Real Madrid

Two things are in play: group lead and an unbeaten record. Real Madrid will finish the first half of the Top 16 games in Istanbul against the second best team in Group E, Anadolu Efes (20:45, Realmadrid TV), in what will be the Euroleague’s Game of the Week. The Whites will go the Abdi Ipekci Arena with a flawless 6-0 record. Also, four of those wins have been achieved from the Palacio de los Deportes. They come up against a team that have only lost once, against CSKA in the opening match. That is to say that they have five consecutive victories. One more thing: if Real Madrid win, it will be there best ever winning streak, of 8.

The cup defeat is in the past. Now there are other objectives to achieve. The closest of those is to beat Anadolu Efes on their court and get a seventh victory in the Top 16 and their fifth away. The team has travelled to Istanbul with the firm intention of inflicting a second Top 16 defeat on Oktay’s team and maintaining their position as a group leader and their undefeated record. They will not have it easy. The Turks, who slipped up on the opening day of this phase, have since got back on track, having won their last five games which puts them in second place in the group, behind Real Madrid. Also, do not forget that the home side’s performances improves at home where their fans are play an important role.

In spite of that, Real Madrid will go all out for the win in the game that will be played in the mighty Abdi Ipekci Sports Arena. Also, they will have in mind that they do not have the worst record on that court. Of the five times that the Whites have played on Anadolu’s court, four of them have ended in a Whites victory, the latest of which came last season (66-75).

CURRENT STANDINGS
Team	Position	GP	W	L	PF	PA	Diff
Anadolu	2º	6	5	1	448	417	+31
Real Madrid	1º	6	6	0	450	400	+50

The Game of the Week promises a highly competitive battle between the teams as well as some very interesting individual battles. The Turks come into the game with everyone available and Real Madrid’s only doubt is Marty Pocius, who has been training with the team but is still recovering. The Whites come into the game having beaten CSKA in Moscow, who are the only team that have beaten the Turks, in a splendid game in which Carroll and Rudy scored 51 points between them and made 18 rebounds. Without needing to rely on those two players, Real Madrid have a big squad who can all contribute, the truth is that they hope for good performances from the shooting guard from Wyoming and the Mallorcan forward.

The point guards will have to take the lead, depending on how the game goes, by imposing the pace of the game that makes them feel most comfortable on the court. Llull, Rodriguez and Draper have to deal with the former Real Madrid player Kerem Tunceri and former NBA player Jordan Farmar, one of Anadolu’s in form players and their leading scorer.

Another key man will be Mirotic, who will have to be strong against the experienced Savanovic. And they will have to be very careful with Erden on the paint. It was these players that Laso spoke about in the pre-game build up, explaining that any one of them talent that they can draw own to win the game. For the Turks, Oktay said:  "We are playing a very important game. It’ll be a battle for first place in the group. Our goal is to keep our good start in the Top 16 going and try to get the sixth consecutive win. Anadolu Efes wants to be on top, whatever the competition is. We want to stay at the top and for that we’ll need of fans’ support. With their help we want to achieve a historic win in the Abdi Ipekci Arena".

AVERAGES
TEAM	PF	PC	REB	AS	TO	ST	REC
Anadolu Efes	74,1	69,5	33,8	14,9	1,8	8,0	14,6
Real Madrid	80,1	66,6	37,2	15,6	3,5	7,1	11,9