The new season is almost here, and for Facundo Campazzo and Walter Tavares, the pressure is already building. With Pedro Martinez now in charge, the team faces a clear challenge: can a group still finding its rhythm deliver results before the real tests begin?
Campazzo, the Argentine point guard, is direct about the situation. "It's a new year, same goals," he says, but this season feels anything but routine. The squad is adjusting to a new coach, several new teammates, and a different tactical system that requires everyone to adapt quickly. "We're in a phase of making a lot of mistakes, but we're trying to improve and not repeat them," Campazzo admits. The learning curve is obvious as the team works through Martinez's system.
Real Madrid secured the XV Torneo Costa del Sol title with a commanding 113-74 victory over Unicaja in the final, as confirmed by official club materials dated September 12, 2026.
- Real Madrid
Tavares shares a similar view. He says the team is "on the right track" but knows there's still a lot of work ahead. "We feel very good and still have a lot of room to improve. The team is working smoothly and playing with a very open mindset," he says. Tavares is realistic-pre-season games are useful, but they don't match the intensity of official competition.
That intensity is coming soon. The first trophy of the season is up for grabs in a matter of days, and the team will face strong opponents. Campazzo sees this as a key moment: "Now the real thing starts, which is competition. We have our first title in a few days, a good chance to test ourselves against first-level teams and see what awaits us in the EuroLeague."
According to official club sources, Real Madrid will open its official season not with domestic league play, but with the EuroLeague Super Cup semifinal against Dubai Basketball on September 18, 2026, at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The club specifically structured its August-September preparation around matches with La Laguna Tenerife and Unicaja at the Costa del Sol tournament to ensure readiness for this international challenge.
- Real Madrid
Transitions like this aren't new. As reported earlier, even established teams like Real Madrid have faced similar challenges when bringing in new coaches and players before major finals. What's different now is the tight schedule and the expectation that results must come quickly, no matter how much the team is still adjusting.
For fans and the club, the stakes are obvious: an early trophy would show that the new direction is working and give the team more time to develop. But there's little room for error. If Campazzo and Tavares can turn their cautious optimism into results on the court, Pedro Martinez's first weeks could set the tone for the season. If not, the calls for unity will sound empty. At this level, ambition is measured by how fast a team can turn change into wins.
