AS Monaco seeks to flip the script against Real Madrid

In a season that has featured highs and lows, AS Monaco comes to a crossroads when it hosts the reigning champs.

Though AS Monaco can be rightly considered among the EuroLeague contenders this season, the club has floundered more than flourished in 2024. Coach Sasa Obradovic’s squad is 1-3 in January, though all of those losses have come on the road and to date, it has played three more games on the road than at home. However, a loss to Real Madrid would drop Monaco to .500 on the season (11-11) for the first time since Round 4.

While a loss could put Monaco in a precarious position, a victory over Los Blancos could be a pivotal point and a springboard back up the table. And there might not be a better time for Monaco to take on the champs than right now.

The biggest reason for that – literally and figuratively – is the absence of Real’s star center and EuroLeague Best Defender Walter Tavares, who is sidelined by injury. When these teams last met, back in Round 9 in November, Tavares set the tone and his teammates followed as Real dominated the paint.

Tavares produced 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks for a performance index rating of 24. More impressive is that he did all of that in less than 16 minutes of playing time. Real outscored Monaco by 22 points in that time, which means that Monaco outscored Real by 4 points in the 24-plus minutes in which Tavares rested.

Even when Tavares sat, Real had its way inside. As a team, it made 18 of 21 two-pointers (85.7%), outrebounded Monaco 39-33 and blocked 8 shots. Monaco was held to 19-of-49 two-point shooting (38.8%) and did not record a single block.

While Vincent Poirier, who is expected to receive the lion’s share of the minutes at center for Real, posted nice numbers in that game (12 points, 11 boards, 5 blocks), he had a +/- of +2 in 22 minutes. That is one reason the Monaco bigs – Donatas Motiejunas, Donta Hall and Mam Jaiteh might feel optimistic for this Friday showdown.

Another key for Monaco, as it always is, is the play of star guard Mike James. His numbers make James a bonafide MVP candidate; he leads the league in scoring (19.5 ppg.) and PIR (21.0) and is ninth in assists (5.2 apg.). Great numbers alone will not bring James the coveted award, but a big game against Real that helps Monaco climb back up to the top is something that voters will surely notice.

James only had 13 points, 5 assists and a PIR of 9 when these teams last met. Last season, however, he averaged 25.5 points, 5.0 assists and a PIR of 25.5 in two games against Real. Similar numbers could make a world of difference in this game.

Real has won its last three games and sits atop the standings with a four-victory margin over second place, which means Coach Chus Mateo’s men have little to worry about. However, they too understand how important it will be to show they are just as dominant with Tavares sidelined. This game will be their first chance to show if that is, in fact, the case.

One way or another, we will learn something about both teams when the final buzzer sounds at Salle Gaston Medecin late Friday. Can Real thrive with its man in the middle out? Is Monaco poised to challenge for the crown in 2024? It will be easier to answer those questions in a few more hours.