Khimki-Real Madrid: first match of the doubleheader in Russia

A decisive month of March begins for the playoffs of the Euroleague. To begin with, the Real Madrid He will face a double day on Russian soil, which will take him to play two games in 48 hours against Khimki and Zenit of Saint Petersburg. The team will seek their seventeenth victory this afternoon at Arena Mytishchi, where they have won two of their last three visits. Laso recovers to Taylor to travel with 13 players.

The Real Madrid gained momentum last week with two wins against Zalgiris Y Inherit San Pablo Burgos facing the one that now arrives with 3 games in 6 days, which will conclude on Sunday at the UCAM Murcia field. With eight days to play in the Euroleague Neither team is yet assured of a playoff berth. The equality is such that only 3 wins separate the first eight. The Madridistas are fourth to two wins from the head and will try to defend that position against a Khimki who is last with a 2-23 balance.

Unpredictable rival

The Russians are always a tough opponent. In the first round match played in the WiZink Center he won Real Madrid for 94-85. Khimki started as one of the favorites for the title but have not performed at the expected level. The madridistas will find themselves an opponent different from the one in the first leg. Maltsev has replaced Kurtinaitis on the bench, Jerebko, Monroe and Booker have left, and Ponkrashov has arrived. Yes there will be Shved, who along with ex-Madridista Mickey are the Russian references. McCollum, Zaytsev and Bertans stand out on the perimeter.

—

The Russians’ greatest weakness is their defense, which concedes an average of 91 points. Despite the plague of injuries that plagues the Real Madrid (comes back Taylor but they are doubt Thompkins Y Alocén due to ankle sprains), those of Laso They have sufficient resources as they demonstrated against Hereda San Pablo Burgos last Saturday. Tavares, which comes from signing his top scorer (27 points) and being MVP of the last league match, Carroll Y Deck they are solid arguments. Just like his defense and match starts, which have been key in recent victories. Against Zalgiris they signed a +8 in the first quarter (21-13) and against Burgos a +16 (29-13).

Plenary session in the previous double day in another country

The Real Madrid You already know what it is like to play a mini-tour of two games in a row against teams from the same country and also do it successfully. Last December he visited Athens to face the Panathinaikos Y Olympiacos, which he defeated with three overtimes. Today will be the sixteenth time that they have seen each other against Khimki and the balance is favorable to the Madrid team by 9-6.

– .