Real Madrid

CSKA Moscow hosts Real Madrid in the 33rd showdown between these classic Euroleague teams. They boast 14 titles and 24 finals in Europe's top club competition between them. Madrid has won eight top continental crowns, more than anybody else, while CSKA is not only second with six titles, but is also the reigning Euroleague champion.

All that history will not count when the teams hit the court. CSKA leads Group D at 6-1 with Madrid right behind at 4-3, which means that the Russian champion will clinch first place with a win and become a top-seeded team in the Top 16 Draw. There is some good news for CSKA, despite the fact that Euroleague MVP Ramunas Siskauskas is sidelined, as playmaker J.R. Holden is back in action and ready to face Madrid. Holden is ready to share the point guard duties with Zoran Planinic and Nikos Zisis and they may share playing time on court, too. Holden is ready for a big battle against Raul Lopez, Planinic will have to make the most out of his size against Sergio Llull and Zisis will test his creativity and talent against experienced point guard Pepe Sanchez. Holden, however, will see minutes at off-guard for a high-profile matchup against Madrid star guard Louis Bullock.

Without Siskauskas around, CSKA will rely on Trajan Langdon to be its main reference in offense, with Viktor Khryapa seeing extended playing time at small forward. Khryapa will have a tough matchup against another athletic player in Quinton Hosley, while Alex Mumbru is set to play a key role due to his experience and unlimited range. Langdon is ready to go against Marko Tomas, who has been in great shape lately. CSKA is really deep around the baskets, with Terence Morris, Erazem Lorbek, Matjaz Smodis and Aleksey Savrasenko ready to help in many ways.

The key matchup of the game may well involve Smodis and Axel Hervelle. Smodis is an inside-outside threat, but Hervelle is a great defender with timing and quickness. Felipe Reyes is ready to battle against Lorbek and Savrasenko, while Jeremiah Massey will test his strength and athleticism against Morris. Madrid needs to play physical and get Bullock involved. Even though playing physical against CSKA at home may not look like a good plan, Madrid is one of the few teams that can match the champs' athleticism. CSKA needs to be its usual self in defense and get Langdon and Khryapa involved at the other end. Above all, there is intensity, tradition, history and two great teams ready to battle each other. Euroleague Basketball rarely gets better than this.