Real Madrid secured a 111-92 victory over ASVEL Villeurbanne, with Andres Feliz stealing the show after scoring 26 points and knocking down eight three-pointers. The Spanish giants have now won three consecutive EuroLeague games and are gradually finding their rhythm, with players who do not usually attract the spotlight stepping up when their team needs them.
When Real Madrid opened the EuroLeague season with three consecutive defeats, it was only natural that most of the attention focused on the biggest names on their roster. Pedro Martinez had to manage a team with high expectations, significant changes and the kind of pressure that always comes with representing a club like Real Madrid. Three rounds later, Los Blancos have improved their record to 3-3, recording three consecutive victories. And in their latest win against ASVEL Villeurbanne, the player who stole the spotlight was not necessarily the one most people would have expected.
Andres Feliz delivered his best performance in a Real Madrid jersey, finishing with 26 points, an impressive 8-of-11 shooting from three-point range and a Performance Index Rating of 30. The Dominican guard played a leading role in Madrid’s 111-92 victory, in a game where the hosts knocked down 19 three-pointers and produced an excellent offensive performance, particularly in the opening and final quarters.
Feliz was not brought to Real Madrid to be the team’s primary offensive option, nor is he the type of player who needs a high volume of shots to make an impact. His contribution is usually associated with energy, playmaking, defensive pressure and his ability to influence the game on both ends of the floor. Against ASVEL, however, he proved that he can take on a different role when the situation demands it, making the most of his opportunities and punishing the opposing defense from beyond the arc.
His performance becomes even more impressive when looking at how the game unfolded. Real Madrid led 61-48 at halftime, but ASVEL responded after the break and managed to tie the game at 71-71, putting the hosts under pressure once again. The French side attempted to disrupt Madrid’s ball movement with a zone defense, forcing them into rushed offensive decisions. In the final quarter, however, the home team rediscovered its rhythm and scored 34 points to put the game away, with Feliz and Theo Maledon playing important roles in that decisive stretch.
The French guard finished with 16 points and nine assists, while Real Madrid recorded 29 assists and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds as a team. Those numbers suggest that Feliz’s outstanding shooting performance was not an isolated factor in the victory. Madrid’s overall offensive execution allowed them to create additional possessions and generate quality scoring opportunities. This is exactly the kind of offensive balance Martinez will want his team to maintain as the season progresses.
Real Madrid have not suddenly become a complete team simply because they have won three games in a row, and the problems that contributed to their 0-3 start have certainly not disappeared. There are still stretches when their defense struggles and their offense has difficulty responding to specific adjustments from opponents. What has changed, however, is that Madrid are beginning to find more solutions, move the ball more effectively and play with greater confidence.
And this is where Feliz’s performance becomes particularly important. Teams aiming to compete at the highest level of the EuroLeague obviously need their stars to deliver, especially in the biggest games. But they also need players who can step up when the usual leaders are not having their best night. The Dominican guard provided exactly that against ASVEL, giving Real Madrid another reason for optimism at a time when they are trying to build consistency and move past their disappointing start.
Whether this performance marks the beginning of a different season for Feliz remains to be seen. For now, though, Real Madrid can take encouragement from the fact that their return to winning ways is not relying exclusively on the players who were expected to carry the biggest responsibilities. Sometimes, the difference comes from someone else, and against ASVEL, that player was Andres Feliz.
