After a challenging stretch that included two away losses in the EuroLeague against Panathinaikos and Dubai, Sergio Scariolo’s team was looking to bounce back on matchday 19 of the Liga ACB. Point guard Andrés Feliz approached the game against the league’s last-placed team, Covirán Granada, with the following words: “Back home, trying to recover good feelings. We need to put in a strong effort to secure the victory here, with our fans.” As current league leaders with four consecutive league wins, Real Madrid appeared well positioned to claim another victory.
The first points of the game went to Madrid, although Granada showed no hesitation in playing offensively during the opening minutes. It did not take long for the visitors to find the equaliser. Madrid managed to build an early lead mainly through free throws, but initially lacked creativity in open play. One might have expected Arturo Ruiz’s team to adopt a more defensive approach given the gap in quality. Instead, Granada seemed determined to score early and leave their place at the bottom of the table behind. Real Madrid committed an increasing number of unnecessary individual errors, looking as if the previous two defeats were still on their minds. Facu Campazzo and Gabriele Procida contributed the most points, although no individual performance stood out in the opening ten minutes. Los Blancos won a hectic first quarter 24:19, even though Granada were by no means the weaker side.
After performing better than they had probably expected in the first quarter, the Nazaríes began the second quarter full of confidence. Although Real Madrid once again opened the scoring, Granada remained unfazed. Scariolo refrained from relying heavily on established players such as Campazzo, Lyles, or Edy Tavares for extended stretches, instead giving other squad members significant minutes. As part of load management following a demanding week, star player Mario Hezonja was completely unavailable. While this approach was understandable given the congested schedule, certain absences became increasingly noticeable. The home side continued to make mistakes and gradually appeared out of sync. Five minutes into a balanced second quarter, the scoreboard read 32:30. With the return of playmaker Campazzo on the court, Real Madrid picked up the tempo but were only able to extend their lead to four points by halftime. A conspicuous number of missed free throws prevented the Madrilenians from pulling further ahead. The halftime score of 40:36 was particularly concerning given that Granada had lost their previous twelve games across all competitions, with their last victory dating back to November 2025. Prior to this matchup, the two teams had met seven times, all of which had ended in victories for Madrid.
The second half also began evenly, with no immediate signs that Scariolo had managed to spark his team. Real Madrid were unable to build separation in the opening minutes, as Granada stayed within striking distance. As the game progressed, however, Madrid gradually began to pull away. The Madrilenians then appeared to flip a switch: with four minutes remaining in the third quarter, the score stood at 60:47. Confidence grew, defensive lapses decreased, and the team finally found a collective rhythm. At the same time, the Granadans seemed to reach their physical limits and struggled to match Madrid’s intensity. The third quarter ended 70:54, giving the hosts a comfortable lead. Nevertheless, Madrid were unlikely to replicate the first-round result in Granada, where they had secured a 111:101 win, their second-best offensive performance of the season.
The final quarter once again started on even terms before Real Madrid quickly asserted themselves as the dominant team. Granada continued to attack and found the basket regularly but could not close the gap. After five minutes of play and a scoreline of 77:64, it almost appeared as though the Nazaríes were mobilising their last reserves of energy in the hope of keeping their winning dreams alive. Their efforts ultimately proved insufficient, and Real Madrid emerged as the deserved winners. The game finished 94:79, marking Madrid’s ninth home win in ten games at the Movistar Arena. Scariolo’s side thus consolidated their position at the top of the table, while Granada remain locked in the fight to avoid relegation.
Real Madrid will next face Partizan away from home in the EuroLeague on Friday, leaving little time for recovery at the end of a demanding week. Granada, by contrast, can take a brief respite before welcoming Gran Canaria on Saturday in Liga ACB action.