### Ettore Messina, Milan head coach

"ALBA Berlin, under Coach Gonzalez, has always been able to play with an aggressive and athetic roster, they like to play uptempo and force a lot of turnovers. This is an area where we need to improve, so it will be important for us to move the ball efficiently and, defensively, contain their one-on-one plays. It is an interesting game because Maodo Lo is coming home and will be finally available for us, and also because it is intriguing for us to face two young Italian prospets like Gabriele Procida and Matteo Spagnolo."

### Johannes Voigtmann, Milan player

"It doesn't matter who is playing for ALBA. They don't depend on individual players, they have had the same system for years, they play hard, they play aggressively, they play fast and make sure it is always difficult for everybody to take the win from them, especially in Berlin. So, we have to stay focused, play hard for 40 minutes, and be ready for a tough night."

Game News

ALBA (0-4) is still looking for its first win of the season as it welcomes Milan (1-2). Ettore Messina's team did not find the energy to compete with Real Madrid in the second half of Round 4's heavy loss, so ALBA's traditional fast-paced style could test the visitors again. Matt Thomas bounced back from a slow start to the season by netting 5 three-pointers in last week's loss at Monaco, and his perimeter play will be vital for an ALBA team which always likes to shoot a high volume of three-pointers. Milan possesses a similar long-range scoring threat through Kevin Pangos, but he only made 1 of 5 three-point attempts in the loss at Madrid and is looking for rhythm after failing to dish any assists in that game.

Pre-game quotes: ALBA vs. Milan

ALBA Berlin v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2023-10-26T18:00:00.000Z)

After a thrilling five-game battle in last season’s EuroLeague Playoffs, AS Monaco Basket and Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. will come head-to-head once again at Salle Gaston Medecin.

Monaco Basket, Maccabi Tel Aviv meet again, six months after famous playoff clash

Last season’s Turkish Airlines EuroLeague playoff series [between AS Monaco and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/as-monaco-maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv/E2023/41/) was filled with twists and turns. 

Home-court advantage came and went for both teams. Even within some of the games, there were drastic shifts in momentum. Monaco had the last say with a strong finish to an otherwise closely contested Game 5 that sent it onward to the Final Four in Kaunas, Lithuania.

Maccabi aim to seal a first Final Four appearance since 2014 with a decisive visit to Monaco, who are striving to reach European basketball's biggest event for the very first time. Who will be celebrating come the final buzzer and have their hopes of glory still intact?

AS Monaco vs Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv - Playoffs Game 5 - Highlights

### A new chapter in a budding rivalry

Now more than six months later, they meet again with the possibility of a budding rivalry growing in intensity. To be certain, there is one missing ingredient for a truly heated rivalry. There is very little animosity between the players.

I personally spent time with both teams during the preseason and I can say that there is great mutual respect among the players who battled each other last spring. And in both cases, that is most of the roster.

Of course, last season's playoff series is ancient history. Monaco is busy trying to properly incorporate the four main players it signed over the summer. And Maccabi is trying to remain competitive despite being displaced to play games abroad due to the ongoing armed conflict in Israel.

### New faces for Monaco

There was much excitement in the principality when four-time NBA All-Star Kemba Walker signed over the summer, though an injury delayed his debut. He played a minor role in Monaco's last two games – its first two wins this season – and is still getting the rust off.

EuroLeague champion Petr Cornelie is the only newcomer to appear in all four Monaco EuroLeague games thus far, and he has averaged 5.2 points in 12:29 minutes off the bench. Former EuroCup MVP Mam Jaiteh and French national team player Terry Tarpey have seen limited minutes in two games each.

For a team with big goals, the matchup with Maccabi is just one step in Monaco's long fight for a playoff berth and Final Four return.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">✅ 𝖤𝗎𝗋𝗈𝖫𝖾𝖺𝗀𝗎𝖾 𝖽𝗈𝗎𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻 🆚 𝖡𝖾𝗋𝗅𝗂𝗇 🔒 <a href="https://t.co/GzrWtbkzjr">pic.twitter.com/GzrWtbkzjr</a></p>&mdash; AS Monaco Basket 🇲🇨 (@ASMonaco_Basket) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASMonaco_Basket/status/1715680955640287402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Maccabi's quest for chemistry

Maccabi, looking to end its longest Final Four drought ever, also has four new players who need to find the right chemistry with the core returnees, a process that has been interrupted by the ongoing conflict.

On of those newcomers, point guard Tamir Blatt, has stepped into the breach left by Wade Baldwin's injury to play 21 minutes a game, averaging 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals. Two others, swingman Antonius Cleveland and center Jasiel Rivero, are playing over 16 minutes a night, while forward James Webb is playing almost 12.

It stands to reason that by the time Baldwin returns, the Maccabi newcomers will have settled in and be contributing more. Their adjustment period will necessarily be prolonged by the unexpected changes due to the war, which will see the team play [upcoming home games in Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/news/maccabi-playtikatel-aviv-to-play-its-euroleague-home-games-in-belgrade-serbia/).

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Together we can <a href="https://t.co/l5TkMevJti">pic.twitter.com/l5TkMevJti</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​🇮🇱​🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1715477446684750057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Predicting the winner

All of the above makes this game a hard one to predict. Both teams surely feel pressure to win. Specific matchups are huge question marks. 

The absences due to injury of the top scorers from Game 5 of last season's playoffs, Monaco's Jordan Loyd and Maccabi's Baldwin, ensure that All-EuroLeague guards Mike James of Monaco and Lorenzo Brown of Maccabi will have to shoulder a lot of responsibility. 

Who else will rise to the fore? Bonzie Colson (17.7 ppg., 6.3 rpg.) has shined thus far for Maccabi, but he could be facing EuroLeague Best Defender candidate John Brown. Monaco's No. 2 scorer, Elie Okobo, has averaged just 8.8 points per game. 

And thus, we enter a Round 5 game with two hungry teams still figuring things out. But that should not take away from the excitement that this game offers. And who knows? Maybe this is the game that tips this rivalry in a new direction.

In the 2023-24 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs, Monaco came out on top in an unpredictable five-game series to reach the Final Four for the first time in club history.

Monaco, Maccabi meet for first time since playoff clash

AS Monaco v Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (2023-10-26T19:00:00.000Z)

### Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach

"A Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona is always a different game. A *Clásico* is attractive because of the rivalry between both clubs and it is a special game in a season with many games. It's the third time we face them already this year and there will be more. I always expect the best possible opponent. Barcelona is showing a great level, they took a giant step forward and I cannot think about anything else than a great Barca playing against us. The only think I want is that, at the end, Real Madrid is better than Barcelona, even if they play great. We will need a good mentality, to stay focused and be patient. Another key will be securing the defensive boards and avoid turnovers."

### Roger Grimau, FC Barcelona head coach

"It's always special to face Real Madrid. We give great importance to this game, but we must also remember it's just Round 5 of the EuroLeague. I think we are a better team than the last time we played there. I am happy with the evolution of my team, both on offense and defense. We want to win all games thios season and, of course, also this one against Real, and I am sure they are also eager to beat us. It's no mystery: winning this game gives you joy and losing it ruins your day."

### Mario Hezonja, Real Madrid player

"We will play a very important game, another *Clásico*. Barcelona is playing really well but we must focus on ourselves. We must prepare well and pay attention to details in order to win. Teams change and improve throughout the season, so whatever has happened before does not count. We will need maximum concentration during 40 minutes, control the glass and try to play our best ball. Our fans help a lot, and I hope they support us as they always do."

### Dario Brizuela, FC Barcelona player

"Real Madrid is not just Facu Campazzo. We have not prepared anything special for him. We have focused more on ourselves, in the things we have to improve. The games against Real Madrid have to be prepared like you are facing a whole, because they have many talented players. We go to Madrid with a good feeling, we come from a string of wins. You are always motivated against Real, whether you play in Barcelona or in Estudiantes \[like I used to\]. We needed a bit of time to gel as a team, and now I think this new game against Real gets us in a better moment."

The stakes could not be higher for this early-season clásico as the league's only remaining unbeaten records are on the line. Barca coach Roger Grimau will be approaching his first meeting with Real in confident mood after his team's 39-point thrashing of Bayern last week with an exceptional all-round performance. Jabari Parker is another clásico debutant and could be an x-factor after improving for his new team game by game, pairing 15 points with 6 rebounds in Round 4. It's a special night for Willy Hernangomez as he returns to face his former team. His battle alongside in-form Jan Vesely against Madrid giants Walter Tavares and Vincent Poirier could be crucial – not to mention spectacular.

Pre-game quotes: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona

Real Madrid v FC Barcelona (2023-10-26T18:45:00.000Z)

### Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach

"Efes is a very talented team, especially on offense. They are in a transitional period. They have a new coach, but they maintain main and important players in their roster. Also, they added some new players. I feel that they are still trying to find their identity and be stabilized on the level that their coach wants. However, they have good players and personality. The way we will defend will be one of the keys. We must play solid defense. It is a game of high requirements and we are happy that we had three days to prepare for this game. It is the first time we had that luxury."

### Erdem Can, efes head coach

"Olympiacos has a very experienced coach and roster. They are a team that has been playing together for many years. They play very tough and aggressive, especially at home. We need to have the mental structure to respond to this toughness and aggressivity."

### Kostas Papanikolaou, Olympiacos player

"It is going to be a tough game against Efes. After all there are no easy games in EuroLeague. We must work hard and maintain the dynamic of our home court. Now it is the time to build a momentum. We will have by our side our funs and we will put all of our effort to get one more win and move forward."

### Elijah Bryant, Efes player

"It will be a tough game with a great atmosphere. But we will bring our best."

Fresh from morale-boosting victories, Olympiacos (2-2) and Efes (2-2) will look to keep moving up the standings with another massive Thursday showdown. Non-stop Thomas Walkup, averaging 35 minutes on court for Olympiacos, has the task of using his excellent defensive skills to slow down in-form Shane Larkin, whose performance index ratings of 23 and 26 for Efes inspired last week's wins against ASVEL and Valencia. In the paint, Round 4 MVP Nikola Milutinov will look to maintain his great form, while the ability of Efes's Derek Willis to stretch the floor with three-point shooting (38.7%) could be a vital aspect of this encounter.

Pre-game quotes: Olympiacos vs. Efes

Olympiacos Piraeus v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2023-10-26T19:00:00.000Z)

The Belgrade derby between archrivals Partizan and Red Star returns to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the second consecutive season. Teammates Luka Mitrovic and Dejan Davidovac of Crvena Zvezda and Aleksa Avramovic and Ognjen Jaramaz of Partizan talked about the game's importance and the players' strong relationships off the court.

Belgrade Derby: Heated on court, friendly off it

For the second consecutive year, Serbian archrivals [Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade are set to square off in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague version of the Belgrade Derby](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade-crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/E2023/39/). Last season, both clubs – and their amazing fans – treated us to a pair of memorable, thrilling games, as the teams split road wins.

"We go hard against each other, which is normal because we play a game of basketball," Partizan guard Aleksa Avramovic said. "Everybody wants to win."

No matter the situation in the standings, the Belgrade derby carries significant weight.

"On the outside, that might be just one game, but you can feel the consequences in public for some period after the game," Zvezda forward Luka Mitrovic says with a smile.

The rivalry between these two clubs and their die-hard fans is huge, one of the biggest in the world of sports. However, before and after their derby games, the protagonists have a different relationship away from the court.

"It's maybe tough for our fans to watch us and to see us as friends," Zvezda's Dejan Davidovac says. "But off the court, yes, we are good friends. I have a lot of friends in Partizan and we did a big thing\[together\] in the World Cup."

Davidovac and Avramovic are proud members of the Serbian national team that won a silver medal at the 2023 World Cup just last month. Many other players on both sides have all played together for Serbia in recent years. That includes Mitrovic, Nemanja Nedovic, Milos Teodosic, Branko Lazic and Ognjen Kuzmic from Zvezda, as well as Ognjen Jaramaz, Danilo Andjusic, Uros Trifunovc and Alan Smailagic from Partizan.

"We know each other also since we were really young. I can say I know some guys from Zvezda since I was 11, 12 years old," Jaramaz says in the video. "We did a lot of things together in our past and that connected us and that made us great friends."

"You could see how good the chemistry was in the recent World Cup between the guys who played in Crvena Zvezda and Partizan," says Mitrovic, who is in his eighth professional season with Zvezda.

He knows that most people are not aware that rivals on the floor are great friends off of it.

"We played so many times against each other, but once the curtain closes, there is no bad feelings at all between us," Mitrovic concludes.

"We are all close friends, have very good relations off the court, so that rivalry actually lasts for 40 minutes during the game."

Ahead of the Belgrade derby between Partizan and Crvena Zvezda, rival players who know a thing or two about these games – Zvezda's Luka Mitrovic and Dejan Davidovac, and Partizan's Aleksa Avramovic and Ognjen Jaramaz – spoke about how an archrivalry can be heated on the court and friendly off it.

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2023-10-26T16:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos B.C. and Anadolu Efes S.K. will face off for the 48th time in the EuroLeague this century on Thursday night, with fans almost guaranteed to be treated to a great game.

Olympiacos B.C., Anadolu Efes prepare for another epic battle

Whenever Olympiacos Piraeus and Anadolu Efes Istanbul have faced off in the last few seasons, Turkish Airlines EuroLeague fans have typically been treated to one hell of a game. That is likely to be the case once again at Peace and Friendship Stadium on Thursday night (21:00 CET), as [the Reds host the Turkish side in Round 5](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/olympiacos-piraeus-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2023/38/) of the 2023-24 season.

Both Olympiacos and Efes come into this clash with identical records through the first four games, as they have gone 2-2. That said, Thursday night’s hosts have had a stop-start beginning to the campaign, whereas the visitors appear to have picked up some momentum.

### Olympiacos’s start to the season

In Round 4, Georgios Bartzokas saw his Olympiacos side snap a two-game losing run by [beating Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 98-94 in overtime](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-olympiacos-bc-vs-kk-partizan-belgrade/). Curiously, both of Olympiacos’s wins – [against Panathinaikos Athens, 78-88,](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/euroleague-live-blog-panathinaikos-bc-vs-olympiacos-bc/) in Round 1 and Partizan – have come in overtime.

Its two defeats, however, have led to some concerns, with the team [losing 67-77 at home to FC Barcelona](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-olympiacos-bc-vs-fc-barcelona/) in Round 2 before [falling 65-53 on the road at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-olimpia-milano-vs-olympiacos-bc/). After topping the standings last season with a 24-10 regular-season record, starting off 2-2 was not what Coach Bartzokas will have had in mind.

### Efes’s start to the season

Efes, meanwhile, started off slow but has started to pull things together of late. First-year head coach Erdem Can saw his squad get comfortably defeated in Round 1, [losing 91-74 against Barca](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fc-barcelona-vs-anadolu-efes-live-blog-game-report-tae2324/) at Palau Blaugrana, and that was followed by another humbling defeat in Round 2, this time [at home to Real Madrid, 80-103](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-anadolu-efes-vs-real-madrid/).

But, things turned around for Efes in the double-round week. After [beating LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne 89-84](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-anadolu-efes-sk-vs-ldlc-asvel/) in Round 3, it [downed the previously unbeaten Valencia Basket 77-73](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/live-blog-anadolu-efes-sk-vs-valencia-basket/) to improve to a .500 record. Importantly, star guard Shane Larkin returned to form in those games, which is certainly good news for Efes.

<center>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/shanelarkin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shanelarkin</a> saved his best performances of the season so far for the double week ✅ <br><br>The stat line in both games? <br><br>33pts I 12ast I 14rbs 🔥 <br><br>Doing it 𝒜𝐿𝐿 <a href="https://t.co/arfcDVDd5b">pic.twitter.com/arfcDVDd5b</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1715782993162236365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Memorable games in the past

Just 17 months ago, on May 19, 2022, one of the most memorable moments in this fixture occurred. With Olympiacos and Efes facing off in the EuroLeague Semifinals, ex-Efes guard Vasilije Micic drained a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer to make it 74-77 and send his team to the championship game, leading to scenes of ecstasy among the Turkish side’s roster and images of despair for those associated with the Reds.

Vasilije Micic sends Efes to the Championship Game with a wild three-pointer - WOW!

7DAYS Magic Moment of the Night: Micic wins it!

Prior to that, on February 10, 2022, there was a seismic clash between Olympiacos and Efes at Peace and Friendship Stadium. With the score tied 75-75 after a two-pointer made by Micic with 13 seconds remaining, the game went to overtime. Then, just as it looked like Efes was going to grab an 84-85 victory, ex-Olympiacos guard Kostas Sloukas hit a walk-off triple to seal an 87-85 win for the Reds.

Fans choose game-winner by Sloukas as the 7DAYS Magic Moment of the Season!

While not quite as memorable, last season saw the two sides split home games, with Efes winning 82-71 in Round 11 on the back of 24 points from Will Clyburn, 19 points from Rodrigue Beaubois and 18 points from Micic. Later in the campaign, in Round 23, Olympiacos exacted revenge with a 76-70 win thanks to 23 points from Sasha Vezenkov, 13 points from Michalis Lountzis and 10 points apiece from Moustapha Fall and Shaquielle McKissic.

The head-to-head record between Olympiacos and Efes this century shows just how tight their games have been, with it standing at 23-24 in the Turkish team’s favor heading into Thursday night. This Round 5 contest therefore provides Olympiacos with the chance to level up its series with Efes and win back-to-back games for the first time this season. Efes, however, will be keen to seal its third victory in a row as it continues to build momentum under Coach Can.

Will Clyburn of Anadolu Efes Istanbul looks to get past Giannoulis Larentzakis of Olympiacos Piraeus during the two teams' matchup in Round 11 of the 2022-23 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season.

Games between the two teams in recent years have brought guaranteed entertainment.

Olympiacos, Efes prepare for another epic battle

Gianmarco Pozzecco will make his debut as a EuroLeague head coach after being appointed by LDLC ASVEL.

LDLC ASVEL names Gianmarco Pozzecco as new head coach

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne has announced the appointment of Gianmarco Pozzecco as its new head coach. Pozzecco has earned rave reviews since becoming Italy's head coach in the summer of 2022, with the *Azzurri* reaching the quarterfinals at both EuroBasket 2022 and the 2023 FIBA World Cup. This is the 51-year-old's first head coaching gig in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.

Pozzecco has been on the sidelines for EuroLeague games in the past, however. During the 2021-22 season, the Italian tactician acted as [Ettore Messina’s assistant at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/coaches-fraternity-ettore-messina-milan/). That year, Milan had a 19-9 record in the EuroLeague regular season, before losing 3-1 in the playoffs to Anadolu Efes Istanbul.

Known for creating a strong team harmony, Pozzecco is now tasked with creating a chemistry at ASVEL that can help turn its EuroLeague fortunes around. He will continue as Italy's head coach on a part-time basis.

"I am very happy to welcome Gianmarco," ASVEL president Tony Parker said in a statement released by the club. "He will give new impetus to our season by bringing his enormous energy and his high-level experience. I can't wait to see the first effects of his arrival on the court."

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="fr" dir="ltr">🇮🇹 Benvenuto Coach &quot;Poz&quot; ! <br><br>🤝 Gianmarco Pozzecco, actuel sélectionneur de l’équipe nationale d’Italie, est le nouveau head coach de LDLC ASVEL. <br><br>🗞️ Le communiqué officiel du club : <a href="https://t.co/NSnscmJ4TH">https://t.co/NSnscmJ4TH</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LDLCASVEL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LDLCASVEL</a> <a href="https://t.co/8xhOm8pL1l">pic.twitter.com/8xhOm8pL1l</a></p>&mdash; LDLC ASVEL (@LDLCASVEL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1717074335083454828?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


### Replacing T.J Parker

ASVEL can now look ahead to a new era under Pozzecco, who has come in to replace T.J. Parker, the brother of the club president. T.J. had been linked to ASVEL for 10 years, having acted as an assistant between 2013 and 2020 prior to becoming head coach, a role he held from the summer of 2020 to October 2023.

During his time in charge of ASVEL, Parker oversaw a 31-69 record in the EuroLeague. However, 17 consecutive defeats led to the coach being given his marching orders. ASVEL is currently one of only two teams in the EuroLeague with a 0-4 record so far this season; the other is ALBA Berlin.

### Pozzecco’s previous experience

Pozzecco began his coaching career with Orlandina Basket in 2012, the club where he ended his playing days two years prior. He remained with Orlandina until 2014, then he took charge of Pallacanestro Varese – another club he previously played for – in the 2014-15 season.

From there, Pozzecco spent two years as an assistant coach at Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana. In March 2018, the Italian became the head coach of Fortitudo Bologna, yet another club he used to play for. Then, in his last coaching job before arriving as an assistant at Milan, he became Dinamo Sassari’s head coach from February 2019 to the summer of 2021.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As Poz would say, 𝙪𝙣𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙖 😍<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIBAWC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIBAWC</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinForItalia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinForItalia</a> 🇮🇹 <a href="https://t.co/HUZczlyt7l">pic.twitter.com/HUZczlyt7l</a></p>&mdash; FIBA (@FIBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBA/status/1698288444508946897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 3, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More ASVEL News

New LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne head coach Gianmarco Pozzecco reacts during one of Italy's games at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The Italian will make his debut as EuroLeague head coach of the French side.

ASVEL names Gianmarco Pozzecco as new head coach

The 35th edition of the EuroLeague’s El Clásico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona takes place on Thursday, with both teams having started the season with identical 4-0 records.

Real Madrid vs. FC Barcelona: El Clásico always brings new stories

There is always drama in a derby that rarely disappoints.

The 35th edition of El Clásico in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague this century takes place in Round 5, as [Real Madrid hosts FC Barcelona on Thursday at 20:30 CET](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/real-madrid-fc-barcelona/E2023/40/). Both Los Blancos and the Blaugrana come into this derby as the only two undefeated teams left in the EuroLeague, and the winner will take sole possession of first place in the standings.

There are certain games in the calendar that get circled, and El Clásico is a fixture that fans of both Real and Barca immediately look for. It seems that the same applies for the players, too.

"It's always a special game for us," says Real playmaker Facu Campazzo. "We understand that it's not a normal game," adds Real point guard Sergio Rodriguez.  

### Mateo vs. Grimau

On the benches, Real tactician Chus Mateo will come up against first-year Barca head coach Roger Grimau for the first time in the EuroLeague. Coach Mateo led Los Blancos to the EuroLeague title last season in his first year after succeeding Pablo Laso, while Coach Grimau now coaches the team he captained to EuroLeague glory in 2010. For Grimau, he plans to lean on his playing experience as he enters his first Clásico as a head coach.

"Obviously, it's quite different playing than being the coach, but I think this is going to be useful for me," says Coach Grimau. 

Meanwhile, Coach Mateo expects to see a different Barca side from the one led by former boss Saras Jasikevicius, who guided the Blaugrana to three straight Final Four appearances between 2021 and 2023.

"Now with Roger Grimau, they are probably going to play differently. They are probably going to play a little bit faster and allow the players to create a little bit more from their individual skills," notes Coach Mateo. 

There is always a lot on the line when El Clásico comes around, both in the standings and in terms of bragging rights for the fans. Real and Barca have both looked unstoppable in the early weeks of the 2023-24 season, but one of their unbeaten starts will come to an end on Thursday. The only guarantee with El Clásico is right there in the name – it is going to be a classic.

El Clásico always brings new stories: ‘It’s not a normal game’

The departures of T.J. Parker and Dusko Ivanovic follow the exit of Sergio Scariolo, who was dismissed just two weeks prior to the new season getting underway.

The coaching carousel spins sooner than ever

If anyone needed more proof that every Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game matters, a pair of coaching dismissals over the weekend – barely 15 days into the season – drove the point home.

Notably, one of those dismissals featured a team president, Tony Parker, [taking his own younger brother T. J. off the LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne bench](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ldlc-asvel-parts-ways-with-head-coach-tj-parker/) after three years due to a 0-4 EuroLeague start.

The other saw one of the six 200-win coaches this century, Dusko Ivanovic, [shown the door by Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zvezda-pulls-the-plug-on-the-dusko-ivanovic-era/) due to a 1-3 EuroLeague record, despite having rescued the team from a 1-7 start to finish 17-17 last season.

Two head coaches jettisoned so early in the season is pretty much unprecedented – and this doesn't even include [Virtus Segafredo Bologna letting go highly decorated Sergio Scariolo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/virtus-bologna-parts-ways-with-sergio-scariolo/) just two weeks before this season started. Exceptionally over the years, a coach or two or three has been handed his walking papers after just a EuroLeague game or two, but often those situations were already complicated by early domestic league trouble. Such was not the case for ASVEL or Zvezda.

ASVEL's hand was forced more by 17 consecutive EuroLeague defeats dating to the middle of last season than by its 4-3 French League mark. A 35-point swing on the road at Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul in Round 3 – from ahead by 17 before halftime to losing by 18 at the finish – was the last straw, probably less for the defeat itself that for no in-game answers during a 25-minute-long collapse.

The news from Belgrade was much more surprising. When [Ivanovic was replaced by Ioannis Sfairopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/zvezda-brings-ioannis-sfairopoulos-back-to-the-euroleague/), Zvezda was 3-0 in the Adriatic League and had been within 6 points in all three of its EuroLeague defeats. Blowing fourth-quarter leads in two of those losses and never getting a lead in the last one surely were factors in Ivanovic's exit, but the elephant in the room was Zvezda's nine roster changes in the offseason, a volume that argues for patience while players learn to mesh with one another.

Only two clubs saw the need to make a coaching change in the middle of last season. Conversely, as many as seven benches switched hands in back-to-back seasons over the last five years. The coaching carousel always spins, sometimes faster, sometimes slower. But it has never spun so quickly and so early in a season as it did last weekend.

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne head coach T.J. Parker followed a plan to get where he is today. Together with his brother Tony - a basketball legend and ASVEL's president, T.J. had the goal of becoming an important part of ASVEL's resurgence to become the most successful team in France and a Turkish Airlines EuroLeague staple.

T.J. Parker, ASVEL: 'You can always learn something'

Why now? Blame it on the EuroLeague's hard-won parity. Just five victories separated 14th place from the eighth and final playoff position last season. More clubs than ever can practically taste their ultimate goal of playing in the postseason, and none wants to feel themselves out of the running so soon after building new rosters for that purpose. The default for stopping any slide is to change the momentum quickly, and in many cases that leads to bringing in a new head coach. Such early changes come with their own risks, of course, but fears of the path back to playoff contention becoming too steep explains the urge to disrupt the dynamic sooner rather than later. 

It is easy to feel bad for the departed coaches under such circumstances. They wanted to win and put as much effort into it as anyone. But as long as every game has a loser, too, the numbers will never add up in every team or coach's favor. What's different now is the math is being calculated right away and projected ahead, which is the prerogative of team management. But remember that of the seven teams that were 3-1 or better this time last season, four of them missed the playoffs, while one of the 1-3 or worse teams, Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, did in fact make the postseason.

Just as the coaching carousel can spin unexpectedly, so can winning and losing streaks. Since 2020, 12 of the EuroLeague's 18 current clubs have had at least one in-season winning streak of six games or longer. A 13th team had one lasting five games. The only one of those preceded by a coaching change was when Ivanovic joined Zvezda last season. Fortune is fickle, especially in the coaching profession.