Euroleague: in the fight for the Top 8, Monaco expects a perilous match at Fenerbahce
He is there, but not yet at 100% of his means and in any case, in lack of competition. Jordan Loyd, not spared from the glitches in December (broken nose, then big shoulder sprain) is back on schedule, for this risky trip to the superb arena of Fenerbahce Istanbul (Ulker Sport and Event Hall) .
Monaco, which is also recovering (and this is essential) its pivot Donta Hall (absent 8 days after a sprain) is fighting at a pivotal moment, in this tightest Euroleague in history, where the difference between a victory or a defeat can drag you from 1st to 8th place.
La Roca Team still without Chima Moneke
However, the Roca Team, in search of a new lease of life, not yet helped by its rookie Chima Moneke (the latter is still in the USA, awaiting his visa for Europe), will have to face a revived Fenerbahce: two recent victories on the board (Pana and Bayern), with a US pivot, the overpowering Johnatan Motley, elected MVP of the 19th day (22 points and 17 rebounds against Bayern). The first Turkish club in history to have won the Euroleague (in 2017), the Fener of playing master Nick Calathes is still one of the favorites this season. Even if Real and Barça still seem a notch above.
In the first leg, on November 22 at Gaston-Médecin, Istanbul won 96-93 (with 21 pts from Nigel Hayes), despite ASM’s crazy comeback in the last quarter (33- 17). Jordan Loyd (18 pts) finished as Monaco’s top scorer.
“It’s going to make noise”
“Jordan may be able to play a few minutes, we have to go in stages, Sasa Obradovic advances cautiously. At the moment, we have ups and downs, we remain on a failed performance in Belgrade, but I think we learned from this defeat. To hope to beat the Fener, it will be necessary to achieve the perfect match. They will be at home, it will make noise.
An average of 10,049 fans fill the stands of Ulker Hall.