





In game week 22, FC Bayern’s basketball players managed a surprising 80-68 win over Israel’s record champions Maccabi Tel Aviv. This was Bayern’s seventh win of the season, after a few difficult weeks in the EuroLeague. This was also the first win under head coach Oliver Kostic. In front of 4,789 spectators in the Audi Dome, the German champions gave a strong defensive performance against an in-form side, sat in third in the table. Bayern won 40 rebounds to the Israelis’ 20 and were convincing over the first 40 minutes, shooting 47% from the three-point line. After getting out to an early lead (27-14), Munich brought the favorites to their knees in the final quarter. Nihad Djedovic was the best shooter in the game with 19 points, ahead of Paul Zipser (17).
Bayern are back in action on Sunday against the Telekom Baskets Bonn (18:00 CET), it’s a chance for revenge for October’s cup defeat. After the EuroLeague away match in Milan (January 31st, 21:15 CET), it’s time for the derby against Würzburg in the Audi Dome (February 2nd, 15:00 CET).
FC Bayern Munich v Maccabi Tel Aviv 80-68 (35-33)
FC Bayern Munich
Nihad Djedovic (19 points/3 three-pointers), Paul Zipser (17/9 rebounds), Petteri Koponen (9), Maodo Lo (9), Greg Monroe (9/10 rebounds), Danilo Barthel (6), Thomas Bray (5), Leon Radosevic (4), Jos-hua Huestis (2) Diego Flaccadori, Mathias Lessort and Alex King (dnp).
Top scorer for Maccabi Tel Aviv
Elijah Bryant (14)
Referee
Miguel Angel Perez (ESP), Damir Javor (CRO), Mykola Ambrosov (UKR)
Attendance
4,789
Special Occurrences
Vladimir Lucic became a father for the second time after the birth of his daughter.
Points per quarter: 23-12, 12-21, 22-20, 23-15.
Stats and facts: Two-point percentage: 42% (FCBB) // 51% (Maccabi); Three-point percentage: 47% // 32%; Free-throw percentage: 90% // 62%; Rebounds: 40 // 30; Assists: 15 // 20; Turnovers: 17 // 14. – Absentees: Vladimir Lucic (foot) and Zan Mark Sisko (thigh).
Post-game presser quotes:
Oliver Kostic, Bayern coach: “It was a great team performance today, and I’m really proud of the team. We’re celebrating two successes today: the win and the birth of Vladimir Lucic’s second daughter. Both mother and child are in Belgrade and doing well. It’s a great thing. In recent weeks, we’ve failed to take that final step, but we did so today. The team has given it their all in the past two weeks. It wasn’t easy because, because we were playing more than we were training. This time, we won the rebounds against Maccabi, that’s remarkable. But we also need to work on the number of turnovers. We’re celebrating tonight, but tomorrow we shift our focus to the game against Bonn.”
Ioannis Sfairopoulos, Tel Aviv coach: