Monaco secures its place in the Top 6 by defeating Real Madrid
AS Monaco signed a great victory against Real Madrid (100-95) this Friday, December 26, in a packed Gaston Médecin arena (over 3,500 seats were sold), for the 18th round of the EuroLeague. This 11th win allows Vassilis Spanoulis’ men to keep their place in the competition’s Top 6 – synonymous with direct playoff qualification at the end of the regular season – by defeating a direct competitor (both teams were tied at 10-7 before tip-off).
Edy Tavares carries Real early in the game
The game was tight, but the Roca Team, solid overall, led the score throughout. Without Sergio Llull and Trey Lyles, the Madrid team initially relied on a huge performance from Walter Tavares to start their game. In his first stint, after 8 minutes and 32 seconds, the Cape Verdean giant already had 15 points on 7/9 shooting and 7 rebounds (including 5 offensive) for 18 efficiency. Despite his impact, relative struggles from 3-point range (1/5) and especially 6 turnovers, the home team still led after the first quarter (21-20).
A good sign even though Tavares’ return led to a Spanish comeback during the second period. However, the former NBA player picked up his second foul and a technical foul with 2 minutes 14 seconds left before halftime, causing him to leave shortly after. In contrast, Matthew Strazel made two and-one baskets, each time using the backboard, on shots where he had sealed (blocked behind) his defender, namely Théo Maledon then Facundo Campazzo. Despite this, 11 points from Elie Okobo and a clear advantage in collective efficiency (55-38), the Roca Team only went into the locker room with a 4-point lead (47-43).
🗣️ 𝐌𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐓𝐓, 𝐌𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐀𝐓𝐓 !!@mtwbucket32 is feeling it 👊#RocaTeam #DagheMunegu #EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/E9LEVUcqPr
— AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) December 26, 2025
Taking advantage of Tavares’ absence from the court at the restart, the principality’s players started with an 8-0 run to take an unprecedented lead in this game (55-43). Not enough to kill the game though. Real Madrid even went ahead at the start of the fourth quarter (71-72), for the first time since the 11th minute. Inspired this Friday (12 points and 4 assists for 18 efficiency) Strazel responded with great defense and a 3-pointer (74-72) before Nikola Mirotic took over.
Mirotic wakes up at the right time, Maledon, sick, doesn’t have an impact
The former Real Madrid youth academy product – where he also launched his professional career – held scoreless until then, followed up with two 3-pointers (81-75). An awakening he confirmed immediately after with a nice pass to Kevarrius Hayes, another key player in the second half for his rebounding dominance (7 grabs in 19 minutes) and his defense on Tavares, before hitting a shot over a particularly timid Théo Maledon this Friday.
« He shouldn’t have played this game, he made an effort, » commented his coach Sergio Scariolo after the game, indicating he was sick. While his backcourt mate Facundo Campazzo scored 14 of his 28 points (on 6/7 from 3-point range, 10 assists and 5 rebounds for 41 efficiency) in the final 100 seconds to bring his team back (from -14 to -4), Monaco still secured this 11th win of the EuroLeague season. « It was a difficult game, we had good and bad moments. We were huge on the boards (17 offensive rebounds), defensively we can be better. But overall it’s a good game, » appreciated Vassilis Spanoulis.
Facundo Campazzo’s amazing performance end of the 4qtr… pic.twitter.com/HE4gtrfZQU
— Çemberin İçi (@cemberici) December 26, 2025
After an All-Star Game break for four players, AS Monaco will try to confirm its recent momentum (four consecutive wins, all competitions combined) next Tuesday in Barcelona. A Catalan team in form (12 wins and 6 losses, one more than Monaco) that they had eliminated after five very tight games in the 2025 playoff quarterfinals…
In Monaco,
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