The Spanish capitol is lucky to have two historical games in two days. The second one will feature our team which left for Euroleague game by Transaero charter flight.
The army men will be in the hotel and they will be able to watch the famous football El Classico after dinner – Real hosts Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu. The fans attention will switch to Palacio De Deportes on the next day, when two of the most honored European basketball clubs will face each other. The Real (8-time European champion) and CSKA (6-time European champion) was named the Game of the Week by Euroleague.
“We play an excellent team which is having an excellent Euroleague season and, what is most important, due to many young players who are leading the team, Real has even brighter future ahead”, CSKA head coach Ettore Messina said. “So the task is very difficult; we know we have to play great game to be at the level of opponents and to try to win this game. We hope that with our ball movement, with our defense and good concentration we will be able to compete until the very end of this game. As for me this will be not an easy game. I am extremely thankful to Mr. Florentino Perez and Real Madrid for the opportunity to coach such a great club and I am sorry it did not work. At the same time I am happy to see all the young guys I was coaching two years ago performing on such a great level in this Euroleague season.”
CSKA roster overcame sufficient change. Theodoros Papaloukas got injured during the morning practice just before departure to Madrid, supposedly damaging right hip adductor. He was replaced on the roster by Zoran Erceg who recovered after Achilles surgery. As for the Greek point guard he will be reevaluated by medics in the next days. Andrey Vorontsevich (injury) and Evgeny Voronov (coach’s decision) also stayed in Moscow.
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