Real Madrid stops Barça and recovers the Cup

MÁLAGA, Feb. 18 (from the special envoy of EUROPA PRESS, Rodrigo Trascasa) -

The whites team up with Málaga to reign again four years later and with Campazzo as MVP

MÁLAGA, 18 (from the special envoy of EUROPA PRESS, Rodrigo Trascasa)

Real Madrid beat Barça (96-85) this Sunday and regained the throne of the Copa del Rey in the final of Málaga 2024, four years after winning it for the last time and at the Martín Carpena precisely, to confirm that with Chus Mateo The whites continue to add titles.

The Madrid team, European champions at the turn of the cycle after Pablo Laso, savored a Cup that had been a Barça bastion. The defense of the second half and the performance of Vincent Poirier (17 points and 8 rebounds), Guerschon Yabusele (15 and 9), Facundo Campazzo (18) and Dzanan Musa (15) led the whites' revenge after four lost cup finals against the Barça.

The 'ko tournament' did not serve this time to reinforce a culé project under examination. Barça was launched, in its best moment in five months with Grimau after starting with many doubts and three lost Clásicos. This new Barça did not seize its opportunity to grow with a title, held back by the usual Madrid, a regular in finals and winner of titles after the epic Euroleague.

Málaga allied itself with Madrid and again with Campazzo, elected MVP of the tournament as he was in 2020. The Argentine, returning to the white team this season, was the driving force of his team in the three games at the Carpena. The Cup fell in love with the white story on its return to the Malaga headquarters and Madrid defended its dominance in the record, with 29 trophies compared to the eternal rival's 27.

The Málaga 2024 final was beautiful from the beginning because it went through neighborhoods and no one wanted to miss it. Madrid tried to impose its rhythm, came out stronger, but Barça held on with two triples from Laprovittola. The whites initially stopped the offensive gale that the Catalans were carrying at Carpena (210 points), but the Argentine was undetectable to turn around a 17-11 lead.

Grimau's team equalized the set and in the second they maintained the positive momentum, adding with everyone who jumped onto the court (19-24). Madrid was not far behind in contribution and Poirier agreed with 'Chacho' Rodríguez and Mario Hezonja scored 12 points in the second quarter. Barça rowed with Satoransky, Brizuela and Parker, while Kalinic left it at 43-45 at halftime.

The final raised the level and sparks flew under the hoops. Deck and Tavares brought out the muscle for Mateo's men, while Vesley and Parker were Grimau's warriors. The one from Cape Verde added the third foul but Poirier was once again insurance. Barça was left behind in this turn of the screw for the whites, without the high-quality minutes that Willy Hernangómez had been giving.

Madrid also jammed the paint with Yabusele and scored more from the outside, a combo that turned the final white at the beginning of the last quarter (77-68). With two triples in the entire second half, Grimau's team found itself on the ropes in the countdown. Furthermore, the Barça defense allowed open shots from the rival at a delicate moment and was not as firm in one-on-one situations.

The scoreboard did not stop smiling at the Madrid trick, with Vesley eliminated and with Satoransky monopolizing the war on his own. Poirier and Campazzo finished off the final against a Barça that died on the shore without much resistance. It was not a boost for Grimau, who will have to rebuild confidence for the League and the Euroleague, but rather confirmation for Mateo, who knows how to take Madrid to the top.

DATASHEET:

--RESULT: REAL MADRID, 96 - BARÇA, 85. (43-45, at half-time).

--EQUIPMENT:

REAL MADRID: Campazzo (18), Musa (15), Deck (13), Yabusele (15) and Tavares (4) --starting quintet-- Poirier (17), Llull (2), Hezonja (12), S. Rodríguez (-), R.Fernández (-).

BARÇA: Satoransky (15), Laprovittola (6), Kalinic (3), Parker (19) and Vesely (14) --starting quintet--; Da Silva (-), Abrines (2), Brizuela (8), Hernangómez (8), Jokubaitis (7), Parra (3).

--PARTIALS: 19-19, 24-26, 23-18, 30-22.

--REFEREES: Conde, Serrano and Padrós. Vesley eliminated due to fouls.

--PAVILLION: José María Martín Carpena Sports Palace.