EuroLeague: third round with four Spaniards in action

The EuroLeague enters its most intense phase with the third round of the season. Four games on Thursday and six on Friday make for a tight schedule that tests the teams' ability to respond following the first matches. The four Spanish representatives will be involved in commitments of varying significance, with differing urgencies depending on their previous results.

Madrid seeks to break its losing streak

The Real Madrid faces the most urgent match of the round. The whites arrive with a record of 0-2, having lost in Dubai by one point and suffering a defeat in Istanbul by 94-84 in what they consider their worst game of the season. That performance was marked by twenty-one turnovers that proved decisive in the final outcome. The opponent will be Hapoel Tel Aviv, which will play in Sofia due to its travel circumstances. The Israeli team arrives boosted after defeating Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade by 80-81 and has a strong roster: Micic, Bryant, Satoransky, and Oturu are some of their standout players. For Madrid, this clash represents an early crossroads in the competition where any further misstep will worsen their situation.

Barcelona travels to Istanbul with issues in the paint

The FC Barcelona visits Besiktas on Friday, who just achieved their first victory since returning to the competition. The Turkish team made history with that win against Maccabi, scoring 109 points and hitting seventeen three-pointers, figures that showcase their offensive capabilities. The blaugranas, for their part, come off a loss in Dubai and face the game without their three new big men: Nebo, Evbuomwan, and Makoundou remain unavailable. This deficiency leaves Balcerowski as the only available center, a situation that considerably limits the defensive and interior play options for the Catalan team. Besiktas, buoyed by their historic victory, presents a complicated challenge for a Barcelona that needs to resolve its player issues.

Valencia maintains its perfect streak in Villeurbanne

The Valencia is the only Spanish team arriving undefeated to this round. The taronja visit Villeurbanne with the morale of having scored 111 points against Baskonia, a scoring record for the club that demonstrates its offensive potential. ASVEL, led by Tony Parker, however, arrives shaken after taking a heavy defeat in Athens with a score of 102-79 just after securing their first win. The contrast in the performance of the French team makes Valencia the favorite in a matchup where Jaume Ponsarnau's squad will seek to maintain their undefeated streak.

Baskonia receives Milan with Santos' debut

The Baskonia faces its first match following the addition of Marcio Santos, the Brazilian center brought in to bolster their interior game. The Vitorians hold a record of 0-2 after conceding 106 and 111 points in their first two games, figures that highlight their defensive struggles. The Olimpia Milano arrives after winning the Italian derby against Virtus with a buzzer-beater, a victory that keeps them in the fight for the top spots. This matchup represents an opportunity for Baskonia to start their winning journey with the new players on the court.

Other matches of the round

Thursday completes its schedule with three additional games. Crvena Zvezda hosts Anadolu Efes in a duel where Ibon Navarro seeks his first win. Virtus Bologna, undefeated, faces Olympiacos in a high-level matchup. Paris hosts Zalgiris in a game between two teams needing to bounce back after their first matches.

On Friday, in addition to the four Spanish games, three more matches will take place. Fenerbahce hosts Dubai in a duel between two of the six teams with a perfect record. Partizan, also undefeated, travels to Munich to face Bayern. The day's action closes with Panathinaikos against Maccabi, as the Greek champion concludes their double week without four of their stars.

This third round marks an early turning point in the EuroLeague. The Spanish teams will have the chance to reaffirm their positions or start their recovery in a competition that is already showing its first trends. The intensity of the double week, with games on two consecutive days, adds a factor of wear that can influence the final results.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, EuroLeague: tercera jornada con cuatro españoles en acción