Zalgiris-Real Madrid: leaders close out Regular Season at La Undécima venue

On 21 May 2023, Kaunas was the stage for Real Madrid to clinch an eleventh European Cup following an unforgettable final, decided by the now legendary Llull basket. Today, 10 months on, Chus Mateo's team return to the Zalgirio Arena to close out the best Regular Season in EuroLeague history. The leaders will be hoping to secure a 27th win of the season against Zalgiris, no mean feat on home turf.
With the playoffs fast approaching, this evening sees Real Madrid play their last game before the title-deciding knock-outs begin. They won't find out who they're set to face until next week though, as their opponent will be determined by the new 'play in'. By the end of this round, it will be narrowed down to four possible matchups - Maccabi, Baskonia and Virtus Bolonia are the three guarantees, while the final place will go to one of Anadolu Efes, Partizan and EA7 Emporio Armani Milan.
It's sure to be a tough game against a Zalgiris team who excel at home, having not lost in front of their fans since 1 March against Olympiacos. We boast the competition's best record on the road, with 12 wins in 16 games, the greatest ever Regular Season run in Real Madrid history. A win tonight would match Anadolu Efes' all-time record of 13, set back in the 2019/20 campaign. The Lithuanians' threat lies mostly on the perimeter, where they have the second-highest triple percentage in the tournament (39.3), led by the impressive Evans. That's not to say their versatility inside isn't cause for concern, with Smits, Hayes, Birutis and Ulanovas in the ranks.
Llull looks to continue making history
Madrid have won their last three in a row away from home (Virtus Bolonia, Alba Berlin and Partizan). The first game between the two teams earlier this season at the WiZink Center was a convincing 93-79 victory, with Campazzo and Poirier as our top performers (28 & 29 PIR respectively). That seemingly impossible shot against Fall, with three seconds of the final against Olympiacos left to play, made sure to write Sergio Llull's name into the history books. Today, at the same venue, he could break the all-time EuroLeague three-point record, currently held by Juan Carlos Navarro on 623. He's just three away.