Monaco secures its place in the Top 6 by overcoming Real Madrid
AS Monaco signed a beautiful victory against Real Madrid (100-95) this Friday, December 26, in a packed Gaston Médecin arena (over 3,500 seats were issued), for the 18th round of the EuroLeague. This 11th victory allows Vassilis Spanoulis’s men to maintain their place in the Top 6 of the competition – synonymous with direct playoff qualification at the end of the regular season – by overcoming a direct competitor (the two teams were tied at 10-7 before tip-off).
Edy Tavares carries Real at the start of the game
The game was close, but the Roca Team, solid and serious, led the way, particularly thanks to an intense defense. Deprived of Sergio Llull and Trey Lyles, the Madrid team initially relied on a huge performance from Walter Tavares to launch their game. At his first exit, after 8 minutes 32 seconds, the Cape Verdean giant was already at 15 points on 7/9 shooting and 7 rebounds (including 5 offensive) for 18 efficiency. Despite the latter’s impact, relative struggles from 3-point range (1/5) and especially 6 turnovers, the home team was still ahead after one quarter (21-20).
A good sign even if Tavares’s return resulted in 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 before halftime, causing his exit shortly after. In contrast, Matthew Strazel hit two baskets with the foul, both times using the backboard, on two shots while he had sealed (blocked behind his back) 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 returned to the locker room with a 4-point lead (47-43).
🗣️ 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐘, 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐘 !! @mtwbucket32 is feeling it 👊 #RocaTeam #DagheMunegu #EveryGameMatters pic.twitter.com/E9LEVUcqPr
— AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) December 26, 2025
Taking advantage of Tavares’s absence on 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 a 3-pointer (74-72) before Nikola Mirotic took over.
Mirotic wakes up at the right time, Maledon, sick, doesn’t weigh in
The former Real Madrid youth academy member – where he also launched his professional career – held scoreless until then, followed up with two 3-pointers (81-75). An awakening that he confirmed immediately after with a beautiful pass to Kevarrius Hayes, another key player of the second half for his rebounding dominance (7 boards 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 that he was sick. While his point guard colleague 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 last 100 seconds to bring his team back into contact (from -14 to -4), Monaco still secured this 11th victory 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 victories, 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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