Pregame quotes hub: Play-In Showdown

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of the second round of the 2025 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Play-In Showdown.

Friday, April 18

Real Madrid vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:45 CET)

Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach

"Tomorrow we have a final in front of us, a game that can give us the chance to play in the playoffs. We didn't take advantage of the first opportunity we had against Paris and now we have to take advantage of this second and final opportunity against Bayern, a team that has shown throughout the year that it is difficult to beat. Bayern has a lot of talent: they shoot three-pointers very well, they are very good one-on-one, they have very mobile centers, a great ability to punish the opposition after a turnover. They are a team that has shown throughout the year a certain consistency and I think we will have to play a very good game, a complete game, to beat an opponent that plays really good basketball."

Gaby Deck, Real Madrid forward

"We head into Friday's match with all the concentration it deserves because it's a final. We had an opportunity on Tuesday that we couldn't take advantage of, but on Friday we have another one. We have a tough game ahead of us because Bayern also wants to qualify for the playoffs. Bayern played very well at home and beat Crvena Zvezda on Tuesday and, if we don't do things right, we can lose, although I think we can also beat anyone if we manage to play our basketball. We have to be connected as a team from minute one to minute 40. There will be good moments and there will be bad moments, but if we don't play mentally together and connected as a group, things will get tough for us. We have to be together."

Gordon Herbert, FC Bayern Munich head coach

"We are the underdog in Madrid, but we will try everything to stay in the game until the end. We want to have an open game in the final quarter. To do that, we need to take away their second-chance opportunities, force them into half-court play, and then rebound the ball. They are very big and physical, and we have to stand our ground. Of course, the guys are tired after five games in 10 days, but since Tuesday we've been able to approach things a little more freely. After the Fenerbahce game, there was a lot of pressure on us to prove something. We overcame that and won [against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade], and I’m glad we could give our fantastic fans that victory. That was very important, but at the same time, I had the feeling in the locker room after the game that we’re not satisfied yet: The players know we still have half the journey ahead of us. We have more in mind."

Vladimir Lucic, FC Bayern Munich guard

"We're expecting a tough game, it’s all on the line. Real Madrid is still a great championship team, with very experienced players who have already won every title. After the loss to Paris, we will definitely see a reaction from them. They have the best duo in Facundo Campazzo and Edy Tavares, but the entire team undoubtedly has outstanding quality. We have to take the game possession by possession and simply try everything to beat them."