This week, the Bayern basketball team will have to cope with one last great feat of strength with two difficult EuroLeague games within three days. The week heralds the final spurt of the regular season in the premier class and is a tough one: on Tuesday evening (March 19th), the German champions will compete against three-time EuroLeague winner Olympiakos Piräus in Greece, before FC Barcelona, coached by Svetislav Pesic, will visit the Audi Dome for the final regular season game in the EuroLeague just 48 hours later on Thursday, March 21st at 20:00.
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The away game in Piraeus on the 27th of 30 gamedays starts at 20:00., MagentaSport and FC Bayern TV go live starting at 19:45.
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After two recent defeats, the Bavarians still have the chance to make the play-offs with a 12-14 record. Olympiakos currently holds onto the final playoff spot with a .500 record and won the first matchup against Bayern by a score of 72-62.
"We said before the season that we wanted to be competitive in the EuroLeague and I think we proved that," said coach Dejan Radonjic. "We're not calculating what might still be possible in the last four games - we just want to play a good game at Olympiakos. They need every victory for their big goal, to reach the playoffs, so we can prepare ourselves for a tough duel. We'll try everything to win the game and maybe we'll have all the players available for the first time in a long time, that would help."
Olympiakos around the great 36-year-old Vassilis Spanoulis (10.2 ppg) and Georgios Printezis (10.8 ppg) has also had difficulties of late, losing six of their last seven games. The living legend Spanoulis, however, is injured and former Bamberger, Janis Strelnieks will also sit this one out. One strength of the team of coach David Blatt is rebounding with an average of 36 rebounds per game, they are the second best team in the league. This facet of the game really hurt Bayern in their first matchup when the best rebounder in the league, the Serbian star centre and top scorer Nikola Milutinov (11.rpg) as well as the American Zach LeDay hauled in19 of the 39 boards (FCBB: 29).
All the more pleasing for the Bavarians is the fact that Devin Booker made his comeback after 15 missed EuroLeague games and also left a good impression in the league on Sunday during a 92-67 win over MBC in the BBL. "I'm happy to be back with the team and feel good," said the 28-year-old American. "It will be difficult against Olympiakos, they will play in front of their fans. But if we work well together as a team on defense and rebounding, we will have a chance".
Playmaker Stefan Jovic also travelled to Athens on Monday morning with the team but his availability is still debatable due to back problems.
Olympiakos Piraeus will be well rested at the"Peace & Friendship Stadium": becaust their league rivalry game against archrival Panathinaikos was cancelled on Sunday due to ongoing sports political debates.
Upcoming games:
Tue, 19.3., 20:00: Olympiakos Piraeus - FCBB (EuroLeague)
Thu, 21.3., 20:00: FCBB - FC Barcelona (EL)
Mon., 25.3., 19:00: Würzburg - FCBB (easyCredit BBL)
Fri, 29.3., 18:15: Darussafaka Istanbul - FCBB (EL)
Sun., 31.3., 16:30: FCBB - Ludwigsburg (BBL)
Fri, 5.4., 20:00.: FCBB - Gran Canaria (EL)
Sun 7.4., 18:00.: Frankfurt - FCBB (BBL)
Thu., 11.4., 20:30: Ludwigsburg - FCBB (BBL)
Sun., 14.4., 16:30: FCBB - Braunschweig (BBL)
Fri 19.4 15:00.: FCBB - Crailsheim (BBL)
Sun, 28.4, 18:00.: Berlin - FCBB (BBL)
Tue, 30.4., 20:30: FCBB - Bamberg (BBL)
So., 5.5., 15:30: Casting - FCBB (BBL)
Fri, 10.5., 20:30: FCBB - Ulm (BBL)
Sun, 12.5, 18:00.: Bonn - FCBB (BBL)