There are no more unbeaten teams in the league, while just one side remains winless
At a glance: How many surprises will we see this week?
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Round 5 of the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season delivers an exciting slate of games, including a high-flyer facing a major test on the road. This is what to look forward to from Wednesday to Friday.
Wednesday, October 23
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Virtus Segafredo Bologna (20:30 CEST)
The action starts early with one game on Wednesday, with Partizan (2-2) gunning for a third straight victory as it welcomes winless Virtus (0-4). The Serbian team enjoyed a strong night at Maccabi last Thursday behind a great team performance, with nine players sharing 23 assists on just 5 turnovers. Iffe Lundberg is one of Partizan’s many deep scoring threats (8.5 points per game on 41.7% three-point shooting), while Isaac Bonga is in even better form with multiple triples in every game. Virtus – which beat Partizan twice last season – can rely on the consistency of Toko Shengelia (12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game) but needs to show more hustle after only averaging 4.3 steals so far, the second-lowest in the league.
Thursday, October 24
Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (19:00 CEST)
Fresh off the second-biggest comeback win in EuroLeague history, Zalgiris (3-1) returns home with its confidence sky-high ahead of a visit from Maccabi (2-2). The visiting team will be led by new signing Saben Lee, who has averaged 14.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 4.5 assists through his first two appearances. On Thursday he faces a tough defensive task against Sylvain Francisco, who average 15 points and 5.8 assists per night. Another backcourt threat for Zalgiris comes from Dovydas Giedraitis, who is coming off a career night after draining 21 points to inspire the heroics in Milan. Maccabi will look to control the tempo and establish inside dominance through Jasiel Rivero (12.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game).
AS Monaco vs. Paris Basketball (19:00 CEST)
A French League derby and meeting of two recent BKT EuroCup champions will see Monaco (3-1) host Paris (1-3). After narrowly losing out in a high-scoring thriller against Bayern last Thursday, Paris will again lean on the offensive fireworks of TJ Shorts, who ranks third in scoring (17.8 points per game) and fourth in assists (7.0 per night). Against his talents, Monaco was pleased to see Mike James returning to top form with 19 points and 5 assists to spearhead last week’s big win over Virtus, while center Mam Jaiteh has made a strong start to the season with averages of 10.2 points and 6.5 boards. Paris will hope for an improvement from ex-Monaco man Yakuba Ouattara, who has failed to score in three of this season’s four games.
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. ALBA Berlin (20:30 CEST)
Two teams looking to get back on the winning track meet in Vitoria, with Baskonia (2-2) hosting ALBA (1-3). Pablo Laso will be reminding his Baskonia players to compete for 40 minutes after a fourth-quarter collapse led to defeat at ASVEL last week, despite another dominant display from Chima Moneke (16 points and 5.8 rebounds per game). ALBA leads the league in rebounding, in large part thanks to Khalifa Koumadje crashing the boards to the tune of 7.8 rebounds per night, so the hosts will hope that Tadas Sedekerskis (5.3 rebounds per game) can overcome the heel issue that forced him to miss the loss at ASVEL. In the backcourt, ALBA will hope Matteo Spagnolo can stay hot after scoring 16 and 13 points in the last two games.
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:30 CEST)
Haunted by memories of last week’s historic late collapse against Zalgiris, struggling Milan (1-3) will look for an instant reaction with a visit from Efes (2-2). The Turkish team has confidence restored – and scoring star Shane Larkin back in top form – after Friday’s thrilling comeback win over Olympiacos, and will look to stay strong inside the paint after making a league-best 61.3% of two-point shots so far. Jordan Nwora will need particular attention from Milan after making 9-of-12 two-pointers in the last two games. The Italian team has the league’s worst assists to turnovers ratio (14.8 to 13.5 per game), so needs better ball control from the likes of young guard Leandro Bolmaro (2.3 assists and 1.7 turnovers per night).
Real Madrid vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:45 CEST)
After igniting its campaign with last week’s hard-fought loss against Panathinaikos, Real (2-2) will aim to build more momentum with a visit from Zvezda (3-1). Facundo Campazzo is in electric form with 15.3 points and 8.7 assists per night, and he faces a matchup with another undersized but electrifying guard, Yago Dos Santos, who scored 23 points in last week’s overtime loss to Barcelona. Inside the paint, Walter Tavares is as dominant as ever with 10.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, but he will be tested by a very much in-form Joel Bolomboy, who averages 14.7 points and 8.7 rebounds over the last three games. Nikola Kalinic will also need extra attention from Real, after making 8 of his 13 three-point attempts so far.
Friday, October 25
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (19:45 CEST)
An electric atmosphere is guaranteed in Istanbul as ambitious Fenerbahce (3-1) seeks to inflict a third straight loss on reigning champ Panathinaikos (2-2). The Turkish team bounced back to winning ways at ALBA last week partly thanks to 4 three-pointers from Tarik Biberovic, who faces a good duel with visiting forward Juancho Hernangomez after he also netted a quartet of triples in defeat at Real. In the backcourt, Fenerbahce will look for defensive ace Devon Hall to slow down Kendrick Nunn, who has scored at least 16 points in every game this season. The versatility of Nigel Hayes-Davis (15 points, 5 rebounds per game) will also be vital for the Turkish team, which needs to cope with the energy and explosiveness of Mathias Lessort (15.8 points and 8 boards per night).
FC Barcelona vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:30 CEST)
Barcelona (3-1) will look for a fourth straight win to protect – or improve – its position as co-leader with a visit from ASVEL (2-2). The French team is also confident after last week’s stunning fourth quarter fightback to claim victory over Baskonia, and can call upon one of the league’s hottest properties in Theo Maledon, who averages 27 PIR in the last three games. Big man Neal Sako has been equally impressive, claiming three consecutive double-doubles, so Barca will hope that Jan Vesely can repeat his strong performance – 19 points and 5 boards – from last week’s overtime victory at Zvezda. Barca lead the league in assists (22.5 per night), while Kevin Punter (18.0 points per game) is in red-hot form at the moment, so ASVEL will need to be on its toes.
FC Bayern Munich vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:45 CEST)
Bayern (2-2) will aim to protect its 100% record at home with a visit from Olympiacos (2-2), which is aiming to bounce back from a tough loss at Efes. Fans at the new SAP Garden will be hoping for a repeat of the entertainment served up in Bayern’s last home game, a 109-107 thriller which saw backcourt stars Carsen Edwards and Shabazz Napier both drain six triples. Both teams have struggled to grab rebounds this season, averaging 28.8 and 30.3 respectively (17th and 16th in the league), so Olympiacos will hope that Moustapha Fall can rediscover his usual standards after only grabbing 2.0 boards per night so far. The Reds will also look for another strong night from Shaq McKissic, who scored 22 and 17 points in last week’s double slate of games.