Real Madrid-Zalgiris: hosts aiming for seventh EuroLeague win
Chus Mateo's troops host the Lithuanian team at the WiZink Center in the first of two matches this week (8.45 pm CET).
Real Madrid face two games this week at the WiZink Center. First, they will take on Zalgiris, on matchday 15 of the EuroLeague, and then Rio Breogán, on matchday 10 of the Liga Endesa. This evening, the Whites host a Lithuanian team that is enjoying a strong season, with the aim of winning for the seventh time in this competition to keep climbing up the standings.
Chus Mateo’s team rediscovered their winning form against Unicaja in the league (90-78). However, this will be a stern test for the Madridista attack (83.4 points) against Zalgiris because they will be facing the best defence in the league (75.6). Madrid boast the highest percentage of two-point shots (60%). If they are effective from three-point range, their scoring usually exceeds 90 per game.
Zalgiris go into the clash on the back of a victory over Anadolu Efes in Kaunas, where they are proving to be stronger than on the road. They made a great start to the EuroLeague but in the last five rounds they have only managed two wins and have dropped to eighth place. Madrid will be looking to continue their climb up the rankings, and to do so they will need to pay special attention to their perimeter play and offensive rebounding. Walker IV and Sylvian Francisco pose their biggest threats in attack, but the visitors are a team with many players who contribute (Sirvydis, D. Giedraitis, Brazdeikis, Smailagic and Dunston, among others).
Previous meetings
This will be the 31st clash between the two teams in this competition, and Real Madrid have a record of 25 wins. The Madridistas will be hoping to continue their winning streak at home against the Lithuanians, winning five in a row. Last year the Whites won 93-79. Today's contest is the first of seven games in the remainder of the year.