Real Madrid’s EuroLeague campaign got off to a painful start on Thursday when they fell to Hapoel Tel Aviv. Pedro Martínez’s squad looked lost in the first half, especially on defense, and trailed by 20 points at the break. The second half sparked hope: a dazzling third quarter led by Luwawu‑Cabarrot, Maledon and Tavares erased the gap and forced a tie heading into the final minutes. Yet Madrid’s momentum fizzled, and a late surge from Hapoel sealed the upset, dashing any chance of a comeback. The defeat leaves the Spanish giants scrambling to regroup before their next group‑stage clash.