This week’s 16-game EuroLeague bonanza concludes with two derbies but for Darussafaka Dogus, it could make or break their season as they take on an already eliminated but in-form Galatasaray side knowing that defeat could be disastrous if they wish to make the Playoffs.
A loss, coupled with a Crvena Zvezda win over Barcelona later in the evening would make their elimination official so for coach David Blatt, it’s win or bust.
“We are fighting for a Playoff spot and must bring that hunger and passion to this and every remaining game,” Blatt said. “Galatasaray have shown their ability to compete with any team in the EuroLeague and certainly will be a tough matchup for us in our quest.”
Even if has been too little, too late, Galatasaray has won three of its last four games and is enjoying its best spell of the season thus far. They have won three of their last four ahead of their latest clash with an Istanbul neighbour.
The second derby takes place in the Republic of Tatarstan as Unics Kazan hosts CSKA Moscow in the EuroLeague’s Russian derby.
The game however is a mere dead rubber for Unics, as their fate was sealed over two weeks ago, but for CSKA, who have secured a Playoff spot and home court advantage, they are still looking to become the number one seed in the post-season in a direct battle with Real Madrid.
∞∞∞ A SPOT IN THE PLAYOFFS AT STAKE FOR CRVENA ZVEZDA ∞∞∞
Crvena Zvezda knows that a win, coupled with a Darussafaka loss would send the Serbs to the Playoffs. They travel to Catalonia to take on Barcelona, whose season is nearing its end after they were eliminated from contention last week.
It will certainly be a strange atmosphere inside the Palau Blaugrana, with Barca fans used to success but instead they will be watching their fallen heroes seeing out the EuroLeague season with the weakest offence in the competition and no Playoff action for the first time in 12 years.
But for Red Star, they could advance at Barca’s expense.
∞∞∞ THIRD V FIRST AS OLYMPIACOS BATTLE REAL ∞∞∞
League leaders Real Madrid travel to Piraeus to take on Olympiacos with position at stake as both have not only advanced to the Playoffs, but have secured home court advantage.
The two teams that inaugurated the new era of the modern EuroLeague in 2000 and ushered in the new era this season have faced each other 24 times since then, with Madrid leading the head-to-head record 13-11.
