Real Madrid examines and defends its leadership in Piraeus

Real Madrid examines and defends its leadership in Piraeus

MADRID, 19 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Madrid faces this Friday (8:00 p.m.) the duel against Olympiacos in the impregnable Pavilion of Peace and Friendship in Piraeus, where they have only won two wins in their last eight visits, with the aim of remaining firm and holding onto their leadership of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague 2022-2023 against the second classified, who already defeated him at the WiZink Center.

Chus Mateo's men arrive at this key match launched, after chaining three consecutive wins away from home in their 'fantastic week'. The most recent joy was given in Granada, beating Coviran with authority (62-82) taking refuge in the fruitful duo formed by Dzanan Musa and Walter Tavares, both with double figures in scoring.

Before, he boasted of his 'double' in the Euroleague away from the heat of the WiZink Center, beating Red Star (59-79) and ALBA Berlin (77-84). Two important victories that have allowed the white team to rise to the top of the standings (13-6), a condition that they must protect and maintain in a European 'classic' in Piraeus.

The Greeks, hot on their heels, threaten (12-7) that privileged position aware that a win would be worth twice as much, after winning in Madrid (87-89) with a final basket by Kostas Sloukas. The point guard (14 points) and Aleksandar Vezenkov (23 points and 12 rebounds) were a 'toothache' for the madridistas, unable to stop the storm of two players whom they will have to watch with special attention.

"In order to take the victory we have to be very careful in their field, we know that we are playing on a difficult field. We are facing a team that will require us to have a lot of defensive and offensive balance", analyzed the coach Chus Mateo in the previous one, about a match between the two teams with the highest scorers in the competition -Olympiacos, with an average of 85.2 points, and Real Madrid, with 84.4-.

The difficulty of the duel will be increased by the casualties since Real Madrid travels to Athens without Sergio Rodríguez, with a blow to the knee; Nigel Williams-Goss, with fever; and Alberto Abalde, who suffered a sprained ankle. Absences that limit and leave the point guard position neglected, with Sergio Llull and Adam Hanga as options, although the good news is the return of Gaby Deck after missing several games, while Rudy Fernández already had minutes in Granada.

Georgios Bartzokas' men, who reached the 'Final Four' last season, confidently enter the game after destroying Apollon Patron (97-60) in the Greek league. In addition, they beat Sergio Scariolo's Virtus in the Euroleague (83-85), not without arbitration controversy and avoiding the comeback of the Italians, on the last day. They only have seven defeats so far this year, all in European competition, and three of them have been in Piraeus.

With the safe dangers of Sloukas and Vezenkov and others known as Alec Peters, formerly of Baskonia, and Moustapha Fall, in charge of stopping the intractable Tavares, the Greek team, always very physical in defense, will face off against Real Madrid without casualties, and with the mission of repeating the good things that made them prevail in Madrid to become leaders in what seems like a 'battle' in Piraeus.

OLYMPICS: Walkup, Canaan, Vezenkov, Peters and Fall -- possible starting quintet -- Sloukas, McKissic, Bolomboy, Larentzakis, Popes, Lountzis and Black.

REAL MADRID: Hanga, Causeur, Musa, Yabusele and Tavares -- possible starting quintet -- Llull, Poirier, Cornelie, Hezonja, Deck, Rudy Fernandez and Ndiaye.

--REFEREES: Belosevic, Mogulkoc and Vyclicky.

--PAVILLION: Piraeus.