Real Madrid squandered the first half and the game in Sofia. They fell 102-98 to Hapoel Tel Aviv in EuroLeague Matchday 3 after mounting a comeback from 22 points down, only to deflate again in the fourth quarter. Pedro Martínez's team starts with an unprecedented 0-3 record: never before has the club opened a European season with three losses.
Twenty Down at Halftime
Hapoel came out hot and Madrid had no defensive answer. The first quarter closed 29-20 and the second was worse: the Israelis posted a 34-23 run to head to the locker room with a 20-point lead (63-43). Sixty-three points allowed in twenty minutes sum up the problem. Bruno Caboclo, who went 5-for-5 from three for the entire game, and Zach Leday punished every defensive breakdown, while Vasilije Micic controlled the pace at will.
A 19-0 Run That Flipped the Game
The third quarter was a different game. Madrid strung together a 19-0 run, got fully back into the contest, and even took the lead. Walter Tavares sustained the comeback from the paint while Theo Maledon and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot finally found offensive rhythm. The quarter ended 32-12 in Madrid's favor, with the score tied at 75.
It was time to close it out. It didn't happen.
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Bryant Decided the Fourth Quarter
Hapoel regained control in the final ten minutes, led by Elijah Bryant as the main force. The shooting guard fell one assist short of a triple-double—22 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists—and showed up in every crucial moment. Micic also finished with 22, and the Israeli squad won the fourth quarter 27-23 to seal the 102-98 victory.
For Madrid, the two French players were by far the best: Maledon finished with 26 points and Luwawu-Cabarrot with 21. Tavares completed a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds. It wasn't enough.
Three Matchdays, Three Losses
Real Madrid's European start is beginning to weigh heavily. They lost by one point in Dubai, fell to Anadolu Efes in Istanbul (94-84) with 21 turnovers, and now leave Sofia having allowed 100 points. According to Eurohoops records, this is the first time in club history in the EuroLeague that Madrid has started with three consecutive losses.
Hapoel, meanwhile, improves to 2-1 after winning in Belgrade against Crvena Zvezda by one point. They continue playing away from home—Sofia is their home venue this season—and keep winning there.