Real Madrid made a statement of intent with an impressive 70-99 whitewash of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in their Round 6 clash of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. 

Real in a league of its own after taking Maccabi to the cleaners

Real Madrid made a statement of intent with an impressive 70-99 whitewash of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv in their Round 6 clash of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. The result stretched the reigning champ’s perfect start to 10-0 and kept Real firmly in the driving seat of the 18-team competition.

Maccabi, which hosted the clash postponed earlier this month in Belgrade, dropped to 5-5 after a lackluster performance with Josh Nebo the team’s only player to score double digits, as he posted 14 points and 9 rebounds in a one-sided contest.

Real, in contrast, thrived on a flowing team effort which saw towering center Walter Tavares lead the charge with 19 points and 8 rebounds, having scored 15 points in the first quarter. Four of his teammates scored in double digits and Real racked up a staggering 29 team assists, highlighting the team’s superior quality over Maccabi and the rest of the EuroLeague pack.

However, head coach Chus Mateo refused to bask in glory and could not stress enough how vital it was for his players to keep their feet firmly on the ground.

Chus Mateo post-game interview

“We may be the best team at the moment, but we need to keep working, stay humble and be aware that there is a very long way to go,” Mateo said after the game. “We must never think we are the best and we have to keep working, otherwise anybody can beat you.”

Mateo’s no-nonsense approach was everywhere to be seen, from start to finish, as Real picked apart one of the competition’s most heralded outfits, albeit in an empty gym with the game played behind closed doors. Real dominated throughout, hitting top gear after Maccabi had briefly threatened to turn the tide, slashing the deficit to 54-60 midway through the third quarter.

Game Videos

“To have a chance of winning against Real, you have to be focused for 40 minutes and we just weren’t there,” said Maccabi head coach Oded Kattash. “We weren’t aggressive enough defensively. We had a run in the third quarter but then they hit some tough shots. We have to be honest and say they controlled the game and we’ll learn from it.”

Tavares acknowledged Real had no time to rest on laurels, with a tough visit to Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul beckoning on Thursday. He also pointed out there was a bigger picture which Real’s players always keep in mind in order to avoid getting carried away.

“It’s great for us to keep winning but we know that our first goal is to get to the playoffs and the Final Four,” said the big man from Cape Verde. “We have to recover quickly because we know it’s going to be a hard game against Fenerbahce, one of the best teams in the EuroLeague. We have to stay focused and mentally prepared.”

If Real’s performance against Maccabi is anything to go by, Fenerbahce faces a tough task to snap its four-game skid which saw the 2017 EuroLeague champion drop to 5-5 after a bright start in the continent’s premier club competition.

Game News

The defending champion is head and shoulders above the rest of the field after yet another emphatic win.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v Real Madrid (2023-11-28T19:15:00.000Z)

Real Madrid Baloncesto improved to 10-0 after beating Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. 70-99 in Belgrade, Serbia, in a rescheduled Round 6 clash in the 2023-24 EuroLeague season.

Real Madrid stays perfect by routing Maccabi 70-99

<incrowd-live-blog id="65660c37980e188fe64cbf84" client-id="EUROLEAGUE" server="standard"></incrowd-live-blog><script src="https://live-blog.incrowdsports.com/index.js"></script>

EuroLeague Live Blog: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv vs. Real Madrid.

 'Los Blancos' scored 36 points in the first quarter and never trailed to win big in Belgrade. 

Virtus Bologna forward Achille Polonara was able to take part in the team's full training session on Tuesday, November 28, for the first time since undergoing surgery for a testicular tumor.

Great news: Achille Polonara returns to Virtus Bologna training

Virtus Segafredo Bologna brought a smile to the faces of all Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans on Tuesday by announcing that [Achille Polonara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/achille-polonara/002084/) has returned to full training.

Polonara has been away from the court and feeling the support of the EuroLeague community after [doctors discovered a testicular tumor and subsequently operated on it](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/chemotherapy-will-leave-virtuss-polonara-out-at-least-four-weeks/) in early October, with Virtus making this news public on October 21. Yet, just over five weeks later, the 32-year-old took part in a training session with his Virtus teammates this Tuesday, November 28.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PolonAIR is back ❤️⏳<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmarsiAncora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmarsiAncora</a> <a href="https://t.co/oFoxas3voe">pic.twitter.com/oFoxas3voe</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Segafredo Bologna (@VirtusSegafredo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo/status/1729461682055843916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 28, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

At the time of the first announcement, Virtus declared that Polonara would spend at least four weeks on the sidelines as he underwent chemotherapy to address the testicular tumor, before practicing on his own.

### Polonara showed his inner strength

We have all become familiar with Polonara’s energetic play on the court, but the Italian forward has also shown the inner strength that he has in the last couple of months.

His Virtus teammates and the coaching staff have been behind him all the way, holding up his jersey after a big win against AS Monaco and also having him present at games, with Polonara joining in with high-fiving the fans after wins at Virtus Segafredo Arena.

Polonara returned to his native Italy over the summer by returning to Virtus, yet the discovery of this testicular tumor means that he has only played one game so far this season, which came against Zalgiris Kaunas in Round 1.

The team led by head coach Luca Banchi has used Polonara as an inspiration throughout his recovery, with Virtus going 7-2 since the forward’s only appearance in this campaign, so his return is likely to result in another big boost of morale.

It seems as though Virtus’s upcoming road game against FC Bayern Munich in Round 11 could come too soon for Polonara’s return, but the club’s Round 12 clash at home to FC Barcelona could see him step onto the parquet once again in the EuroLeague. No doubt, there will be a celebratory feel the moment that this happens.

More Virtus News

Achille Polonara celebrates with the Virtus Segafredo Bologna fans after a recent win, despite being away from the team as he deals with his chemotherapy treatment.

The 32-year-old took part in a full training session for the first time since his diagnosis.

Great news: Achille Polonara returns to Virtus training

The mid-season signings of Filip Petrusev and Naz Mitrou-Long at Olympiacos B.C., following the addition of Ignas Brazdeikis late in training camp, have bolstered the Reds' roster as they hope to win their first EuroLeague since 2013. 

Filip Petrusev signing shows Olympiacos B.C. has EuroLeague glory in mind

It’s fair to say that [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/carousels/olympiacos-piraeus/?q=%7B%22articleId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22categoryId%22%3A%22%22%2C%22linkedId%22%3A%7B%22sourceSystem%22%3A%22FS_BASKETBALL_TEAM%22%2C%22sourceSystemId%22%3A%22oly%22%2C%22text%22%3A%22%22%7D%7D&carouselTitle=Olympiacos%20Piraeus) has experienced a few turbulent months. In fact, from the moment Real Madrid’s [Sergio Llull broke the hearts of Reds’ fans](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/championship-game-blog-olympiacos-piraeus-vs-real-madrid/) by hitting a game-winning jumpshot in last season’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game, it felt like everything that could go wrong at Peace and Friendship Stadium did go wrong.

First up was the shock announcement that [Kostas Sloukas](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/kostas-sloukas-switches-olympiacos-for-archrival-panathinaikos/), whose missed jumper at the buzzer saw Olympiacos fall to Real, was moving to the club’s archrival, Panathinaikos Athens. Then, although less surprising, was the confirmation that Sasha Vezenkov, the 2022-23 EuroLeague MVP, had decided to head to the NBA and join up with the Sacramento Kings.

### Good news, with a caveat

Admittedly, there was good news sprinkled in over the summer, such as the returns of Nikola Milutinov and Nigel Williams-Goss to Olympiacos, in addition to the arrival of Luke Sikma. There was also [the signing of Ignas Brazdeikis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-acquires-brazdeikis-from-zalgiris/) towards the end of training camp, which added another body to Georgios Bartzokas’s rotation.

However, the injury bug hit the Reds big time in the early part of the EuroLeague season. In fact, in the first 10 rounds this season, the following players all missed at least one game due to injury: Brazdeikis (two games), Sikma (five), Williams-Goss (four), Moustapha Fall (one), Shaquielle McKissic (nine) and Milutinov (two).

### The picture is changing

As we head into Round 11, though, things look rather different. Although Williams-Goss is still sidelined with a leg injury, the majority of Coach Bartzokas’s players have now recovered, with Milutinov playing in Round 10 and McKissic being active for that 89-72 win against Zalgiris Kaunas. There are two shiny signings for Olympiacos fans to get excited about, too: [Naz Mitrou-Long](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-signs-guard-mitrou-long/) and [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/olympiacos-bc-brings-filip-petrusev-back-to-the-euroleague/).

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">✍️🏾 Η ΚΑΕ Ολυμπιακός ανακοινώνει την απόκτηση του Φιλίπ Πετρούσεφ. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OlympiacosBC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OlympiacosBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreOlympiacos?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreOlympiacos</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherWeFight?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherWeFight</a><a href="https://t.co/qEt3FdQ6Gu">https://t.co/qEt3FdQ6Gu</a></p>&mdash; OLYMPIACOS BC (@Olympiacos_BC) <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC/status/1729262721739149771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Indeed, no club has been more active than Olympiacos in the market in recent months, with the club wrapping up three signings in the past three months, including two in the last seven days. Following back-to-back Final Four appearances, losing in the semifinals in 2021-22 and the championship game in 2022-23, there’s no way that the Reds want to miss out on a trip to Berlin, Germany, next May.

On November 21, Olympiacos once again returned to Zalgiris and paid the buyout clause for one of its players, having lured Brazdeikis to Piraeus just a few months before doing the same with Mitrou-Long, but the guard will not be able to play in the EuroLeague until January.

For Petrusev, it is a different story. The 23-year-old center proved himself to be one of Europe’s most promising players during the 2022-23 EuroLeague season, averaging 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and a 12.6 PIR in the jersey of Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade, and he is ready to play right away.

### Petrusev is another weapon for Olympiacos

Now, arguably only Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul’s center trio of Johnathan Motley, Georgios Papagiannis and Sertac Sanli comes close to Olympiacos’s triad of Milutinov, Fall and Petrusev. What’s more, it appears as though there has been a move towards this way of building a roster, most likely with one team in mind: Real Madrid.

Much of *Los Blancos*’ success in recent years has been built around the dominant play of three-time [EuroLeague Best Defender Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/walter-tavares-is-the-2022-23-euroleague-best-defender/), while Vincent Poirier, the 31-year-old’s backup, would start for probably 80% of the teams in the EuroLeague.

The duo of Milutinov and Fall is a good pair of centers to throw at Tavares and Poirier, who will come up against Olympiacos at a packed-out Peace and Friendshup Stadium on December 5, but the addition of Petrusev into the mix brings the possibility of Coach Bartzokas having a ‘5’ who can shoot from deep. 

Last season, for example, Petrusev went a decent 20-of-57 from three-point range, good for a 35.1% mark. Compare that to Milutinov and Fall and the difference is stark, as Milutinov has made 2-of-5 threes in 208 games and Fall has never attempted a shot from behind the arc in 117 appearances.

Yes, Petrusev can also handle himself inside, but the Serbian big man could end up being a joker card up Bartzokas’s sleeve if Olympiacos and Real come head-to-head once again in the latter stages of the season.

Typically, Tavares and Poirier prefer to camp in the paint, so having Petrusev on the floor gives Olympiacos a respectable weapon from distance, meaning Real’s pair of centers must come out and try to defend him. That should spell good news for the Reds’ cutters, who could find themselves with easy looks at the rim.

The top plays of Filip Petrusev during his time at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Filip Petrusev's 2022-23 highlights

### Petrusev is versatile, too

Although he spent most of his minutes at the ‘5’ last season, Petrusev has the qualities needed to function well at the ‘4’, too. Olympiacos currently has second-year player Alec Peters performing at an MVP level at the power forward spot, with the American having done an excellent job of replacing Vezenkov, as well as a ‘4’ who has the playmaking ability of a guard in Sikma.

But, Petrusev allows for a twin towers-style lineup with either Milutinov or Fall at the ‘5’, which should give Peters and Sikma a chance to rest or even slip to the ‘3’ if needed. By being able to play inside and out, Petrusev’s versatility is likely to cause all sorts of problems on the opposition’s scouting report on a night in, night out basis.

So, the start to this season has been a bit up and down for Olympiacos, but the Reds have now won three games in a row and find themselves with a 6-4 record, good enough for fifth place in the standings.

With Petrusev now in the building, Mitrou-Long available from January and the club’s injury crisis starting to subside, the only way is up for Olympiacos as it chases its first EuroLeague title since 2013.

More Olympiacos News

New Olympiacos Piraeus signing Filip Petrusev poses in a Reds' tee after landing in Athens, Greece.

The Reds have made a couple of notable mid-season additions, as well as one just before the campaign got underway.

Petrusev signing shows Olympiacos has one thing in mind: glory

One of the most frequent on-floor matchups in recent seasons has been the one between star guards Wade Baldwin and Sergio Rodriguez, who have been on opposite sides 12 times over the last five years. They go at it again on Tuesday night in Belgrade, Serbia, in Round 6 game of the Turkish Airline EuroLeague Regular Season when Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv faces Olimpia Milano

Frequent rivals Baldwin, Rodriguez cross paths again

The classic rivalry between Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Real Madrid dates all the way back to 1968, as this will be their 70th clash. In recent years, the two teams' star guards, [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) and [Sergio Rodriguez](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sergio-rodriguez/cvm/), have also been stacking up head-to-head Turkish Airlines EuroLeague games.

For Baldwin and Rodriguez, this will be the 13th time they go against one another even though they had never met before November 2018. Precisely, [Tuesday night's clash between Maccabi and Real](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv-real-madrid/E2023/48/) comes one day short of full five years since Baldwin and Rodriguez were on the opposite sides for the very first time.

It was a contest in which Baldwin, in his first season and only eighth EuroLeague appearance, had 8 points in just short of 11 minutes, helping Olympiacos Piraeus to a 91-70 win against EA7 Armani Exchange Milan. Rodriguez had 14 points and 3 assists in that loss.

That was the only game in which they faced off that season, but they would confront each other seven times in the following on. With Baldwin in the uniform of FC Bayern Munich, the two had a pair of regular-season games as well as a thrilling five-game playoff series in which Rodriguez and Milan pulled out a 3-2 win to reach he 2021 Final Four.

Rodriguez averaged 9.6 points on 41.7% three-point shooting, along with 3.0 assists in that series, and was even better in Milan's victories, posting 11.3 points and 3.8 assists across the three. Baldwin, on the other hand, scored in double figures and had at least 4 assists in each of those five playoff games, posting 15.3 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds for the series.

One of the most frequent on-floor matchups in recent seasons has been the one between star guards Wade Baldwin and Sergio Rodriguez, who have been on opposite sides 12 times over the last five years. Baldwin and Rodriguez had their first two head-to-head meetings as players of Maccabi and Real last season.

Head-to-head: Baldwin vs Rodriguez in 2022-23

After playing twice more in the 2021-22, when Baldwin was with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz and Rodriguez in his last season with Milan, Baldwin and Rodriguez had their first two head-to-head meetings as players of Maccabi and Real last season.

First, Rodriguez had 5 points and 6 assists in Real's 98-65 home drubbing of Maccabi. Baldwin had just 3 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds in 13 minutes of that game. He came back with 11 points, 8 assists and 4 rebounds in Maccabi's 100-96 overtime win in their regular-season finale as Rodriguez posted 8 points, 5 assists and 2 steals.

Over the 12 head-to-head games, Baldwin had a better scoring average with 12.9 points per game, compared to 10.0 from Rodriguez. However, Real veteran point guard has done his scoring with far better shooting percentages.

Interestingly, in 12 games each player attempted 45 three-point shots, with Rodriguez making 24 of his, good for a remarkable 53.3% accuracy rate. Baldwin knocked down just 9 of his 45 tries (20.0%). Rodriguez also shot 51.4% on two-pointers, compared to Baldwin's 46.5%, but the Maccabi guard attempted nearly three times as many two-pointers (99) as Rodriguez (37).

Overall, Baldwin had a slight edge in PIR and assists, as well as 2.6 rebounds per game compared to Rodriguez's 1.8.

But Rodriguez holds an 8-4 record in 12 games against Baldwin, and will hope to add to that edge and help Real stay unbeaten in the current season.

One of the most frequent on-floor matchups in recent seasons has been the one between two elite guards set to face off on Tuesday for the 13th time in less than five years.

The original EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast hosts are back in the saddle together for Episode No. 11, which corresponds with Round 11 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs will share how their teams are doing and recommend players you should have on your teams.

Fantasy Challenge Podcast: Back in the saddle again

The original [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) Podcast hosts are back in the saddle together for Episode No. 11, which corresponds with Round 11 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season. Javier Gancedo and Frankie Sachs will share how their teams are doing and recommend players you should have on your teams.

In this week's episode, Javi and Frankie will also discuss the impact of Tuesday's game between Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and Real Madrid, which will not count for the Fantasy Challenge; which players at Anadolu Efes Istanbul will benefit from Derek Willis's injury; and much, much more.

Whether you are looking for ways to improve your teams or just to see two friends competing against each other, this is the right place and the right podcast. Check out Episode 11 of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge podcast now.

Anadolu Efes S.K. center Ante Zizic will be unavailable for the next three weeks after suffering a calf injury during his team's EuroLeague game against KK Partizan.

Anadolu Efes's Ante Zizic out for three weeks with calf injury

Anadolu Efes Istanbul has confirmed that [Ante Zizic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/ante-zizic/004554/) is expected to miss the next three weeks after suffering a muscle injury in his right calf. The 26-year-old center sustained the injury during his team's Round 10 clash against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Partizan ile oynadığımız EuroLeague karşılaşmasında sağ bacak kalf bölgesinde kas yaralanması tespit edilen başarılı oyuncumuz Ante Zizic&#39;in tedavisine başlanmış; Kulüp Doktorumuz Uğur Diliçıkık, Zizic&#39;in yaklaşık 3 hafta sahalardan uzak kalacağını belirtmiştir. <a href="https://t.co/DaAptZ1e7r">pic.twitter.com/DaAptZ1e7r</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1729197032441868352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 27, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Ante Zizic, who suffered a muscle injury in the calf area of his right leg during the EuroLeague match against Partizan, has started his treatment and our club doctor, Ugur Dilicıkık, has stated that Zizic will be off the court for about three weeks," Efes confirmed in a statement.

So far this season, Zizic has averaged 8.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and an 11.4 PIR in all 10 of Efes's games, of which he has started seven. His standout performance to this point in the 2023-24 campaign came on the road at Virtus Segafredo Bologna in Round 6, albeit in a defeat, as he posted 15 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and finished with a PIR of 19.

The best highlights of Anadolu Efes Istanbul center Ante Zizic through the first 10 rounds of the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The top plays of Ante Zizic this season

The Croatian big man is currently playing in his fifth EuroLeague season, having made his competition debut in the 2016-17 campaign with Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul, where he averaged 9.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and a 13.2 PIR as the team reached the EuroLeague Playoffs. Following a stint in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Zizic returned to the EuroLeague with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv and remained with the Israeli side between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, playing 65 times. He moved to Efes in the summer of 2022 and has since suited up 41 times for the Turkish club.

### What games will Zizic miss?

Going by Efes’s statement, which states Zizic will be out for around three weeks, he is certain to miss the team’s games against Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (Round 11, 1 December), Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (Round 12, 5 December) and ALBA Berlin (Round 13, Decembre 7), while he is expected to be unavailable for the Round 14 clash at home to Maccabi, his former team, on December 14.

Given that [forward Derek Willis is also set to miss between six and eight weeks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-forward-willis-undergoes-finger-surgery/) after undergoing finger surgery, the injury to Zizic is another blow for Efes head coach Erdem Can.

More Efes News

Ante Zizic of Anadolu Efes Istanbul warms up before a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game this season.

The Efes center is expected to be unavailable for his team's next four games.

Ante Zizic out for three weeks with calf injury

Filip Petrusev has returned to the EuroLeague by signing for Olympiacos B.C. on a three-year deal.

Olympiacos B.C. brings Filip Petrusev back to the EuroLeague

Olympiacos Piraeus has announced the signing of [Filip Petrusev](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/filip-petrusev/011194/) on a three-year deal. Petrusev (2.11 meters, 23 years old) returns to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after averaging 10.7 points and 5.2 rebounds in 34 games for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in the 2022-23 season. He last played for the Philadelphia 76ers and the Sacramento Kings in the NBA.

### Back with a point to prove

Petrusev impressed at Zvezda last season after a turbulent rookie EuroLeague campaign with Anadolu Efes Istanbul in the 2021-22 campaign. Despite becoming a EuroLeague champion with Efes, the Serbian big man saw his role decrease as the season went on and didn’t play any part during the playoffs or the Final Four.

He therefore used last season as a way to remind everyone of his talent, having previously been named the ABA League MVP when he was just 21 years old. Petrusev took a little while to get going but once he felt comfortable under head coach Dusko Ivanovic, he kept improving and improving, even earning himself MVP of the Round honors in Round 17.

Now, having come back to the EuroLeague after a tricky spell in the NBA, Petrusev will once again look to prove that he is one of the best big men on the continent.

### Where does Petrusev fit in at Olympiacos?

Olympiacos is able to boast one of the best frontcourts in the entire EuroLeague at present, with Nikola Milutinov and Moustapha Fall at the center position and Alec Peters and Luke Sikma at power forward. So, Petrusev — a center by trade — will have to try and force his way into the rotation, but what he does offer is a high-quality alternative.

Also able to play at the ‘4’ position, Petrusev’s flexibility could serve him well as he adjusts to the instructions of Reds head coach Georgios Bartzokas. What's more, his ability to stretch the floor – he shot 35.1% on threes last year, making 20-of-57 – is another weapon in the 23-year-old’s armory, as Olympiacos now has arguably the best trio of centers in the EuroLeague.

New Olympiacos Piraeus signing Filip Petrusev in action for Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The Serbian big man returns to Europe’s premier club basketball competition after a brief spell in the NBA.

Olympiacos brings Filip Petrusev back to the EuroLeague

The week's action begins early on Tuesday, with a game initially scheduled for Round 4, as Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. (5-4) hosts Real Madrid Baloncesto (9-0) in Belgrade. 

 Game Preview: Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. vs. Real Madrid Baloncesto

[Rosters](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv-real-madrid/E2023/48/#roster) | [Facts](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs6-game-facts-tel-mad) | [Notes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs6-game-notes-tel-mad) | [Quotes](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/tae2324-rs6-prequotes-tel-mad/) |[ TV](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/tv-listings-el/) | [Fantasy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fantasy-tips-round-11-hot-hands-and-great-opportunities)

The reigning champ is still unbeaten this season and sitting pretty with a two-game lead at the top of the standings, while Maccabi is coming off a narrow home loss to Barcelona and is fighting to return to the all-important top six. The initial priority for Maccabi is containing Real's big men [Vincent Poirier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/vincent-poirier/004887/) (13.3 PIR) and [Walter Tavares](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/walter-tavares/005791/) (13.0), whose confrontation with [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/josh-nebo/011199/) (13.6) and [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) (15.9) will be a highlight to savor. Also get ready for backcourt fireworks as the league's top two assisters go head to head, with [Lorenzo Brown](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/lorenzo-brown/009622/) (7.2 apg.) looking to outplay [Facu Campazzo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/facundo-campazzo/005928/) (8.3).

[Maccabi Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/statistics/tel/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases) | [Madrid Stats](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/real-madrid/statistics/mad/?season=2023-24&phase=All%20phases)

Derek Willis vs. Zach LeDay: A EuroLeague rookie takes on a seasoned veteran in a matchup that could make the difference on Friday.

Last Game: 2022-23, Round 34, Maccabi vs. Madrid

Gabriel Deck of Real Madrid backs down Wade Baldwin of Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv during last season's regular-season meeting between the two teams in Tel Aviv in the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

The week's action begins early on Tuesday, with a game initially scheduled for Round 4, as Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (5-4) hosts Real Madrid (9-0) in Belgrade. 