Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EuroLeague match.
In their last match, AS Monaco fell to ASVEL (71:88). While this might seem like an ordinary game, it's worth noting that Maccabi defeated the Lyon-based club in the EuroLeague's opening round (89:82). Could this be a mere coincidence, or should we brace for a sensational upset of the favourites?
AS Monaco
The hosts have not had the best start to their season, with only one victory in the opening rounds of the French Championship and a win over Olimpia Milano in the EuroLeague. Remarkably, just one of Monaco's four games has been high-scoring, with the others falling under the total of 159.5 points. The team is struggling with its shooting, posting very low percentages both from the free-throw line (62.68%) and beyond the arc (30.9%).
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Meanwhile, the Israelis have begun their campaign with three consecutive victories. Under Oded Kattash, they focus on a defensive strategy that has been paying off. The team concedes an average of just 74.6 points per game while scoring 88.3. Their game against ASVEL showcased their defensive prowess, featuring a high number of steals (10) and minimal turnovers (only 11). They also display great discipline: in that same match, they committed just 16 fouls, leading to only 9 free-throw attempts for their opponents.
AS Monaco vs Maccabi Tel Aviv Prediction
The teams previously faced each other this calendar year in the 18th round of last season's EuroLeague, where Monaco managed a narrow victory at home. However, much has changed since then, including the departure of Monaco's star point guard Kemba Walker. Maccabi look set to put up a strong fight, and if they don't win, they'll certainly provide formidable resistance.
