Like in the Final Four

Our team went to Madrid to play Real uncharacteristically early – two days before the game. Nothing surprising: Thursday game can practically decide the situation in the Euroleague Group F.

Royal Club’s loss a week ago helped CSKA to feel more confident in the standings but did not helped talking about specific upcoming game. The opponents will be extra-motivated and, as Aaron Jackson mentioned, it will be Final Four type of game. Therefore the decision to come to Madrid on Tuesday, and to practice normally on Palacio de Deportes floor on Wedneday is more than logical.

“It will be very important and probably even decisive game which gives the winner better chances to finish on the first place in the group.” CSKA head coach Ettore Messina said. “It is even more significant because both teams are yet to travel to Tel Aviv. We have to be ready to play in a hot atmosphere against the team which has to respond after the previous game. To control the tempo and to take care of the ball will be even more important than to have good shooting percentage.”

After short rest by three players during the team’s trip to Volgograd the coaching staff got Victor Khryapa, Nenad Krstic and Andrey Vorontsevich back. The away roster misses Milos Teodosic (calf) and Alexander Gudumak (stayed to play for the junior team). Jaycee Carroll is still out for Real.