Partizán-Real Madrid: into the home straight for the Euroleague leadership race
Our boys could could equal their record number of wins in the regular season today.(8:30pm CET).
Real Madrid play the first of the last three games of the Euroleague regular season tonight at the Stark Arena in Belgrade, a venue that brings back fond memories for The Whites, who won their tenth European Cup there in 2018. Tied at the top of the table with Olympiacos, Chus Mateo's side face a Partizan team that is playing for a place in the playoffs. Our team will be looking to seal their 23rd win to stay in contention for the top spot and equal their highest win tally for a regular season.
The final stretch to decide the playoff teams and the order of the seedings is about to get underway. Madrid, who secured home-court advantage with Wednesday's home win over Fenerbahçe, have three rounds ahead of them in which to take the lead. After their visit to Belgrade, they will host Bayern Thursday 6th and close the regular season in Tel Aviv against Maccabi Thursday 13th. If they win, they will be guaranteed one of the top three places. But if they want to finish top, they will have to win one more than Olympiacos, as the Greek team has the advantage in the basket average this matchday they host Panathinaikos. Partizan have a lot at stake. They are seventh and have not yet sealed their place in the playoffs. They come into this one having lost at home to Barcelona but have previously beaten Efes and Olympiacos. Madrid's recent form is much better, with wins over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, Virtus Bologna and Fenerbahçe.
The final stretch to decide the playoff teams and the order of the seedings is about to get underway. Madrid, who secured home-court advantage with Wednesday's home win over Fenerbahçe, have three rounds ahead of them in which to take the lead. After their visit to Belgrade, they will host Bayern Thursday 6th and close the regular season in Tel Aviv against Maccabi Thursday 13th. If they win, they will be guaranteed one of the top three places. But if they want to finish top, they will have to win one more than Olympiacos, as the Greek team has the advantage in the basket average this matchday they host Panathinaikos. Partizan have a lot at stake. They are seventh and have not yet sealed their place in the playoffs. They come into this one having lost at home to Barcelona but have previously beaten Efes and Olympiacos. Madrid's recent form is much better, with wins over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, Virtus Bologna and Fenerbahçe.
The 105-97 scoreline from the game played at the WiZink Center is testament to the Serbians' offensive danger. That day Madrid recorded their highest score of the season, with Llull leading five players in double figures. We have the second best offence in the Euroleague and we will be facing the third best. They are a very physical team and are dangerous from three-point range with an almost 40% success rate. They have high quality players like Punter, Exum and Nunnally on the outside line and Lessort and Leday on the inside. This partnership has been one of the keys to Obradovic's team's success. The Whites, who will have to contend with the atmosphere at the Stark Arena, will be looking to punish the home side's defence, which concedes an average of 82.8 points per game.
Further incentives
As well as staying in contention to finish top, the game will also offer extra motivation for Chus Mateo's side. If Madrid win today, they would equal their record number of wins in a regular season 23 in 2016/17 and the number of away wins in a single edition, also achieved in that season 11: 9 in the Regular Season and 2 in the playoffs. We have faced Partizan 17 times in the competition, with a head-to-head record of 15-2. We will be looking to repeat our success today on the same stage on which we won the Tenth.
Further incentives
As well as staying in contention to finish top, the game will also offer extra motivation for Chus Mateo's side. If Madrid win today, they would equal their record number of wins in a regular season 23 in 2016/17 and the number of away wins in a single edition, also achieved in that season 11: 9 in the Regular Season and 2 in the playoffs. We have faced Partizan 17 times in the competition, with a head-to-head record of 15-2. We will be looking to repeat our success today on the same stage on which we won the Tenth.