In perhaps the most anticipated tie in the EuroLeague this season, CSKA Moscow hosts Real Madrid on Friday in round six at the Megasport Arena.
It is a battle between the last two EuroLeague winners: Madrid lifted the trophy in 2015 on their home court and CSKA won it last season. The Muscovites has a resounding 12-4 record in the competition against Madrid and 26-13 (with one tie) in a rivalry that dates all the way back to 1963.
This season, CSKA are the early pace-setters a top of the EuroLeague with a 5-0 record while Real’s only blemish was against Baskonia in round three.
∞∞∞ GALATASARAY SEARCH FOR FIRST WIN, HOST OLYMPIACOS ∞∞∞
After starting the EuroLeague season 0-5, Galatasaray host Olympiacos hoping to register their first win in front of their home fans.
Olympiacos has a 4-2 overall record against Galatasaray over the years in EuroLeague play. In their last game in 2014, the Istanbul side beat Olympiacos 79-74. They also have a 2-1 record over the Greek side when playing on home court.
Olympiacos boasts much better rebounding overall than Galatasaray (39.8 to 29.8), with Georgios Printezis adding 5.4 boards on average. On defence, the Piraeus outfit is holding opponents to fewer 80.2 points while Galatasaray gives up a league-high 97.0 per game.
∞∞∞ BASKONIA-FENERBAHCE MEET IN FINAL FOUR SEMI-FINAL REMATCH ∞∞∞
In a rematch of last season’s thrilling semi-final in Berlin that needed overtime, Fenerbahce travel to Vitoria to face Baskonia on Friday.
Fenerbahce eventually secured an 88-77 win that day and will look to bounce back from their shock loss at home to Unics Kazan that snapped their 23-game winning streak at the Ulker Sports Arena.
“We play against a team that changed a lot of players and the coach also, but they have started playing as if they played together for some time,” said Fenerbahce coach Zeljko Obradovic. “They have options in offense and defense so we expect a really tough game.”
Baskonia heads into Friday’s game with a 3-2 record having won on the road against Crvena Zvezda last week, plus the Liga Endesa side has a resounding 11-6 record against Fenerbahce over the years but will go into Friday’s game having lost their last home game to Olympiacos.
