Euroleague: Monaco has an imperative of victory at Panathinaikos
After two defeats in a row at home, the Roca Team travels to Greece to challenge Panathinaikos today on the occasion of the 24th day of the Euroleague. A victory is essential to him.
The legendary match against Real Madrid, in an incandescent Salle Gaston-Médecin, is still on everyone’s mind. Against the leader of the Euroleague and the most successful club in the competition (10 trophies), the Roca Team played on a level playing field, pushing the “White House” to its limits. After two extensions, the men of Sasa Obradovic eventually lost 84-90. Less than 48 hours later, the bodies still used by this epic battle, the Monegasques folded again at home. This time in Betclic Elite against the leader, Boulogne-Levallois (106-115 after extra time) with a defense with absent subscribers.
With a record of 10 wins for 12 losses, the Roca Team is still in the race for the top 8. The matches in February, starting with the trip to Greece to face Panathinaikos there, will be crucial. For its part, the Greek club, only 15th in the ranking totals 5 wins for 15 losses. In the first leg, at the end of September, AS Monaco Basket won 75-63 for the first match in its history in European competition.
Winner of the Euroleague 6 times, the last time in 2011, the Pana is a monument of European basketball. Its coach, Dimitris Priftis, relies on a smaller squad than that of Monaco (13 players against 16). The danger will come mainly from the Greek pivot Georgios Papagiannis (9.5 points and 8 rebounds on average) and the American point guard Daryl Macon Jr (14.4 points and 3.4 assists).
“Panathinaikos is a formidable team and it is all the more so since the race for the top 8 is no longer its objective this season. It’s a team that has nothing to lose and therefore has less pressure than us. It’s teams like these that are the most dangerous to face. We’ll have to go out there and win.” says Sasa Obradovic.
Photo: Donatas Motiejunas (Euroleague)