It’s the 7th round of the Liga ACB: 3rd on the table, Real Madrid hopes to take over the game after two losses against Panathinaikos and Valencia, both in the Euroleague. They aim to capitalise on the easier fixture which in history has gone mostly their way, in order to regain the momentum they had. On the other hand, Bilbao find themselves in 9th place, coming into the encounter in a good run of form, winning their last three.
The first half is led by Real Madrid, 23–16, showing that the team has an effective defense and better finishing inside the arc. Early on, both teams struggle offensively, resulting in a more physical game. Although Los Blancos are twice as impactful as Bilbao on 2-pointers, they still shoot only 20% from three. The key creators in this first half are Hezonja and Campazzo, even though they are not dominant, as other players also contribute important baskets. Madrid’s defense makes it hard for Bilbao to be efficient: the away team reaches only 26.7% on 2-pointers and 22% from threes . Despite this, Bilbao shows 100% efficiency from the free-throw line and allows only 23 points to Real.
The game shifts radically during the second half, with Surne Bilbao Basket delivering a major turnaround. After a solid first-half performance, Real Madrid struggles to maintain the lead, scoring only 16 points. Bilbao completely changes its approach to the match, playing much more aggressively and being more effective in the paint, making 9 out of 12 shots. Despite not taking many three-pointers, Bilbao beats Real by 11 points, thanks to their offensive rebounds. Overall, Madrid struggles to create chances due to reduced ball movement, a significant drop in assists, and broken possessions. Bilbao’s star, Melwin Pantzar, emerges as the protagonist of this half: by always positioning himself in the right areas of the court, he is decisive both in attack and defense.
After a difficult second quarter, Los Blancos regain control of the game: the team manages to outscore Bilbao 24–19, bringing the total to 63–62.
In this quarter, Real truly play as a team, with several players contributing decisive scoring bursts. However, it’s their defensive pressure that proves crucial: Bilbao are forced into tougher shots and their ball movement is limited, disrupting the pace they had in the previous half.
Despite their struggles, Bilbao remain competitive thanks mainly to a couple of free throws and perimeter baskets, but they can’t match Real’s renewed energy.
The game is now completely open: the teams, just one point apart after dominating the game in alternating stretches, are putting everything on the line in the final quarter.
In the final quarter, Real Madrid asserted their dominance, securing a home win with a 10-point advantage over Bilbao.
While Los Blancos achieved 44.4% shooting from the field, Bilbao managed to connect on only 25% of their attempts, struggling offensively. Additionally, Real’s flawless free-throw shooting helped them maintain their lead.
With this performance, Real break the negative trend of their recent games, securing second place in the standings thanks to a decisive and well-managed final quarter.
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