The German basketball champions set off for Tel Aviv early Wednesday morning for their tenth EuroLeague game against Maccabi. After a week with four games, the team of coach Dejan Radonjic has a little more time to prepare this time. The game will start in the "Menora Mivtachim Arena" with a capacity of 10,000 spectators on Thursday evening (29.11.) at 20:05. As usual Telekom Sport and FC Bayern TV will broadcast live.
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The next home game will take place one week later, on Thursday, December 6th at 20:30, at the Audi Dome against Khimki Moscow. The top Russian team and EuroLeague topscorer Alexej Shved (25,3 ppg) will look to win in Munich. On the weekend, the Bundesliga league leader has no matches due to the national team break.
52-time Israeli champions Maccabi Tel Aviv have already won the EuroLeague five times (including two national champions' titles), most recently in 2014 under coach David Blatt. They had play-off aspirations for this season as well but so far only one of nine games has been won, so the coach was replaced a week ago. The new coach is the Greek, Ioannis Sfairopoulos, who had previously coached Olympiakos Piraeus for four years.
With the new coach they almost pulled off a victory against Fenerbahce Istanbul but in the end lost 74-70 was just before they defeated a rival 94-68 in the home league on the weekend.
"Maccabi has a great history and always has a great backdrop at home," Bayern coach Radonjic said. "I've seen their last two games, they have played with new energy after the change of coach and will do everything they can against us to get back on track in the EuroLeague as well. But we ourselves are in good shape at the moment and have all the players on board. It's going to be a tough game."
Top scorer Maccabis is a good friend: US-Guard Scottie Wilbekin, who had led Darussafaka Istanbul to a semi-final victory over the FCBB in the EuroCup in the spring and ultimately to the title win. He accepted a lucrative offer from Israel this summer. Although he is not yet as dominant there, he is still the most effective player with 13.1 points and 4.3 assists per game. Two-digit scoring averages have been accomplished by compatriot Deandre Kane (10.8 ppg) and former BBL professional Angelo Caloiaro (10 ppg).
"Maccabi has a strong squad and definitely not only Wilbekin. They can be judged much stronger than their current standings indicate," warned Bayern top scorer Nihad Djedovic. "After the coach change we expect a reaction from them, we must and will be prepared for it. Our defense must play for 40 minutes, that's clear."
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Upcoming games:
Thu., 29.11., 20:05: Maccabi Tel Aviv - FCBB (EuroLeague)
Thu., 6.12., 20:30: FCBB - Khimki Moscow (EuroLeague)
Sun, December 9, 18:00: Jena - FCBB (BBL)
Fri, 14.12., 20:30: FCBB - Zalgiris Kaunas (EuroLeague)
Sun., 16.12., 15:00: FCBB - Alba Berlin (BBL)
Wed., 19.12., 20:45: Armani Milan - FCBB (EuroLeague)
Fri, 21.12., 20:00: FCBB - Real Madrid (EuroLeague)
Sun, 23.12., 18:00: FCBB - Alba Berlin (BBL Cup)
Wed., 26.12., 18:00: FCBB - Würzburg (BBL)
Fri 28.12., 20:30: FCBB - Podgorica (EL/ feat. SIDO)
Sun, 30.12., 20:30: Bamberg - FCBB (BBL)