Real Madrid-Unicaja: hosts looking to cap a fine week
Chus Mateo's side will be looking for their fourth straight win in the last seven days (12.30 pm CET).
Real Madrid are back in action today on matchday 31 of the league against Unicaja Malaga at the WiZink Center. This will be another stern test against one of the most in-form teams in the competition, and it also comes ahead of the crucial fifth game of the EuroLeague playoffs against Partizan on Wednesday. After the victories against Casademont Zaragoza and the heroics in Belgrade, the Whites will be trying to secure their fourth in seven days.
There are four matchdays left until the end of the Regular Season and the madridistas remain in the fight for the leadership together with Barça and Baskonia, who are one win behind them. Madrid are two ahead of Unicaja, the next closest challengers. Should they prevail today, Chus Mateo's side would secure home-court advantage in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Malaga outfit, who have also qualified after eight consecutive victories, will be looking to consolidate fourth place.
The game is sandwiched in between a very demanding EuroLeague playoff and only three days before the fifth and final game, which means that it will be another hurdle for the madridistas to jump. But the Whites are in a rich vein of form. Madrid have prevailed in the last three league games Girona, Joventut and Zaragoza, and especially the two against Partizan on the fiercest court in Europe to level a tie that had been an uphill struggle for the team. But the injury to Deck was a setback. Yabusele, who was the standout performer in the 71-76 win over the Andalusians in the first round of fixtures 19 in PIR, will be on the court.
There are four matchdays left until the end of the Regular Season and the madridistas remain in the fight for the leadership together with Barça and Baskonia, who are one win behind them. Madrid are two ahead of Unicaja, the next closest challengers. Should they prevail today, Chus Mateo's side would secure home-court advantage in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Malaga outfit, who have also qualified after eight consecutive victories, will be looking to consolidate fourth place.
The game is sandwiched in between a very demanding EuroLeague playoff and only three days before the fifth and final game, which means that it will be another hurdle for the madridistas to jump. But the Whites are in a rich vein of form. Madrid have prevailed in the last three league games Girona, Joventut and Zaragoza, and especially the two against Partizan on the fiercest court in Europe to level a tie that had been an uphill struggle for the team. But the injury to Deck was a setback. Yabusele, who was the standout performer in the 71-76 win over the Andalusians in the first round of fixtures 19 in PIR, will be on the court.
Madrid host a Unicaja side that ranks third best in the league 87.1 and boasts a solid block. They have clinical scorers like Perry and Brizuela, the second best placed against third-placed Unicaja 88.3 vs 87.1. Unicaja are a very complete team with powerful scorers Brizuela and Perry, shooters Kalinoski, strong small forwards Djedovic and Barreiro; and a robust inside game Kravish, Osetkowski and Thomas, among others. They are the team that collects the most turnovers, with Alberto Díaz ranked as the second best defender in the competition. Tavares is the first - the Cape Verdean has won the award for the third consecutive season.
On the horizon
The games come thick and fast for Madrid, who face four outings in a week Unicaja today, Partizan Wednesday 10, Valencia Basket Friday 12 and Gran Canaria Sunday 14 as they head into the final stretch of the campaign. The last seven league clashes against Unicaja have seen Madrid triumph, a run that began in the 2019-20 season. Today's matchup is the last one before the European showdown.
On the horizon
The games come thick and fast for Madrid, who face four outings in a week Unicaja today, Partizan Wednesday 10, Valencia Basket Friday 12 and Gran Canaria Sunday 14 as they head into the final stretch of the campaign. The last seven league clashes against Unicaja have seen Madrid triumph, a run that began in the 2019-20 season. Today's matchup is the last one before the European showdown.