The second round of the EuroLeague kicked off tonight (Thursday), when Barcelona host Real Madrid for a hot Clasico in which they try to avenge the decisive losses in the meetings between the teams last season. Champion Anadolu Eps suffered a dramatic loss at Monaco, Red Star Belgrade surrendered to Panathinaikos and Bayern Munich will go to Italy, where Virtus Bologna awaits them.
Monaco – Anadolu zero 92:95
The European champions suffered their first loss in the Euroleague already in the second round, as the team from the principalities continued the momentum from the victory over Virtus Bologna last week. The opening was all about Anadolu Eps, which led by nine in the first quarter, but Monaco came to their senses and arranged a tight end to the fourth quarter, at the end of which Mike James forced overtime with a basket about 29 seconds to the end. Along with Eli Okobo and Alfa Diallo, the American guard led a mini breakout in overtime, en route to a prestigious victory. 19 points were for James, 15 for Diallo who added 9 rebounds, 14 for Dontas Mutionas and Adrian Muerma. Will Clyburn had 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists on the Turkish side, Micic scored 20 and gave 8 assists but it wasn’t enough this time.
Red Star Belgrade – Panathinaikos 77:75
In the meeting between the two teams that lost to the Euroleague finalists from last season, the greens from Athens recorded their first victory in the current season, when their coach Dian Radonich prevailed in a particularly spicy game over the team he coached until last summer and for six years in two different terms. Neither team was able to open a significant gap, and it was Red Star that took a five-point lead with less than three minutes remaining, but Arturas Goudaitis, Derek Williams and Maaush Punitka made a turnaround before Paris Lee closed the game from the line. Goudaitis scored 12 for the winner, which was led by Marius Grigonis with 17 points. Ben Bentil stood out with 18 on the other side.
Barcelona – Real Madrid (21:30)
Three days before the huge meeting in football, the basketball teams will meet in Catalonia for an intriguing battle. The host is coming after a home loss in the opening round to Olympiakos, so the pressure level is particularly high. Saronas Jasikvicius’ team will arrive especially charged for the match, and will try to avenge the harsh losses to the Blancos in the semi-finals of the Final Four of the Euroleague, the final series of the Spanish League and the Super Cup more than two weeks ago. Nikola Mirotic and Kyle Coric will be absent, Rudy Fernandes, on the other hand, will not be available to Chos Mateo.
Virtus Bologna – Bayern Munich (21:30)
This is not how the Eurocup champion wanted to open the return season to the Euroleague. Virtus Bologna came with great expectations for the new season, but were defeated at home by Monaco and finished the first round in last place. From here, Sergio Scariolo’s team will try to recover in another home game, against the Bavarians, who themselves started on the left foot with a home loss to Fenerbahce.
Friday games in the Euroleague:
Fenerbahce – Maccabi Tel Aviv (21:00)
Olympiakos – Zhelgiris Kovna (21:00)
Milan – Elba Berlin (21:30)
Baskonia (21:30) – Partizan Belgrade (21:30)
Valencia – Villerban (10:00 p.m.)