Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the EuroLeague match.
Last season, the Serbian side narrowly lost twice to their Spanish rivals by less than three points. Can they avenge those losses and kick off the new season with a pair of victories in the EuroLeague?
Crvena Zvezda
The hosts have had a mixed start to their campaign. They've managed a single win in their first three games in the Adriatic League, yet they overcame the EuroLeague newcomers, Paris Basketball (77:80). The team is facing challenges on both ends of the court, averaging 83.25 points per game while conceding 80 points. Their offence generates only 63 shot attempts per game, along with 13 turnovers. Moreover, their free-throw shooting stands at a lowly 73.9 percent.
Baskonia
Baskonia have yet to secure a victory in the Spanish Championship, but they did defeat solid Partizan (88:82). They are strong offensively, averaging 86.3 points per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 41.3% and an overall field goal percentage of 48.3%. Additionally, they average 10.6 offensive rebounds per game.
Crvena Zvezda vs Baskonia Prediction
The Spanish team has triumphed in seven of their last ten encounters with Crvena Zvezda, proving to be a tough opponent for the Serbs. This trend is likely to continue, especially given Crvena Zvezda's defensive struggles against much weaker teams. It's a mistake for bookmakers to underestimate the visitors in this matchup.
