The champs sealed their ticket with a sweep of Baskonia
Real Madrid is first to advance to 2024 Final Four
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Real Madrid is headed to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four for the third consecutive season! After finishing the regular season as the top-seeded team with a 27-7 record, Real became the first club to clinch a spot at the Final Four as it swept Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz 3-0. Now it can set it sights on the trip to Berlin, Germany, where Los Blancos will contend for a rare second consecutive continental crown at Uber Arena.
This marks the third time since 2011 that Real will play at three consecutive Final Fours and it is the club’s 10th Final Four appearance in that time. Real has a chance to win consecutive EuroLeague crowns for the first time since 1968. Only three teams have successfully defended the EuroLeague championship in the 21st century: Maccabi Tel Aviv (2004, 2005), Olympiacos Piraeus (2012, 2013) and Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2021, 2022). In the semifinals, Real will take on the winner of the series between FC Barcelona and Olympiacos.
Journey to the Final Four
Real started the season at full speed and never looked back. It opened the 34-round regular season with 10 consecutive victories, en route to claiming the top spot in the standings for good. In Round 19, Real took the first four-overtime game in competition history, downing Efes at home 130-126 behind 40 points from Dzanan Musa, which set a club record. Real was the first team to clinch a playoff ticket, and locked up first place after Round 31, when it defeated Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 76-88 in the Serbian capital.
Los Blancos rolled in the playoffs, too. Real beat Baskonia 90-74 in Game 1 in the Spanish capital, dominating the game from start to finish. Musa led the way with 16 points in less than 18 minutes. Real also hosted Game 2 and beat Baskonia again, 101-90, sealing the outcome long before the final buzzer. Facu Campazzo played a stellar role, leading the way with 24 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists and a PIR of 33. And then in Game 3, Guerschon Yabusele scored 23 and Walter Tavares posted a double-double to lead the way in a 98-102 thriller.
Final Four experience
When it comes to Final Fours, Real is the most experienced team in the competition. All of its players together combine for 23 EuroLeague championships, which are more than all the other playoff teams combined (15). Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez are three-time EuroLeague winners and looking for a fourth crown, which only 12 players have ever achieved since European competitions were formed in 1958. Kyle Hines and Sarunas Jasikevicius are the only four-time EuroLeague winners this century. Llull has made it to his 10th Final Four while Rodriguez and Fernandez are getting ready for their ninth appearance.
Tavares, Campazzo and Fabien Causeur have won two EuroLeague titles apiece. Tavares will be the only Final Four MVP on Uber Arena's court: he received the award last season. Real is back to the Final Four with 13 of the players that won the crown last season alongside head coach Chus Mateo. Campazzo, who won with Los Blancos in 2015 and 2018, looks for a third title six years after lifting the trophy for the last time.
Final Four history and beyond
In the last 12 years, Real won EuroLeague titles in 2015, 2018 and 2023, and reached three more championship games (2013, 2014 and 2022). Los Blancos are the winningest team in European basketball history, having captured the top continental title 11 times.
Real won two more titles in a Final Four format, in 1967 and 1995. It also won continental crowns in 1964, 1965, 1968, 1974, 1978 and 1981. In its last two Final Fours, Real made it to the championship game against Efes, registering a 57-58 loss, and won the title last season, downing Olympiacos 78-79 on a late jumper by Llull. Los Blancos' next goal? Going back-to-back!