Real Madrid are rolling at an extraordinary pace, and their six-game winning streak is giving Pedro Martínez plenty of reasons for optimism. Against Fenerbahçe, they also delivered the emphatic answers the entire club needed.
A few days ago, the discussion on SKWEEK centred on Real Madrid’s offensive machine, which had started to warm up. Their record 21 three-pointers against Maccabi Tel Aviv and successive victories suggested that Pedro Martínez’s players were developing the “habits” their coach wanted. Now, though, the question goes a step further: have we realised just how fast the Spanish side are rolling?
On Thursday night (October 29), Madrid made light work of Fenerbahçe, winning 95-76 to claim their sixth consecutive EuroLeague victory. An initial 0-3 record has become 6-3, and Los Blancos have completely changed the conversation surrounding their performances. During this run, Real have beaten Partizan (86-76), Olimpia Milano (98-89), ASVEL (111-92), Maccabi (113-99), Baskonia (104-86) and Fenerbahçe (95-76), in that order. Three road wins, 607 points in total and 101.2 per game. The numbers speak for themselves — and they are impressive.
The significance of their latest victory also lies in the quality of the opposition. Against Šarūnas Jasikevičius’s team, Real had the opportunity to get a more tangible measure of their progress in a demanding test. The 19-point win provided the reassurance the club needed, through a performance that combined offensive quality with defensive toughness.
The hosts conceded 24 points in the opening quarter and went into the locker room leading 47-42. After the break, however, they changed the terms of the contest. They held the Turkish side to just 13 points in the third quarter (!) and 34 across the entire second half, using their defence to pull away.
Théo Maledon certainly deserves special mention. The French guard, who is now dealing with an injury, finished with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a PIR of 35 in 24:13, shooting 3/6 on two-pointers, 3/4 from three and 11/12 at the free-throw line. He drew 9 fouls, forcing the Turkish defence to keep him firmly at the centre of its attention. Alongside him, Facundo Campazzo contributed 10 points and 10 assists without a turnover in just 17:47, while Edy Tavares added another 14 points. Once again, Los Blancos had perimeter scoring, playmaking and efficient finishing around the basket, with their leading performers meeting different needs.
The team box score provides another “answer”. Real reached 95 points despite shooting 11/32 from three (34.4%), well below their season average. They did not need to repeat their perimeter fireworks against Maccabi, doing serious damage on the offensive glass instead. They had other ways to punish the defence and enough second chances to keep the pressure on.
Their overall regular-season numbers confirm that the Spanish side’s production has become consistent. Following the Fenerbahçe game, and before Round 9 was complete, Real ranked second in scoring at 96.2 points per game and fourth in three-point accuracy at 39.9%. They were also sixth in total rebounds, averaging 38.8. That combination gives their coach plenty of reasons for optimism.
The next test comes next week against Panathinaikos (November 4, 21:45 Greek time). The Greens will have to put strict limits on Madrid’s offence and make them work harder for every basket. For Real, meanwhile, it is another opportunity to show how consistently they can impose their game against demanding opposition.
Either way, Los Blancos are becoming a frightening proposition. They have depth, different players stepping up and an offence that is now firing on all cylinders. If they can complement that production with the steel they showed defensively in the second half against Fenerbahçe, Martínez will have every reason to raise the bar.
