Virtus and Ivanovic kept Real Madrid at a low scoring
The 2025-26 EuroLeague season started yesterday with seven games, and while the favourites mostly won, there was one big surprise that happened in Bologna, where Virtus defeated Real Madrid.
The game was played in the old Paladozza, a smaller gym than the Virtus Arena where the black and whites usually play their EuroLeague games, but the atmosphere is always great in this legendary arena and that was the case yesterday too when almost 6000 fans filled the stands.
Both teams played in their domestic SuperCup competitions before this Round 1 matchup, and both suffered some upsetting defeats that made them even more motivated for this game. Virtus lost in overtime against their big rivals, Milan, in the semifinals of the Italian Supercup, while in the Spanish Supercopa, Real got to the finals but lost to Valencia.
After a balanced start, the Spanish side started to chip away in the first quarter, leading by 8 points with 1:38 remaining in the quarter after two free throws made by newcomer Trey Lyles. However, the next three quarters belonged to the hosts: with 4:51 remaining in the second quarter, Brandon Taylor hit a three-pointer for 30-27 and from that point on, Real could never regain the lead. The biggest lead for the Italians was 12 points (66-54) and Madrid tried a remontada in the last minutes, but the game ended with a 74-68 win for Virtus.
For the winning side, the best performers were Carsen Edwards with 14 points, Saliou Niang with 12 points (he also had the best PIR in the game) and Luca Vildoza with 11 points. For Sergio Scariolo’s team, the leading scorers were Mario Hezonja and Gabriel Deck with 14 and 12 points.
Madrid really struggled shooting the ball, as they made only 3/23 three pointers (13%) compared to 8/22 for Virtus.
For Madrid, the next game will be tomorrow against Olympiacos at the Movistar Arena, while Virtus will travel for their second game of this double round week to Valencia, where they will play in the new Roig Arena on Friday.
Imre Halasz
Photo: Eurosport
