EUROLEAGUE – Suarez expects another tough battle on Thursday against Valencia

MADRID (Euroleague) - Tuesday night's Euroleague clash between Real Madrid and Power Electronics Valencia wasn't really a game, but a war.

The opening game of the best-of-five quarter-final tie at the Caja Magica was as physical an encounter as any that has been played this season, and Madrid prevailed 71-65.

Carlos Suarez (pictured), who is in his first season at Madrid, expects the series to be tough all the way.

"We expected it to be a very level game just as all of our games have been this season," he said to FIBA.com.

"And we expect another hard game on Thursday.

"I think the next game is going to be even more physical and we have to be aware of this and be ready."

Suarez is a linchpin in the Madrid team now.

He had nine points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal in more than 26 minutes on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old is one of many Madrid players trying to reach the Final Four for the first time.

The added incentive is that this year's big event will be staged in Barcelona.

"We have home-court advantage but we cannot think one game is more important than the other," he said.

Suarez joined Madrid from cross-town rivals Estudiantes after last season and is a player that is in the reckoning to play for Spain's national team at the EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania.

"Anybody would like to play for the national team," he said, "but right now I'm focusing on Real Madrid and this season."

The other teams hosting the first two games of the quarter-finals won on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Caja Laboral host Maccabi Tel Aviv, Regal Barcelona face Panathinaikos and Olympiacos square off against Montepaschi Siena.

FIBA