Real Madrid game is one of the most awaited of the season. It is awaited by definition, because it is Real Madrid, the team that won the European title 10 times, because it is a matter of tradition, because how good Real Madrid historically is. This season the game is even more awaited because Sergio Rodriguez is coming back in Milan. He is one of the greatest European point guards in the history of the game and in the history of Olimpia. And this is his first game in Milan since he said goodbye last June right after leading the team to the Italian championship. However, after paying the right homage to Rodriguez, an important game will be played. For Olimpia is just the second home game since the start of the season and it comes one week after a tough loss in Barcelona, the first road loss after three straight wins. The same is true for Real Madrid, coming off a home loss with Virtus Bologna, the second defeat at home after the one suffered with Olympiacos. Both teams have eventually won in their domestic leagues. Real Madrid defeated Fuenlabrada easily, saving Guerschon Yabusele: Olimpia defeated Verona by 24 resting Johannes Voigtmann and making Kyle Hines available for a league game for the first time. The game will mark the first time Naz Mitrou-Long will be available. Tip-off time is at 20:30 in Mediolanum Forum, on November 3rd.
REFEREES – Sreten Radovic (Croatia), Olegs Latisevs (Latvia), Tomasz Trawicki (Poland)
COACH ETTORE MESSINA – “We are trying to improve, to find our identity, to increase the quality minutes we have during the games, avoiding to get depressed when we make mistakes. Against Real Madrid, we need to be more physical at both ends of the floor right from the beginning. But this is Chacho’s game, we’ll celebrate his return in Milan. He was a crucial player for us, he changed our history, gave us a different kind of international credibility and a lot of joy in watching him play especially in trying times.”
GIGI DATOME – “We need to play with the right personality, executing the game plan and setting the tempo of the game, because then we’ll play a good game, let alone the score. When we have to play catch-up, when we are not physically in the game, then we struggle. Real Madrid is going through a similar process, so it will be important to attack the game and execute the plan. It will be a special night because we’ll meet again a teammate who gave us a lot.”
NICOLO’ MELLI– “We come from a good week of work that we want to finish by playing a good game. So far, we have had a lot of ups and downs, they are part of the process, but it is important to limit them and to avoid making the mistakes we made in Barcelona. It will be great to play in a packed house and to play against Chacho because he gave a lot to this team, he feels this club part of his story and he deserves a unique atmosphere.”
REAL MADRID – Real lost three of its first five games including two at home, against Olympiacos and last week against Virtus Bologna, but they were all close games, twice it lost by a two-point margin and once by three points. Point-guard Nigel Williams-Goss, who has so far been not available due to an injury, should return. The Hungarian wildcard, Adama Hanga, returned last week when French veteran Fabien Causeur was stopped by an injury. Rudy Fernandez, Anthony Randolph and Carlos Alocen have not yet played, all for physical reasons. The point-men are Sergio Llull (5.2 points and 3.5 assists per game) and Sergio Rodriguez (4.6 assists per game), two of the greatest European interpreters of the positions. Alberto Abalde is also used occasionally in that position. Mario Hezonja plays both as a guard and as a small forward. He is averaging 8.2 points per game and is shooting 44.4 percent from three. The small forward is Argentine Gabriel Deck, supported by the Bosnian Dzanan Musa. Deck so far has been the most consistent Real Madrid player, averaging 15.0 points, 7.4 rebounds per game while converting 44.4 percent of his threes. Musa, who sometimes is even playing at the 2, is averaging 12.0 points per game and making 60.0 percent of his twos. At the power forward, the star is the French Guerschon Yabusele (8.8 points per game, 46.2 percent from three) plus Petr Cornelie, a rookie in the competition, but a great corner shooter with an experience also with the Denver Nuggets. Cornelie so far is averaging 8.2 points per game in slightly more than 12 minutes, converting 61.5 percent of his threes. The tandem of centers is exceptional, with Edy Tavares (11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game) and Vincent Poirier (3.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per game) clogging the middle. Tavares is a perennial defensive player of the year candidate.
LA REAL MADRID CONNECTION – Sergio Rodriguez has played in Milan for three seasons, leading the team to its first Final Four berth in 29 years, in 2021, to the Italian league championship in 2022, to two Italian Cups and one Supercup. Rodriguez is the all-time 3rd best scorer in Olimpia EuroLeague history, first for assists and three-point shots made. Ettore Messina has coached Real Madrid for two seasons with a 23-13 EuroLeague’s record. Among his players during that time Sergio Llull and Sergio Rodriguez.
GAME NOTES – Nicolò Melli has grabbed in Barcelona his 300th offensive rebound in his career (he occupies the all-time 25th place). He is five rebounds shy of 1.213’s grabbed by James Gist for the 12th place all-time. Billy Baron is two three away from reaching 200 for his career. He has made at least one three in 14 of his last 15 games played. Kevin Pangos has made at least one three in 32 of his last 33 appearances. Brandon Davies has started a EuroLeague game for the 100th time in his career.
