Real Madrid suffered their second straight EuroLeague defeat after a tough home loss to Panathinaikos. The Greek team took control early in the game, leading to Real Madrid’s first defeat at the Movistar Arena this season and dropping their record to 5-6.
After the game, Real Madrid’s coach Sergio Scariolo explained that the team’s poor performance in the first half was the main reason for the loss. Although they showed significant improvement after the break, the early deficit was too large to overcome against a strong opponent like Panathinaikos.
📉 A Tale of Two Halves
Coach Scariolo pointed out that the team’s defense was particularly weak in the first half. “The first half was quite bad defensively; we allowed too many drives,” he said. He acknowledged that while his team played much better and more aggressively in the second half, the damage was already done. “The burden was too heavy to overcome,” he admitted, referring to the early lead Panathinaikos had built.
🌟 Praise for Panathinaikos’ Key Players
Scariolo also took a moment to praise the opposing team, especially their new addition. “I want to congratulate Panathinaikos for the signing of Kenneth Faried, who was key once again,” he remarked. He also noted the fantastic performance of their guards, stating, “We did a more than acceptable job on Nunn, but Shorts and Sloukas were fantastic.” He described Panathinaikos as a great team with some of the best scorers and ball handlers in the league.
💪 A Call for a Stronger Start
Looking ahead, Scariolo emphasized that his team must learn from this experience. He stressed the importance of being aggressive from the very beginning of the game, saying, “We have to understand that against this kind of players and teams, we must be the ones to land the first blow.” The coach called for his team to be self-critical and show pride, recognizing that they will face top-tier opponents regularly and must be ready to respond to the challenge.
