Virtus Bolonia-Real Madrid: gunning for a place in the playoffs

Real Madrid visit Virtus Bologna for Euroleague game 29 with the aim of mathematically clinching their place in the playoffs. With a win on the Italian court, where they already won last season, they would seal their spot and practically secure the home-court advantage. It will be the first of three consecutive outings for the best visitors in the competition (Alba Berlin and Partizan, coming after them), who will face a tough test against a Virtus Bologna side that has only lost two games at home. Sergio Rodríguez, Causeur and Rudy are out of the team.
The leader will be looking to get out of the negative streak in this competition as soon as possible. Despite this, we are in an unbeatable position and one win away from equalling our best regular season ever, which is 23 wins. There are still six games to go and we are five wins ahead of Virtus, who are seventh. The Italians are in the thick of the battle to finish in the top six and need to win on a court where only Zalgiris and Monaco have won this season.
The opposition
Still the best away team with 9 wins in 13 games, they need to regain their defensive level of the first part of the season. In offense, we scored almost 90 points on average. We will have to be careful with turnovers, as today's opponent is among the teams that recover the most turnovers. Virtus has very experienced and quality players. Their outside line has a lot of points with Hackett, Belinelli, Cordinier and Lundberg. On the inside, Shengelia is a clear reference point, accompanied by ex-Madrid player Mickey, Zizic and Dunston.
Away to Bologna
In the first leg, Madrid won with authority by 100-74 with an exhibition from Campazzo, who played his best game in the Euroleague with 39 PIR (18 points and 11 assists). This will be the fourth time we visit Virtus Bologna, having won twice. The first was in 2002, in the top 16, with a 71-82 victory. Ginobili, Rigaudeau, Andersen, Jaric or Smodis, among others, were in that team. The best of our team was Attruia, with 19 points. The most recent game between the two sides was in Bologna was last season and we won 79-96, with a great game from Yabusele and Hezonja. Today, we are looking for our 23rd win and a playoff spot.