The Bayern basketball players and Alba Berlin have already faced each other 50 times and once in international competition - in the EuroCup round of sixteen 2016. (FCBB win) but when the German champions travel to Berlin for the 51st game, the EuroLeague anthem will ring out for the first time. The classic FCBB vs. Alba will be available on Wednesday evening for the first time as a German rivalry game in the premier class. It starts at 20:00 CET in the arena at Berlin's Ostbahnhof, (MagentaSport will broadcast starting at 19:45).
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The eagerly awaited duel between the two best German teams, however, is only the start of another fierce week for Bayern. On the day after their return from Berlin, on Friday evening (December 20th) at 20:30, the EuroLeague favorites, FC Barcelona, will visit the Audi Dome. The third outing within five days will then take place on Sunday (15:00 CET) on the road against the re-strengthened Giessen club.
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Hoping for Djedovic and Radosevic
First, the basketball nation looks to Berlin. The hosts have a record of 4-9 in the EuroLeague so far, including an overtime win at Panathinaikos Athens. The FCBB, on the other hand, have one more win (5-8), but are yet to win on the road. In the Bundesliga Bayern is currently at the top of the standings (11-0), Berlin has lost twice (8-2), including in November in Munich (84-80).
"This is of course a special game, because it could also have an influence on the BBL, so it's important for both competitions," Bayern captain Danilo Barthel says. "Besides, it should definitely be the point at which we win on the road in the EuroLeague. The duels with Berlin have always been heated in recent years, we know the team very well. Like us, Berlin has injury problems and may have to get used to the new rhythm a bit, but they have been playing very well this season especially on offense".
The Albatrosses have scored 84.9 points (FCBB: 75.7) in the 13 games so far, but on average they have also give up 91 points (FCBB: 81.8). The Lithuanian Rokas Giedraitis leads the team in scoring with 13.8 points, followed by playmaker Peyton Siva (10.6 ppg), Niels Giffey (10.1/68.8 % three), Luke Sikma (9.8), Center Landry Nnoko (8.9/5.4 rpg), three-point specialist, Marcus Eriksson (8.9) and Martin Hermannsson (8.7).
While Tim Schneider was back in action at the Berliners this weekend, Johannes Thiemann, Tyler Cavanaugh and Stefan Peno - who has been injured for most of the season - are still out. Bayern have been without key players Nihad Djedovic (8.8 ppg), Center Leon Radosevic and playmaker TJ Bray, who has been missing since the beginning of the season, whereas Josh Huestis made a short debut against St. Petersburg (77-69). Whether Djedovic and Radosevic will be able to travel to Berlin on Tuesday morning as intended and think about their comeback, will be decided after the final practice in Munich on Monday evening.
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