Real Madrid Eliminated from EuroLeague: Absences, Missed Chances, and the End of an Era

Real Madrid is out of the EuroLeague. The Blancos fell 84-86 to Olympiacos in Game 4, bowing out in a heartbreaking finish after Alberto Abalde’s last-second three-point attempt clanged off the rim. It ends a three-year streak of Final Four appearances (Belgrade 2022, Kaunas 2023—where they lifted their 11th title—and Berlin 2024), and it signals more than just a playoff loss.

This was not about a single missed shot. Four major factors explain why Madrid, for the first time in three seasons, won’t compete for the EuroLeague crown.

1. Injuries that changed everything

The return of Evan Fournier (23 points) from an ankle hematoma gave Madrid some hope, but it was offset by the absences of Gabriel Deck and Serge Ibaka. Without Deck, Madrid lost structure and consistency at the power forward position, with Hezonja and Garuba forced into unfamiliar roles.

Ibaka’s absence proved even more critical. In great form recently, he would’ve been vital as Edy Tavares battled foul trouble and Bruno Fernando failed to offer reliable minutes. The result: a weakened rotation and less protection near the rim.

2. Tavares, foul trouble, and controversial calls

Tavares has been vocal throughout the series about picking up early fouls. In Game 4, he logged just 16 minutes before fouling out, with three early infractions and a debatable fifth. Whether the officiating was inconsistent or not, his absence opened the paint for Olympiacos to dominate on the boards and in scoring efficiency. On offense, Madrid lost one of its most reliable bigs.

👀 Tavares’in burada çalınan hücum faulle birlikte beşlemesi, Real Madrid taraftarını çılgına çevirdi!pic.twitter.com/BT8Pbbt0Hc

— Eurohoops Türkiye (@EurohoopsTR) May 1, 2025

Stop following green clowns. Makes you bad losers. It’s the definition of foul, though you can see in this video what Tavares did in 4 straight plays before this screen. Reminder: He has 4 fouls.. pic.twitter.com/bLhw0bJv6m

— Tziritzatzoules (@Tziri_tza_tzoul) May 1, 2025

3. The three-point collapse

Madrid was stellar from beyond the arc in the first half (8-for-14) but fell apart after the break, finishing with just 2-for-10 in the second half. For a team that ranked third-worst in the EuroLeague from three-point range this season, the regression was no surprise—and the final miss by Abalde summed it all up.

4. The minute of doom

From the 37th to 38th minute, Madrid’s hopes unraveled: a missed three from Fournier, Tavares fouling out, a blown layup from Llull after a steal, and a dagger three from Vezenkov to make it 80-85. In a blink, the game—and the season—slipped away.

5. End of a cycle?

Since the EuroLeague’s modern format began in 2016-2017, Madrid has missed the Final Four only once (2020-2021)—the season after Facundo Campazzo left for the NBA. This year marks another turning point, following the departures of longtime leaders Sergio Rodriguez, Rudy Fernandez, Fabien Causeur, and Guerschon Yabusele. It’s hard not to draw a line between those exits and the team’s struggles. Leadership, identity, and depth have all been affected.

6. Voices from the locker room

Alberto Abalde, the man with the final shot, summed it up with raw honesty:

“We had it. I had it. It didn’t go in. It’s tough. We were hoping to go back to Greece and fight for Game 5. But now it’s over.”

Captain Sergio Llull reflected on the missed opportunity:

“These games are decided by small things—a shot you miss, a shot they make. Congrats to Olympiacos, they deserved it. We fought till the end, and we should be proud. But yes, there’s a lot we need to improve if we want to grow and win the Liga.”

Madrid exits with dignity, but not with glory. The Liga Endesa remains, but the real task ahead is rebuilding a winning identity in a post-legend era. And the biggest question now is: who will lead the next chapter?