Mario Hezonja, Guerschon Yabusele set to return for Madrid vs. Maccabi / News - Basketnews.com

Mario Hezonja and Guerschon Yabusele will make Real Madrid's 12-man squad against Maccabi, coach Chus Mateo revealed.

Credit: Irina R. Hipolito/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire Credit Irina R. Hipolito/AFP7 via ZUMA Press Wire

Mario Hezonja and Guerschon Yabusele were left out of Real Madrid's 12-man squad in the game against Gran Canaria, where the reigning EuroLeague champs suffered their worst loss in the season (77-100).

Guerschon Yabusele

Team:Real MadridPosition:PFAge:28Height:203 cmWeight:118 kgBirth place:FranceProfileNewsStatistics

However, both players should be available for the upcoming EuroLeague Round 24 outing against Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

"Regarding the available players, Hezonja took a very strong hit in the game against Olympiacos and didn't play the other day, but he will participate tomorrow," coach Chus Mateo said.

"Yabusele had an overload that has kept him out two games. We will try to make both of them part of the final roster," the Spanish tactician continued.

For Mateo, both Hezonja and Yabusele are "very important players" for the team. "We try to show our competitive face regardless of who is missing and it's something that can't be used as an excuse. We have a long roster. We try to make everyone feel useful, but it is inevitable that when there are absences of great relevance it upsets you a little. We have to keep doing things right and be together," he added.

The tight schedule, despite the fact that Real Madrid are leading both in the Spanish league and in the Euroleague, is undoubtedly one of the big problems that the teams are facing. Madrid will continue to suffer the loss of their starting center, Edy Tavares.

"We have 45 official matches and the schedule is what it is. We try to always show up with energy. But the important thing is to be at the moment when you are playing for a title and face it in the best way," Mateo said.

Real Madrid lead the EuroLeague standings with 20 wins in 23 matches, five more than second-placed Barcelona. Maccabi, on the other hand, are placed 7th with 13 wins.

"I'm looking forward to a European basketball classic. They have players in their ranks with the ability to generate points, like Lorenzo Brown and Wade Baldwin, or Bonzie Colson, who is a very complete forward; and then they have a very strong interior game headed by Nebo. It's a team that plays very well, especially on an offensive level, that rebounds and punishes mistakes, so we'll have to pay special attention to that," Mateo said.

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