In the opening game of their preseason, Real Madrid easily defeated Benfica, winning 83–67. In this first preseason practice for the Endesa Super Cup, which takes place in two weeks, Chus Mateo’s team performed admirably. Ibaka made a spectacular comeback to the Madrid team over 13 years after leaving. Not to be overlooked is the work of Andrés Feliz and Rathan-Mayes, who both made debuts while wearing our shirt.
Chus Mateo released a quintet with Ibaka and Rathan-Mayes, two recent additions. With a 9-0 run in the first half, they were the talk of the first four minutes. In an effort to avoid falling behind on the scoreboard, the Portuguese tried to break through, but Madrid’s defensive tenacity combined with the three-point shooting precision of Abalde, Ibaka (10 points and 11 in PIR), and Llull helped them to hold off their opponents (23-15).
Whites control their advantage. The Whites enjoyed a strong 10-5 run (31–18) before stepping it up in the second quarter. In order to counteract the weariness, Chus Mateo alternated the team frequently, bringing in Hugo Gonzalez, Sidi, and Gildas, all of whom had some lovely touches. Benfica made an effort to close the 10-point deficit, but they ran into Abalde and Rathan-Mayes. Ibaka came through with both to propel Madrid to a 12-point advantage (50-38) and a 50-point lead at the half.
After the break, the play pattern remained the same. Real Madrid persisted in showcasing their supremacy in every facet of the game. Thanks to Hugo González and Ndiaye, they scored another strong run (8-2) and went beyond the 20-point threshold (66-43). The rotations—which included Declan’s introduction—kept up the good work and provided a tangible lift. As a result, Madrid was able to maintain their intensity and speed on the court and close the third quarter with a 73-50 lead.
Madrid wins their first game. The Madridistas were able to settle down against a Benfica team that was attempting to reduce the distance thanks to the hard effort we had put in over the previous three quarters. Still, it was a misplaced optimism. Real Madrid prevailed in this match between the defending league champions of Spain and Portugal because of their fierce competitiveness and the fact that the margin was only 20 points or so.
