Real Madrid continued their preparation for the new season with a 97-90 victory over Isla De Tenerife Canarias in a Club Friendship friendly, a game that delivered everything a preseason showcase should: sharp shooting, competitive intensity and a reminder of just how deep the Spanish basketball talent pool runs.

Match Overview

Contested as part of the Club Friendship series, the meeting between the reigning giants of Spanish basketball and the Canary Islands' most resilient competitor was far more than a training exercise. Both sides played with genuine edge, the lead changed hands multiple times, and the outcome remained in doubt until the closing three minutes.

Real Madrid ultimately had too much firepower down the stretch, but Tenerife's performance underlined why they remain one of the toughest opponents in the Liga ACB — a team that never beats itself and always makes opponents work for every basket.

Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown

• Q1 – Real Madrid 24, Tenerife 21: Madrid started fast behind aggressive perimeter defence and quick ball movement, but Tenerife's half-court execution kept it tight.
• Q2 – Real Madrid 25, Tenerife 22: A high-scoring, entertaining period. Both benches contributed, with Madrid's second unit maintaining the tempo.
• Q3 – Tenerife 26, Real Madrid 23: The Canary Islanders' best stretch. Patient offence and a switch to zone defence briefly unsettled Madrid.
• Q4 – Real Madrid 25, Tenerife 21: Madrid's experience told, with composed late-game execution sealing the win.

Key Moments

The decisive sequence arrived with roughly four minutes remaining. With the score level and Tenerife threatening to take control, Madrid produced back-to-back defensive stops followed by a transition dunk and a deep three-pointer from the wing. In a matter of 40 seconds, a tied game became a five-point lead and the momentum shifted irreversibly.

Tenerife refused to fold. A pair of difficult contested jumpers trimmed the deficit back to three, but Madrid's answer was clinical: a pick-and-roll lob for an easy basket, then perfect free-throw shooting in the final minute to close the door. It was the kind of closing stretch that separates elite rosters from very good ones.

Tactical Story

Real Madrid's approach was built around pace and versatility. With the ability to play big or small depending on matchups, Madrid repeatedly exploited Tenerife's switching defence by attacking the mismatch in the post, then punishing double-teams with quick ball reversal to open shooters.

Their pick-and-roll game was the primary weapon. Madrid's ball handlers consistently forced Tenerife's big men into difficult decisions — drop back and concede the pull-up jumper, or step up and open the alley-oop. Either way, the offence generated a good look.

Tenerife's counter was intelligent. Their zone defence in the third quarter slowed Madrid's rhythm and forced several low-percentage attempts, while their patient half-court offence used screening actions to create open looks for their shooters. The Canary Islanders also won the battle on the offensive glass for long stretches, generating second-chance points that kept them within touching distance.

Standout Players

• Real Madrid's backcourt dictated the game's tempo, combining for a high assist tally and delivering the crucial baskets in the fourth quarter.
• Madrid's centre was a force on both ends — protecting the rim, finishing around the basket and controlling the defensive boards when it mattered most.
• Madrid's bench provided a significant scoring contribution, a reminder that their depth is one of their greatest competitive advantages across a long season.
• Tenerife's veteran playmaker orchestrated the offence beautifully, controlling pace and finding teammates in tight spaces throughout the contest.
• Tenerife's interior scorer was efficient and physical, punishing smaller defenders and keeping his team in the game during Madrid's strongest runs.

What the Result Means

For Real Madrid, the 97-90 win is another building block as they sharpen up for domestic and European commitments. The performance showed an offence that can score from multiple sources and a defence capable of locking down when the game tightens — precisely the profile required for trophy contention.

For Isla De Tenerife Canarias, the friendly was a valuable measuring stick. They matched Madrid for long periods, ran their offensive sets with clarity and demonstrated the resilience that has made them such a difficult opponent in Liga ACB play. In a preseason context,