New game for Valencia Basket, which returns to the competition after the break for the national team matches, visiting the court of one of the most in-form teams in the competition, Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens. The first men's team plays a match corresponding to matchday 14 of the EuroLeague this Friday, December 5, 8:15 p.m., a match that can be seen on Movistar+ Plus and followed on Superdeporte.es.
It will not be an easy duel for the Taronja team, where the objective is through to add again as a visitor in the maximum European competition on the court of a rival that has only lost one game at home (against FC Barcelona on October 3), which It has been more than two months since they have known defeat at home and which has a streak of seven consecutive victories. And that also has shown itself to be the best offensive team in the competition in the last seven games, a titanic challenge for a Valencia Basket that presents the best defensive numbers in that same period of games. With a general historical balance that will be unbalanced after this match, the Taronja team has been able to leave OAKA with victory in two of its six previous visits. The Taronja team faces this match with the absence of Xabi López-Arostegui (muscle injury to the right leg) and Braxton Key (who continues with his recovery after having to retire from the last game). Valencia Basket begins this day in seventh position in the EuroLeague with a balance of 8-5.
The rival
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens comes into this match with one of the best streaks in the competition after having chained four wins before the break, which has allowed him to climb to third position with a 9-4 in his locker. In addition to the offensive reference provided by Kendrick Nunn and the rebounding version of Juancho Hernangómez inside a staff loaded with talent with one of the best outside quartets in the tournament with which they form their own Nunn, Sloukas, Grant y TJ Shortsthis positive dynamic has coincided with the arrival of Kenneth Fariedwho arrived from Taiwan a month ago due to injuries in the green team's interior game and who has had such a good performance that he has been chosen as MVP of the month of November in the Euroleague. The Greek team maintains the absence of Mathias Lessort while Cedi Osman and Richaun Holmes are doubtful for this match.
The balance in precedents will be broken on Friday
The history of confrontations between these two teams in the top continental competition has always been very balanced and comes into this match with a tie of six wins for each side. During the first four seasons in which they met, each of the teams won a game: in the 2010-11 campaign both won as a visitor and in the 17-18, 19-20 and 20-21 seasons the home team always won. In the 2022-23 season Valencia Basket won both at Fonteta (94-91) and at OAKA (91-92), putting the overall balance in its favor. In the 2023-24 season, the Greek team won both in Athens (90-73) and in Valencia (81-82), returning the balance to historic. In the event that Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens defends its court on Friday, it would be the first time in which one of these teams has had three victories against the other.
Via: Super sport
