EA7 Emporio Armani Milan hosts Virtus Bologna at the Unipol Forum in Milan on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 8:30 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. UTC), for a high-stakes EuroLeague showdown. Both Italian powerhouses enter the fixture searching for their first victory of the continental campaign after dropping their opening matches.
The stakes of the early-season Derby d’Italia
The fixture marks the second meeting between the domestic rivals this season. Milan previously claimed an 80-71 victory over Bologna in the Italian Supercoppa. Despite financial discrepancies between the two clubs’ roster budgets, matchups between Virtus and Milan traditionally level the playing field when the ball tips off.
Both teams look to bounce back from opening-week setbacks in Europe. Milan dropped its EuroLeague debut, while Virtus enters the Unipol Forum following matches against Fenerbahçe and Varese. The fixture also launches the first double-round week of the EuroLeague season for the Bologna side.
Mumbrú and Diouf stress physical and mental readiness
Virtus head coach Álex Mumbrú noted the demanding travel schedule facing his squad. «It will be a hard game, it’s our third away game in a row: we are playing against a great team that, after losing the first one, will certainly want to make up for it in the EuroLeague at home», Mumbrú said. «We have already played against them in the Supercoppa: we are improving and we want to prove it starting tomorrow».
Big man Momo Diouf echoed his coach’s assessment of the physical challenge ahead. «A hard game awaits us, both physically and mentally», Diouf said. «We come from two matches close together between the league and the EuroLeague and despite this, we will have to immediately start at a high pace and a high level of intensity, playing as a team with energy. The key will be to manage the ball well in attack, limiting errors and always keeping the quality of our game high. We will try to play our basketball».
Match details and officiating crew
Tip-off is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 20:30 CEST at the Unipol Forum in Milan. The officiating crew assigned to the match consists of Borys Ryzhyk, Alberto Baena, and Igor Dragojević.
Broadcasting arrangements include live coverage on Sky Sport, Now, and Nettuno Bologna Uno. Virtus Bologna continues to play without injured center Kevin Kokila.
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