Madrid appeared confused at the challenge, distraught by its lack of skill and basketball at home – five defeats in five European games -, malnourished in hierarchical and results, a jug version of what it has been. And Barça received him reluctantly, since the season started like a shot, with an exhilarated and electric game melted after an anemic month. The Palau acted as judge and, after two extensions, ruled that Madrid will always have Barça, a rival that has had its grip on it for a long time, one that fears that everything will end like the Milkmaid’s Tale.
The duel began with emotions running high, as Laprovittola appeared, crutches in hand, and the Palau chanted his name with gusto, as few players have gotten along so well with the club and the city. But the effusiveness was quickly lost on the hardwood, since Which ones Pointer and Zape Parker were arguing with the shot. And that, in a street basketball team, with more individualities than choral play, is a fatality. A situation that Madrid took advantage of, with Rathan-Mayes in tune from the perimeter and Tavares solvent under the rim to score 8-17. Barça was corrected and the Double P He stopped risking everything to ally himself with his companions, none like Vesely, who once again put the strain on them. Although the prologue closed with a technique on Fall, with the shouts of “This way, this way, this is how Madrid wins!” and a 17-22 white.
The bench revived Barça, led by Juan Núñez and agitated by Brizuela, also by Neto (signed to replace Laprovittola), who presented himself with a triple from the corner and a layup to make Madrid tremble, which scored 12 points in the fourth Until Musa warmed up the wrist and Tavares ate the toast to a Hernangómez who is neither there nor expected, again even at the intermission (38-34).
Madrid’s guirigay was underlined before the second half, when Musa came out with the number 31, the one from the previous year, and was unable to enter the court until they brought him another shirt with the number 13. A minor problem that grew in the parquet, Hezonja jammed with the triple and Tavares for a moment misplaced. But Barça was not in attack either, water after water. Fallow for an already sharp Hezonja, also for Campazzo to take flight and Madrid to put the game on ellipsis: 52-54 with the last chapter remaining.
It was time to exchange blows: now the Brizuela chilli pepper to reply to Llull; now a mate from Vesely for a layup from Tavares. But no one turned the other cheek. Thus, there were 25 seconds left and the Palau was bustling, the referees overwhelmed by the electricity of the challenge. Vesely raised his arms, Anderson put the radio to Campazzo’s ear, Tavares protested, Hezonja entered the basket and Punter set up the transition after a jump ball to make the jump (72-69). But a shot from Campazzo’s outside radius on the horn required extra time.
It was not resolved immediately, as Tavares imposed his law in the bottle and Punter in the rival hoop, summoned to a second overtime, where fatigue took its toll, missed shots, a drought of points. But there are those who do not fail, like Tavares under the rim and Campazzo in free throws. Then, the individualities of Parker and Punter returned, forced shots, and Barça won while Madrid, finally, put its wings in Europe.
BARCELONA, 90 – REAL MADRID, 97
Barcelona: Satoransky (0), Punter (27), Abrines (3), Parker (11) and Vesely (20) –starting quintet–, Anderson (4), Brizuela (9), Willy Hernangómez (0), Núñez (7), Fall (2), Net (5), Parra (2).
Real Madrid: Campazzo (18), Rathan-Mayes (6), Abalde (3), Hezonja (23) and Tavares (24) –starting quintet–, Musa (9), Deck (3), Ibaka (2), Llull (6) , Happy (3).
Referees: S. Pukl (Esl), P. Pastusiak (Paul) and S. Racys (Lit). Nunez was eliminated.
Palau Blaugrana. 7,572 spectators.
## El Clásico’s Deja Vu: A Chat with Basketball Expert, Juan Cortés
**World Today News:** Juan, that was a nail-biter! Another overtime thriller between Barça and Madrid. As a seasoned basketball analyst, how would you describe the atmosphere at Palau Blaugrana last night?
**Juan Cortés:** It was electric. Every seat was filled, the energy was palpable. You could sense the tension from the opening tip-off. The fans where desperate for a Barça win after a sluggish month, and Madrid, well, thay’ve been struggling mightily in Europe. This rivalry transcends mere basketball; it’s deeply ingrained in the history and culture of both cities.
**WTN:** Madrid’s European struggles are well documented. Do you think their home court woes are affecting their confidence, especially coming into a game like this?
**JC:** Absolutely. Five straight losses in Europe are grim, especially for a club with Madrid’s tradition. It’s clear they’re lacking cohesion and struggling to execute their game plan.
Their performance against Barça seemed haphazard at times, lacking their usual precision and intensity.
You could see the frustration on their faces, and that doubt can be contagious.
**WTN:** On the other hand, Barça appeared to have lost some of their early season momentum. What happened to the team that was steamrolling opponents?
**JC:** They hit a wall, Juan.
The early season exuberance faded.
They seemed fatigued, both physically and mentally. Maybe the high expectations took their toll, or perhaps they underestimated the challenges they’d face.
**WTN:** The crowd’s reaction to Laprovittola’s appearance, despite his injury, was heartwarming. what does his presence mean to Barcelona?
**JC:** Laprovittola has truly become a fan favorite.
He’s a talented player, no doubt, but it’s more than that.He embodies the spirit of the city, playing with passion and heart. His injury is a blow for Barça, but his presence, even on crutches, is a reminder of his dedication and the connection he has with the fans.It’s a stark contrast with Madrid’s situation, where trust seems to be eroding.
**WTN:** The game was back and forth, with both sides taking turns holding the lead.
**JC:** It’s always this way with El Clásico. These teams know each other inside and out. It’s a chess match,a battle of wills. You need to give credit to both sides for their resilience and determination.
Ultimately, Barça’s experiance and home-court advantage proved decisive.
But Madrid will be back. This rivalry is never truly over.
**WTN:** As you mentioned, the word “Milkmaid’s tale” was evoked. Is that really the fear for Madrid fans now – that this dominance by Barça will continue indefinitely?
**JC:** Ther’s always that underlying fear when one team is consistently on top. But history has shown that fortunes can change quickly in basketball.
Madrid needs to regroup, rebuild their confidence, and rediscover their identity. They have the talent, but they need to find a way to translate that into consistent performance.
**WTN:** Thank you, Juan, for your insights. What a thrilling game!
**JC**: My pleasure. It’s always a joy to witness El Clásico, even if it leaves you emotionally drained!
