Virtus Bologna-Real Madrid: the EuroLeague gets underway
Scariolo's boys will be hoping to start off with a win on the road (8:45 pm CEST).
The toughest EuroLeague yet, this time with 20 teams, gets underway with a double-header this week. Real Madrid start out against Virtus Bologna this evening, before hosting Olympiacos at the Movistar Arena on Thursday (8:45 pm CEST). Scariolo's team will look to get off on the right foot today, with an opening win away from home.
The first week of competitive action makes it clear just how tough this edition will be, with 38 games to come in the Regular Season. That means being strong at home and picking up points on the road will be vital in clinching a playoff spot. The madridistas will have this simple goal in their opener in what is a EuroLeague classic against Virtus Bologna.
Tonight's opponent boasts a host of new faces as they look to push at the very top. Their domestic young talent remains in the form of Pajola, Niang and Diarra, backed up by the veteran Hackett and recent additions Vildoza, Alston Jr., Smailagic and Edwards. The American guard, top scorer in last year's edition for Bayern Munich (20.4 points), is their star signing. They're sure to be tough opposition from a physical perspective.
Madridista run
Despite being two historic names in the competition, Real Madrid and Virtus Bologna have only faced each other on 10 occasions under the EuroLeague format. The record reads favourably for our boys, at 6-4. And that difference is even greater in recent years, where the madridistas have won the last five in a row, three of them on Italian soil. All eyes tonight are on a first EuroLeague victory of the season.