Real Madrid seeks an important revenge in Monaco

Real Madrid seeks an important revenge in Monaco

MADRID, 2 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid will seek this Friday (7:00 p.m.) a key and level victory in its visit to a direct rival for the 'Top 4' of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague 2022-2023 such as AS Monaco, against which it hopes to take also the revenge of the defeat suffered in the first round.

The Real Madrid team played their first match of this new weekly doubleheader of the top continental competition and remained tied on 15 wins with Greek Olympiacos after beating Panathinaikos 83-68 and giving the feeling of not pushing too hard at any time .

Now, however, the demand will be greater against a rival that is confirming this year the intentions offered last season when, in his debut in the Euroleague, he was on the verge of reaching the 'Final Four'. The Monegasque team has been able to raise its level of competitiveness in its second year and is now even a serious candidate for a 'Top 4' that is more expensive than ever.

AS Monaco comes from clearly winning in Berlin (84-102) and is currently the tenant of the positions that give the right to have the important 'home field factor' in the 'playoffs', with one win less than the ten-time champion of Europe, who he will want to beat again as he already did at the WiZink Center to also snatch the 'average'.

There he seemed to have lost everything when, with six seconds to go, he lost 88-84. Then, the mischief of Mike James appeared to get an incredible '3 1' with a triple and a free kick from Walter Tavares and force an extension that was the visitor's color (94-95). The point guard continues to be the 'engine' of Sasa Obradovic's men and neutralizing everything he is capable of generating will be key to Madrid's options of attacking Gaston Medecin again, where last year they also needed an extension to win (84- 90) and where his rival has won eight of his ten games.

But also, in a duel that once again assumes many points for the style of both, with the locals exceeding 100 points in their last two clashes, Real Madrid should not focus exclusively on James either because the Monegasque team has other weapons such as Jordan Loyd, who also did damage in the first round, or Alpha Diallo, or his good offensive rebounding ability, which will test the best team in sacks in this Euroleague.

"We are up against one of the tough rivals in the competition, who may be the revelation of the Euroleague, but if you look at the squad you realize that they have very high-quality players. We have to understand the rhythm of play that must be play there, lose few balls because they punish him and be able to close the offensive rebound very well because they get a lot out of it", warned Chus Mateo, who will continue with the loss of Alberto Abalde and will have to decide his discards after resting Vincent on Wednesday Poirier and Adam Hanga.

AS MONACO: James, Loyd, Diallo, Brown and Montiejunas --possible starting five-- Okobo, Moneke, Blossomgame, Makoundo, Ouattara, Strazel and Hall.

REAL MADRID: Williams-Goss, Musa, Deck, Yabusele and Tavares -- possible starting quintet -- Causeur, Llull, Poirier, Hezonja, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez, Cornelie, Hanga and Ndiaye.

--ARBITROS: Pukl, Latisevs y Vilius.

--PAVILION: Gaston Medecin.