Preview of Italy - Slovenia in the Eurobasket 2025 Round of 16: Can Luka Doncic beat the Italians?

The EuroBasket 2025 is reaching its most intense phase, and one of the most anticipated matchups in the round of 16 will be the clash between Slovenia and Italy, two talented teams with aspirations in this tournament. Both teams have reached this stage after performing well in the group stage, although with some variations in their performances.

The group stage of Slovenia

Slovenia has had a solid performance in Group D, finishing in 3rd place with a record of 3 wins and 2 losses. The team led by Alberto Ales showed its strength, especially in the last game, where they achieved a significant victory against Israel (106-96). Throughout the group stage, Slovenia averaged 93.8 points per game, standing out for their offensive power.

The standout player for Slovenia has been Luka Doncic, who continues to prove why he is one of the best players in the world. Averaging 32.4 points per game, the point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers has been the undisputed leader of the team, also averaging 8 rebounds and 8.4 assists per game. Other key players have been Edo Muric, contributing 13 points per game, and Alen Omic, who has been crucial under the boards, averaging 8.6 rebounds per game.

After victories against Belgium (86-69) and Iceland (87-79), Slovenia demonstrated their ability to overcome teams with different styles, but losses to Poland (95-105) and France (95-103) highlighted that, despite being potent in offense, they need to improve defensively to continue advancing.

The group stage of Italy

Italy, on the other hand, had a more positive start to the tournament by securing the 2nd position in Group C with a record of 4 wins and 1 loss. Their only defeat came against Greece (66-75), a team that displayed great strength in the group stage. The Italians excelled particularly in their victories against Spain (67-63) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (96-79), which were among their standout performances in the group stage.

Italy's leading scorer has been Simone Fontecchio, averaging 14 points per game, showcasing his ability to score from anywhere on the court. Furthermore, Mouhamet Diouf has been a key player in the interior game, averaging 13.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Danilo Gallinari, the veteran NBA power forward, has also had his moments, albeit with slightly lower numbers (3.4 points per game). Italy's defense has been one of their main strengths, striking a good balance between offensive pressure and solid defense that has kept them near the top of the standings.

Image

The showdown between Slovenia and Italy promises to be one of the most exciting matches in the round of 16. Slovenia comes with a strong offensive reference in Luka Doncic, but Italy has shown to have a balanced and solid team with noteworthy defensive performance. The key factor could be Italy's ability to contain Doncic, while Slovenia will need to improve their defense to prevent the Italians from surprising them from the perimeter, as France did.

Date and time (in Spain) of the EuroBasket 2025 round of 16

Saturday, September 6

• Turkey vs Sweden – 11:00

• Germany vs Portugal – 14:15

• Lithuania vs Latvia – 17:30

• Serbia vs Finland – 20:45

Sunday, September 7

• Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina – 11:00

• France vs Georgia – 14:15

• Italy vs Slovenia – 17:30

• Greece vs Israel – 20:45

Spanish fans can follow all the games of the EuroBasket 2025 through RTVE on its various platforms. In particular, Teledeporte will broadcast one game per day after Spain's elimination in the group stage. It can also be followed on RTVE Play and on Courtside 1891, FIBA's official platform, offering online streaming of all tournament matches.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Previa del Italia - Eslovenia de octavos de final del Eurobasket 2025: ¿Podrá Luka Doncic con los transalpinos?