Real Madrid Stages Epic Comeback Against Olympiacos
In a thrilling Euroleague playoff game, Real Madrid fought back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Olympiacos 80-72 in Game 3, keeping their Final Four hopes alive. Despite Olympiacos' strong start and impressive performances from Sasha Vezenkov (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Nigel Williams-Goss (17 points), Real Madrid's superior defense and key contributions from Musa, Hezonja, and Tavares proved decisive.
A Hard-Fought Victory
Olympiacos, missing Evan Fournier, controlled much of the first half, taking a 44-38 lead into the break. Lee's consistent scoring kept the pressure on Real Madrid, who struggled with defensive lapses and rebounding. However, the Merengues tightened their defense in the second half, limiting Olympiacos to just 28 points. The fourth quarter saw several crucial moments. Three poor decisions by Vildoza and a crucial turnover by Wright allowed Real Madrid to build a double-digit lead. Although Vezenkov mounted a late comeback, Campazzo's clutch plays and Real Madrid's improved rebounding secured the victory.
Key Player Performances
Dzanan Musa (14 points), Mario Hezonja (14 points), and Edy Tavares (15 points) led the Real Madrid scoring effort. Alberto Abalde also played a vital role with 9 points and 6 assists. Despite a quieter game than usual, Facundo Campazzo's crucial contributions in the final minutes proved invaluable. For Olympiacos, despite the strong performances from Vezenkov and Williams-Goss, their efforts were ultimately insufficient to overcome Real Madrid's home-court advantage.
What's Next?
Real Madrid now trails in the series 2-1, but their Game 3 victory has injected much-needed momentum. With the series shifting back to Madrid, the team will aim to continue their strong defensive performance and capitalize on home-court advantage to even the series and push for the Final Four. The next game promises to be another nail-biter, as both teams fight fiercely for a place in Abu Dhabi.
Keywords:
Real Madrid, Olympiacos, Euroleague, Playoffs, Basketball, Game 3, Musa, Hezonja, Tavares, Vezenkov, Williams-Goss, Campazzo, Final Four, Comeback, Euroleague Playoffs 2025, Real Madrid vs Olympiacos Game 3