In the fourth Euroleague playoff quarterfinal match between Hapoel Ibi Tel Aviv and Real Madrid, both teams are facing serious roster issues. Real Madrid is still without Tavares — a key defensive player whose absence has already impacted previous games. Now Hapoel is forced to adjust their play: following Collin Malcolm’s withdrawal, Antonio Blakeney has been added to the injury list after suffering a calf strain in the third game of the series.
These losses significantly shift the balance of power. While Real Madrid was initially forced to find new solutions due to Tavares’s absence, now Hapoel is losing two key players at once. In the third match, the Israeli club managed to turn the game around in the second half and keep their chances alive, but the latest injuries cast doubt on their prospects in the upcoming game.
Decisive encounter in Bulgaria
The match will take place in Bulgaria and begin at 20:00 Spanish time. For Real Madrid, this is a chance to close out the series and avoid a fifth game in Madrid, where the pressure will be at its peak. Under Scariolo’s leadership, the team must put Tuesday’s poor performance behind them and focus on winning despite Tavares’s absence. For Hapoel, the task becomes tougher: without Blakeney and Malcolm, the coaching staff will have to urgently find new solutions in both offense and defense.
The series situation and team atmosphere
The series remains tense: Hapoel managed to avoid elimination thanks to a comeback in the second half of the previous game, but now their roster is even more depleted. Real Madrid is still under pressure—the club needs an away win to avoid a decisive fifth game. There have already been tensions within the team, as seen after the reported conflict between players covered earlier in the article about the internal meeting following the incident in the Real Madrid locker room.
Brief background
The fourth game of the Hapoel Ibi Tel Aviv — Real Madrid series could be decisive for both teams. A win for Madrid secures them a place in the semifinals, while a loss will send the series to a crucial fifth meeting in Madrid. Both clubs are forced to adapt to new circumstances and look for unconventional solutions amid the loss of key players.