The Barça looks for the ‘Playoffs’ in Athens
BARCELONA, 22 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Barça visits the Panathinaikos track this Thursday (7:30 p.m.), on matchday 30 of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague, with the possibility of sealing their pass to the ‘Playoffs’ of the competition and getting closer to doing so as the top seed, against a PAO already eliminated but that comes from linking two victories.
The blaugranas are just one step away from achieving their first goal; access to the ‘Playoffs’. To do this, it is necessary to win at Oaka Altion, or else wait for a combination of results in the event of a defeat against the greens, who have nothing more at stake than their honor and good streak.
Despite the fact that the latest precedents, the current standings and the squad suggest that Barça is the favorite for this new match between two historic Euroleague players, the Blaugrana coach does not trust Panathinaikos, which after the change of coach is in good timing, now under the orders of Christos Serelis.
“They have won the last two Euroleague games and they were about to beat Olympiacos on Sunday (in the Greek league). At OAKA it is always difficult, but you have to respect this makeover of Panathinaikos,” said the Blaugrana coach. Sarunas Jasikevicius, in the previous one.
‘Saras’ also confirmed that guard Cory Higgins, who was unable to play the last three games due to injury, traveled with the team to the Hellenic capital, although it will be a doubt until just before the match, key to the ‘culers’ aspirations after winning in the last day against Red Star (85-79).
In addition to winning and achieving what would be victory 20 in this Regular Phase, it would also be worth it for Barça to achieve their place in the quarterfinals with losing and Valencia, Baskonia and Zalgiris losing their respective matches. Or that Valencia, Efes and another team (Maccabi, Baskonia or Zalgiris) lose.
The previous duels are clearly favorable to Barça. In this century the balance is 28-13 in favor of a Barça that has won the last eight games, including 74-68 in the first round, on matchday 14, at the Palau Blaugrana.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT.
PANATHINAIKOS: Lee, Thomas, Bacon, Williams y Gudaitis –possible quintet initial–; P. Kalaitzakis, Papagiannis, Bochoridis, G. Kalaitzakis, Ponitka, Grigonis y Mantzoukas.
BARÇA: Laprovittola, Satoransky, Abrines, Mirotic and Sanli –possible starting five–; Da Silva, Paulí, Vesely, Kalinic, Tobey, Kuric and Jokubaitis.
–REFEREES: Latisevs, Nedovic and Kardum.
–PAVILLION: Oaka Altion.