Basketball
The previous match between Virtus and Olympiacos (photo Ansa)
The play-in train is preparing to leave and Virtus must run if they want to arrive at the station in time. New Euroleague week for the Bolognese, who face Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne tonight before flying to Athens on Friday to challenge Olympiacos. Coach Ivanovic has tenth place in the standings in his sights, which is essential to enter the four teams that will play in the play-ins. Single matches between positions 7 to 10 to assign the last places and complete the group of the eight best who will play in the final phase of the tournament. The black Vu are twelfth today and every match counts, considering that obviously the others also play and to gnaw away at positions you have to win when those who are further ahead in the rankings lose. In this sense, last Saturday’s victory against Monaco was fundamental, the team that today occupies that coveted tenth place.
Lyon are bottom of the competition, but be careful not to take the evening lightly. Virtus is coming off a championship defeat against Trento where they made a comeback despite a 17-point lead midway through the third quarter, a painful reminder that no game is won until the siren sounds, much less before the tap-off. There is awareness on the bench; Ivanovic commented: «In my opinion, Asvel is one of the best teams on a physical level in the Euroleague. They play very well in transition, as well as having excellent shooters and guards with a lot of points and assists in their hands.” Virtus will also have to do without Pajola and Morgan, who are out due to a meniscus injury, which will require surgery, and a sprained ankle, while they will return to the field from the Smailagic infirmary. Also giving further impetus is the desire for revenge after the bad impression against Trento, the Juventus guard Karim Jallow spoke expressly of «protecting the home field at all costs».
Friday’s trip to Greece against Olympiacos promises to be even more complicated, a team that is firmly near the top of the table and has won four of its last five matches in the Euroleague. The first leg match on 26 December was fought to the end, despite the Greeks’ attempts to escape and they managed to win by just three points, the hope of all the Virtussini fans is that this time the Bolognese will come out on top.
