The Bayern Basketball players will probably have to do their shopping for the first Advent in France, if they haven't already done so. The Munich team is now on the road in the nieghboring country for five days in the second Double Week of the EuroLeague, with two away games at the two top teams of the French LBN, Asvel Villeurbanne and champions AS Monaco. In Lyon, the team of head coach Andrea Trinchieri wants to draw level with a third win at the table neighbor on Wednesday (Nov. 23, 20:00), before they start as underdogs at the further strengthened playoff participant and third in the table Monaco on Friday.
In addition to Trinchieri's tactical preparation, the findings of the medical department continue to be the defining issue for Bayern in light of the internal flu epidemic. In addition to Sisko and Zipser, an ill quintet of Wimberg, Harris, George, Winston and Walden were absent last week. Bayern's squad for Asvel was thus inevitably decided shortly before Bayern's departure for Lyon on Tuesday evening.
Next Bayern home game is on Sunday (15:00) with the rivalry game in the Audi Dome against Wuerzburg.
Playmaker De Colo
The first task in the Astroballe Arena provides the FCBB with a host who, after a good (3-3) start, recently suffered two losses including last week in an unfortunate 71-67 squeeker at Red Star. Tony Parker's club reacted to some departures to national competition (Okobo and Strazel to Monaco, Wembanyama to Paris) by signing French compatriot Nando De Colo (Fenerbahce), who in his tenth EuroLeague season (12.7 ppg) is all-time averaging 15.5 points and a 42 percent three-point percentage. The experienced point guard was absent in Belgrade and in the 95-90 loss in Dijon last weekend due to muscular problems.
Villeurbanne brought last year's dominant guard from Bonn, Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who is still averaging 4.2 points per game from the latest four encounters after overcoming injury. Guard Retin Obasohan (8.1 ppg) spent a year in Bamberg, Jonah Mathews (11 ppg, transferred from Poland) and veteran David Lighty (10.5) also provide scoring from the outside. Given overall balanced stats, the rebounds and defense of Asvel center Youssoupha Fall (10.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg) have also played a major role.
"Asvel combines athleticism, length and experience," Trinchieri judged of the 19-time French champions. "They are very strong at home and have been either successful or very close in every game." Indeed, Bayern won for the first time in Lyon in January (77-68), while FCBB managed two home victories in the other four duels.
FCBB center Freddie Gillespie added: "They are currently in a similar situation to us. That's why they'll be just as motivated going into the game and trying to get the next win. Which is why I generally expect a hard-fought game."