Fenerbahçe-Real Madrid: visitors looking to extend EuroLeague unbeaten run
Two days after the emphatic win against Maccabi, the competition leaders face a demanding away game again (6.45pm, CET).
This evening Real Madrid will face the second of four away outings in a row in Istanbul. The EuroLeague leaders, who are the only unbeaten team, will be looking for their 11th win in the competition, the second in less than 48 hours after the victory secured against Maccabi in Belgrade in the rearranged game. It will be a stern for the Whites against Fenerbahçe, who are unbeaten at the Ulker Sports and Event Hall this season.
It's first against eighth, two teams destined to be at the very top of the toughest EuroLeague ever. Real Madrid have made the best possible start to two of the most demanding weeks of their fixture list. After this game, the madridistas travel to Greece to take on Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in another double-header. As the clear leaders in the competition, with two more wins than the second and having won in all four of our outings (Baskonia, Anadolu Efes, Valencia Basket and Maccabi), if our team wins today in Istanbul it would be our second best away start in the EuroLeague, just one behind the record set in 2013/14.
Madrid's performance can be seen in the statistics, which they top lead in PIR, attack (they have scored 99 points in two games in a row), defence, defensive rebounds, assists and blocks. The team is also averaging high percentages, almost 60% in two-point shots and 40% in three-pointers. In the last two games, the Whites have accumulated 61 assists, with six players in double-digit points scoring. (Campazzo, Hezonja, Deck, Musa, Yabusele, who will not be involved, and Llull). Fenerbahçe are certainly no slouches either and possess a very large squad with players with extensive experience in Europe. Five of them average more than 10 points (Motley, Wilbekin, Hayes-Davis, Guduric and Dorsey).
Another challenge for the team
Fenerbahçe are on the back of four consecutive defeats and will be looking to end that run in front of their home fans, where they have remained unbeaten so far, winning all four of their fixtures. Along with Madrid and Barça, they are the only team that has not lost at home. However, the madridistas have a firm objective: to put an end to that run. Last season the Whites came away with a 71-85 win and the overall record is 23-10 in their favour. This evening they will be vying to extend their unbeaten record.