League leader Real (23-6) could clinch homecourt advantage for the playoffs against rock-bottom ALBA, which only has pride at stake.
Game Notes: ALBA vs. Madrid
The reigning champ will be keen to stay on the right track after ending a three-game losing streak by winning at Virtus last week and will look to dominate the frontcourt through Guerschon Yabusele, who top scored with 15 points in that game, alongside Walter Tavares and the league leader in blocker shots, Vincent Poirier. ALBA forward Johannes Thiemann will try to counter them after returning from injury with 11 points and 7 rebounds in last week's narrow loss to Monaco. https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/mario-hezonja/003108/ was the star performer, pouring in 26 points on 10-of-13 field goal shooting, when Real cruised past ALBA, 99-75, earlier in the season.
- Real enters this contest with a 15-0 record in EuroLeague play against ALBA this century. Real also enjoyed a two-game playoff sweep en route to the 2007 EuroCup title.
- Real dominated ALBA in Round 10 with Mario Hezonja scoring 26 points, and the team dishing 32 assists, including 13 from Facundo Campazzo and 10 from Sergio Rodriguez.
- ALBA's Matt Thomas and Real's Alberto Abalde were teammates at Valencia Basket during the 2018-19 season. They won the 2019 EuroCup title together.
- Real guard Fabien Causeur and ALBA's Louis Olinde were teammates at Brose Bamberg during the 2016-17 season. They won the German League and Cup double together.
- ALBA's Mateo Spagnolo joined Real Madrid as a 15-year-old in 2018 and spent three seasons there.
- In their 2019-20 clash in Berlin, Facundo Campazzo dished a career-high 19 assists for Real in a 97-103 road win.
- ALBA center Johannes Thiemann had a career-high 4 steals in the Round 10 loss against Real.
- ALBA's Tim Schneider grabbed a career-high 7 rebounds against Real Madrid in November 2023.