Real Madrid must halt its European slide against Partizan

Real Madrid are already under pressure to address their European struggles as they host Partizan in their first home game of the EuroLeague, needing a response. After winning the new EuroLeague SuperCup, the club lost its first three European games, against Dubai, Efes and Hapoel. That start matches the worst in its history in the competition and has created uncertainty at the club and among its supporters.

A defeat to Partizan, who remain unbeaten, would make it four consecutive losses, matching Real Madrid’s worst run in EuroLeague history.

Ahead of the game, Pedro Martínez summed up the pressure around the team: « I am nobody to ask for patience ». He also stressed the importance of daily work: « What I ask is that we work day by day, do things with effort and focus as well as possible on what is within our control ».

The coach acknowledges that the three European defeats bring « a little more unease », while rejecting any attempt to hide behind easy optimism: « We cannot put a blindfold in front of our eyes ». He believes the team needs to recover its confidence, continuity and consistency before this poor start weighs more heavily in the stands. His message for this game was clear: « We have to play thinking about the present ».