Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Tuesday January 20, 2026 at 10:49 p.m.
ASVEL remains last in the Eurolique rankings after its big 77-96 defeat against Zalgiris Kaunas this Tuesday at home.
Fourth defeat in a row in the Euroleague for ASVEL, which remains stuck in last place in the ranking. After Real Madrid, Vitoria and Hapoel Tel Aviv, it was Zalgiris Kaunas who came to win against the Villeurbanne club. At the Astroballe, the Lithuanians, led by Sylvain Francisco with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 24 minutes, won 77-96 and consolidate their ninth place. They led from start to finish during this game.
A catastrophic start to the match…
ASVEL started the match in the worst way, trailing 0-11 after a little over two minutes, then 2-17 after a little over five minutes, and Pierric Poupet’s men never recovered. They certainly reacted well by signing a 12-0 in this completely crazy start to the match. But in the end, Zalgiris won the first quarter 18-23. On his momentum, he had an eight-point lead at the start of the second quarter (22-30), but ASVEL hung on and came back to -2, before returning to the locker room with “only” four points behind (41-45).
…and a big air hole
Nothing was lost yet and the French club once again resisted the recovery well (45-49, 22nd). And suddenly, a new air hole. The Villeurbannais conceded a 20-2 in five minutes, the fault of an untenable Francisco-Wright-Tubelis trio. The Zalgiris was then in orbit to achieve victory, and it did not need to be asked. Kaunas led 55-75 at the end of the third quarter then increased their lead to +29 in the last (64-93) before loosening the grip at the end of the match. ASVEL ultimately lost by 19 points, despite Thomas Heurtel’s 21 points and Edwin Jackson’s 13. Friday, she will challenge FC Barcelona (6th). And a fifth defeat in a row cannot be ruled out…
Villeurbanne markers: Eboua (2), Seljaas (7), Harrison (4), Heortel (21), Ajinnça (6), Massa (8), Jackson (13), Lighty (2) Lighty (5), Niant (5), Vautier (5), Vautier (2), Vautier (7) Traor
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