeback from 11 points down. Real made a 4-0 run and entered the final minute up 79 – 75.
After stealing the ball from De Colo Randolph made a traveling violation for Fener to have an opportunity to make it a one-possession game. Yet Williams’ heavily contested 3-point attempt with 20 seconds to play went way off target and on the other end, Gabriel Deck sealed the win of the “Blancos”.
Rudy Fernandez added 10 points to Real Madrid’s win and Nikola Kalinic dropped 13 points for Fenerbahce.
“Our pre-season was not so good because of different reasons; many players with their national teams, some injured players, but if I go back to think how our picture was 10 days ago and how it is today, it is obvious that we played better. I believe that practicing and playing games will help us be in this level that is necessary to fight against everybody in the EuroLeague,” said Fenerbahce coach Zeljko Obradovic.
Here are the highlights of the best game of the Round 1