Real Madrid suffered a 102-98 defeat to Hapoel Tel-Aviv in a Euroleague game, marking the first time in the club's history that it has lost three matches in the competition during a single season. The game took place in Sofia at the Arena 8888, where Hapoel Tel-Aviv decided to begin its season. From the outset, Hapoel Tel-Aviv dominated the game, scoring 50 points in the first fifteen minutes. Key players Vasilije Micic and Elijah Bryant overwhelmed Real Madrid's defense, and Dimitris Itoudis's team made 9 of its 14 three-point attempts before halftime, leading 63-43 at the break. Bruno Caboclo added to the advantage by making all five of his three-point attempts. Real Madrid adjusted its strategy after halftime, scoring 19 consecutive points to close the gap to 67-64. The team tied the game at 75-75 after a strong third quarter, during which Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot scored 14 of his 21 points, including four three-pointers. He was supported by Walter Tavares, who contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds, and Nick Smith Jr. The French forward, who joined the team this season for two years, made 5 of his 10 three-point attempts in the game. Despite this effort, Real Madrid could not maintain its momentum. After leading 74-75 in the final seconds of the third quarter, the team allowed Hapoel Tel-Aviv to take control in the fourth quarter. A 10-2 run by Hapoel Tel-Aviv extended the lead to 89-78 with less than five minutes remaining. Elijah Bryant finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, earning a 40-point evaluation. Theo Maledon, who had 26 points and 7 assists in the game, scored 10 points in the final quarter but was unable to change the outcome. Real Madrid's core players had limited impact in the attack, with Facundo Campazzo scoring 3 points and Gabriel Deck scoring just 1. This loss contrasts sharply with Real Madrid's recent performance. On September 19, the team won the first SuperCoupe of the Euroleague against Olympiakos with a 93-89 victory. However, since then, Real Madrid has struggled, losing by one point in Dubai during the first round (78-77) and to Anadolu Efes in Istanbul (94-84). Pedro Martinez, who joined the team from Valencia this season to replace Sergio Scariolo, will now face Partizan Belgrade on Thursday, October 8, during the fourth round of the competition.