Real Madrid win an uneventful victory against Zenit Saint Petersburg

After the suffering against Olympiacos and Monaco or the defeat against Morabanc Andorra, Real Madrid worked

against one of the surprises of this season, Zenit Saint Petersburg led by Spanish coach

(85-64) , which he defeated based on success and defense.

Finally, a night without frights, the white coach

Neither epic comebacks nor strenuous overtime, something even more valuable in a double-header week in the Euroleague, which had already cost

and

the loss due to muscle discomfort.

With an accuracy of

(11 of 24) and leaving the Saint Petersburg team, the third deadliest in the Euroleague from 6.75 meters (37% average accuracy), in a meager 24% ( 6 out of 25), Madrid built up its advantage between the second and third set thanks to

(13 points and 2 rebounds) and

(8 and 2), while

(13 points) finished off the job in the last one with some house brand 'tangerine' to balance a happy white night.

From the start it was clear that Pablo Laso's side had no intention of allowing a first half like the one on Wednesday against Olympiacos.

shone in the initial exchange of baskets ,

and when Zenit closed the paths to the white giant, the rest appeared (11-6, min. 4).

The Russian response was immediate: a

partial 0-7 in two minutes with

and ex-Madrid player

as the protagonists (11-13, min. 6), for a close fourth quarter tied: 23-23 with a triple by Russian

over the horn.

Everything seemed to be a matter of how long the batteries of Xavi Pascual's team's engines would last.

Without Loyd, Mickey or Alex Poynthress on the floor, Madrid began to like each other and Poirier hung from the basket to lift WiZink (30-25, min. 13).

It didn't take long for the Catalan coach to put his best pieces on the floor to try to avoid the connection between

that was livening up the night for the Whites' fans, and which was joined by Yabusele and Rudy, with two triples that established an already palpable difference (45-36) at the break, based on white effectiveness (50% in triples by 20% Russian, 3 of 15).

had given him

on his way back from the locker room with triples, baskets and defensive actions that overwhelmed Zenit.

Pascual called time-out, just after Poirier faked the mate not once, but twice, until he misled his defenders and hung on his back at will (56-41, min. 23).

' efforts

-the best of his team at the end, with 21 points and 9 rebounds- in stopping the Whites' onslaught became useless when Sergio Llull, who had already taken a 'tangerine' out of his hat before, they started to enter the shots to take the lead to 18 with a triple (67-48, min. 28).

With a resounding 69-51, the Whites headed into the last set.

As soon as the last period started, the first three-pointer entered Zenit's 'sniper', Billy Baron.

Late, too late.

The next time, a steal by Poirier for Sergio Llull put the Balearic Islands facing the basket, starting a madridista surge that took the difference to the score with a three-pointer by Thompkins (78-58, min. 34).

Everything was already done at the WiZink Center, which gave Pablo Laso time to rotate -only Abalde and Poirier lasted more than 25 minutes-, the public to celebrate and everyone to relax their hearts after several duels with emotions.

What Madrid will not have is rest, in 48 hours it will return to the WiZink Center to receive Valencia

Data sheet:

85 - Real Madrid (23+22+24+16):

Heurtel (6), Abalde (6), Causeur (9), Yabusele (13), Tavares (8) -starting five-, Thompkins (12), Williams- Goss, Llull (13), Poirier (10), Rudy (8) and Alocén.

64 - Zenit Saint Petersburg (23+13+15+13):

Kulagin (8), Loyd (14), Kuzminskas, Poythress (21), Mickey (10) -starting five-, Karasev (5), Zubkov, Carter, Baron (6), Pushkov and Volkhin.

Referees:

Borys Ryzhyk (UKR), Elias Koromilas (GRE) and Luka Kardum (CRO).

Without eliminated.

Incidents:

match of the twenty-fifth day of the Euroleague played at the WiZink Center (Palacio de los Deportes de la Comunidad de Madrid) before 5,457 spectators.

Before the match, Real Madrid power forward Guerschon Yabusele received the Euroleague Most Valuable Player of the Month trophy for January, which was presented to him by former Whites player Felipe Reyes.

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