Real Madrid defeated Hapoel Tel-Aviv, with a final score of 92-83, in a new round of the Euroleague, at the “Movistar Arena”, devoid of fans, as a result of the tensions between Israel and Palestine that have existed for a good while. “Los Blancos” dominated the first two quarters of the game, achieving successes with a difference of five points, while the third quarter was a much more balanced one, which was decided by a single length in favor of the Spaniards, and the fourth “episode” of the confrontation in the capital of Spain was one in which the hosts put total “mastery” on the game, marking the second triumph in as many occasions against the Israelis.

Real Madrid and Hapoel Tel-Aviv faced off in the 33rd round of this season’s Euroleague, at the “Movistar Arena”, in a match that was played without spectators, as a result of the potential conflict that could have escalated, due to the tensions between Israel and Palestine. Before the match that took place in the Spanish capital, the group prepared by Sergio Scariolo occupied the fourth place in the general hierarchy, while the team trained by Dimitris Itoudis was in the last position of the podium.

20 wins and 12 losses represented the balance of the group “los blancos”, prior to this confrontation on the continental level, in contrast to the same number of successes ticked off by the guests, the Israelis suffering one less failure in this edition of the European competition. The most recent match played in all competitions had brought a recorded success in the company of the eternal rival, Barcelona, ​​final score 95-76, in the “Palau Blaugrana”, while, the last confrontation that had taken place in the “Euroleague” had meant a defeat recorded in Lithuania, against those from Zalgiris Kaunas, by two points.

In the Israeli camp, the last game played in the “Euroleague” had brought a triumph recorded, on home soil, final score 109-91 against the Italians from Virtus Bologna. In fact, the two most recent matches that took place in the continental competition for Hapoel Tel-Avis had ended with victories obtained in their own “home”, more precisely, in Bulgaria, in Sofia. The last trip made by the team prepared on the sidelines by the Greek manager had ended with a success in Catalonia, against Barcelona, ​​five points separating the two clubs.

On their home turf, Real Madrid had been undefeated for more than a month, the last team to leave the “Movistar Arena” with two points being Baskonia, but in a domestic competition. However, in the “Euroleague”, Panathinaikos was the last team to beat Sergio Scariola’s team, the duel taking place in November of last year. The Israeli team’s statistics regarding the games played away, in the recent period, did not look good at all before the confrontation against the Spaniards, because Hapoel Tel-Aviv had registered four failures and only one success in the last five such clashes played in all competitions.

Regarding the direct matches between the two teams, the only match that brought Real Madrid and Hapoel Tel-Aviv to the “floor” at the same time, took place in November 2025, in Botevgrad, where a point would bring victory for the Iberians, in a match in which the balance characterized the four quarters played. Walter Tavares “opened the accounts” for the group from the capital of Spain, after receiving a deep pass from Facundo Campazzo. Then, from in front of the board, the “seven” of the hosts converted all three free throws that the host team benefited from.

Dan Oturu was the first player of the Israelis to find the way to score a basket worth two points, but the reply came immediately from Facundo Campazzo. However, a two-point basket was scored by Vasilije Micic. The same Argentine basketball player came out to the ramp again, and on the counterattack, Dan Oturu scored from close range. Then, the Israelis scored once again through Ish Wainright and reduced the deficit to two points, and later, Chuma Okeke put three points on the scoreboard for the Spanish team.

Eljah Bryant produced a magnificent play, immediately after the home team’s time-out, and the visitors’ player scored a two-point basket. The same basketball player from Hapoel Tel-Aviv reduced the gap to a single point, after a spectacular play. Mario Hezonja converted the two free throws that Real Madrid benefited from and allowed the team he plays for to go ahead, at a distance of three points. Collin Malcolm scored his first two-point basket, at the end of a drive in which he fooled several opponents and converted the throw, without difficulty.

Later, following a technical foul, Theo Maledon did not miss the chance to convert a free throw, and the “los blancos” group would maintain their three-point advantage. Towards the end of the first quarter of this match, the same French player would score for two points, and at the end of this segment of the European duel, five points separated the two teams, with the team from the capital of Spain in front. The second quarter of the confrontation began with a sensational slam-dunk by Johnathan Motley, and, a few sequences later, Usman Garuba scored for the hosts.

Gabriel Deck started this quarter excellently, managing to score a “double” within a few seconds and to maintain the gap between the two teams, generally taking advantage of the errors committed by the guests’ defense. A three-point basket was scored by Antonio Blankeney, when he decided, from a long distance, to try his luck, and a foul committed by a basketball player of the hosts allowed the Israelis to get closer. Theo Maledon then easily passed several opponents and extended the “los blancos” lead to six points.

Sergio Llull provided a moment of sensation near the end of the second quarter when he scored a three-pointer that drew applause from his teammates, 11 lengths separating the two teams at that time of the game. Chris Jones scored two three-pointers in the space of twenty seconds and added to the scoreboard. The same Chris Jones scored a two-pointer and confirmed the good form he was going through at that point in the match. The third quarter of this match began with a three-meter throw converted by Elijah Bryant.

Mario Hezonja scored from long range to add three points to the team from the Spanish capital, and 13 lengths separated the two rivals at that point in the game. Two more three-pointers would be converted in the sequences that followed, one from each side, with Mario Hezonja scoring once again from distance to provide the calm that the “los blancos” team needed. Chuma Okeke scored from a tricky angle and put three more points on the scoreboard for his team. The third quarter of the game ended with an 11-point gap that the Israeli team had to recover in the last part of the duel, the game becoming increasingly intense.

The fourth quarter of the confrontation in the “Movistar Arena” began with a solid game displayed by Real Madrid on the offensive side, with Trey Lyles scoring twice from in front of the board to restore the 15-point distance between the two combatants. Andres Feliz scored a three-point basket from a closed angle and brought his team closer to an extremely important success. Mario Hezonja scored from a free throw, and then, in the same phase, the Croatian basketball player, but the scoreboard showed a clear difference of 9 points between the two teams, at the end of the referee’s final whistle.

In the next round of the Euroleague, Real Madrid will play at home in the company of the Turkish team Anadolu Efes, while Hapoel Tel-Aviv will receive the visit of another team from Spain, Baskonia.