Euroleague: four Spaniards in double derby round
The Euroleague focuses this week on a double matchday featuring two Spanish derbies with Real Madrid, Barça, Valencia Basket, and Baskonia taking center stage. The four teams will compete in four matches in less than a week, all broadcast by Movistar Plus+ in Spain.
The continental competition chains a week of maximum intensity for Spanish basketball. On Tuesday, October 27, it kicks off with three simultaneous matches that focus on Euroliga and its national protagonists. Baskonia hosts Real Madrid in Vitoria, Valencia Basket faces Fenerbahce at home, and Barça travels to Munich to take on Bayern Munich. Four days later, on Friday the 30th, the second derby arrives with Barça versus Valencia Basket at the Palau Blaugrana.
Tuesday, October 27: the Vitoria derby opens the day
The Kosner Baskonia vs Real Madrid match takes place at 21:00 hours in the Buesa Arena of Vitoria. The Madrid team arrives in great form from beyond the arc. In the previous round, they won 99-113 in Tel Aviv with 21 three-pointers, a record in Euroliga, and last Sunday they scored 24 three-pointers against iLERNA Lleida in Liga Endesa, a new historic high according to ACB data. Theo Maledon and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot contributed seven three-pointers each in that offensive showcase.
On the other hand, Baskonia is going through the worst moment of its season. They have accumulated four consecutive losses since Velimir Perasovic took over as coach. On Sunday, they lost 84-75 at home to a Liga Endesa rival, after falling 85-79 in Athens against Panathinaikos. The absences weigh heavily: Chris Duarte, Tadas Sedekerskis, and Kobi Simmons are unavailable, while Rodions Kurucs missed the last game due to discomfort.
Tuesday and Thursday: Valencia and Madrid host Fenerbahce
At 20:30 on Tuesday, Valencia Basket welcomes Fenerbahce, the second-place team in Euroliga, at the Roig Arena. The team from the Valencian Community arrives with morale after winning 93-104 in Paris, maintaining third place in the standings with a 5-2 record.
Fenerbahce has two visits to Spain in just three days. After playing in Valencia on Tuesday, they travel to Madrid to face Real Madrid on Thursday the 29th at 20:45 hours in the Movistar Arena. The Madrid team plays its second match of the week, seeking to maintain their positive streak after the three-point records.
Barça travels to Munich at the start
On the same Tuesday at 20:00 hours, the Barça visits the SAP Garden in Munich to face Bayern Munich. The azulgranas come off a collaborative victory in Milan (81-89), with Sekulic leading a balanced game. Bayern sits in sixteenth place with a 2-5 record, presenting an understandable rival in the first match of the double week.
Friday 30: the second Spanish derby closes the week
The double round concludes with the Barça vs Valencia Basket match on Friday the 30th at 20:30 hours in the Palau Blaugrana. It is the second Spanish derby of the week, facing the third-placed team (Valencia, 5-2) against the ninth (Barça, 4-3). This match represents the close of a frantic week for Spanish teams.
Before that derby, on Friday at 20:00 hours, Baskonia travels to Villeurbanne to face LDLC ASVEL in the LDLC Arena. It is a duel between teams at the lower end of the standings, as ASVEL also has a 2-5 record. The Vitoria team seeks to break their negative streak away from home.
Standings and context of the week
After seven rounds of Euroliga, the standings present a clear picture. Panathinaikos and Fenerbahce dominate with 6-1 records. Valencia Basket is third with 5-2, establishing itself as the best Spanish team. Real Madrid, in seventh with 4-3, keeps alive their chances of recovery. Barça, ninth also with 4-3, is looking to gain consistency. Baskonia closes the table with 1-6, in the worst position after four consecutive losses.
All matches of this double round can be followed through Movistar Plus+, which holds the broadcast rights for Euroliga in Spain. The concentration of matches in a few days offers fans a week filled with elite basketball, with special emphasis on Spanish derbies that always generate added intensity.
The week represents a turning point for several of these teams. Real Madrid seeks to maintain its offensive trend and solidify its playoff positions. Valencia Basket tries to defend its third position. Barça needs to add wins to improve its standing. And Baskonia, in urgent need of results, has the Baskonia vs Real Madrid match as its first big test to try to break the negative dynamic.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Euroliga: cuatro españoles en doble jornada de derbis
