ALBA (2-12) will aim to climb from the bottom of the standings with a visit from second-placed Barcelona (10-4), which is eager to immediately bounce back from Friday's home loss to Milan.
Roger Grimau, Barcelona: 'There's no time to relax'
Seasons
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 15 of 34
Regular Season
ALBA BerlinBER
7470
FC BarcelonaBAR
Overview
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The Spanish team will look to restore its usual defensive high standards after allowing at least 80 points in each of the last five games, with the hustle of former ALBA forward Oscar Da Silva likely to play a key role on his return to Berlin. The hosts will hope that Johannes Thiemann (15 ppg., 5.5 rpg.) can continue his great season and dominate the inside battle against Da Silva, Jan Vesely and Willy Hernangomez, who has scored in double digits in the last five games.
Israel Gonzalez, ALBA head coach
"Barcelona is a great team! We have to be prepared for their quick transitions and focus defensively on the pick-and-roll, the low post and screens for Barca's good shooters. The most important thing and therefore the key for us will be to work with concentration under the baskets and rebound well."
Roger Grimau, Barcelona head coach
"We feel we did our job well. We won our last game in the Spanish League, and we feel better. But now we have to recover for a double-round week in the EuroLeague. There's no time to relax. ALBA has a very fast style of play. They have many players who can handle the ball, they also have good shooters and at home they play at a different speed. We will have to be solid to win. In Barcelona you always have pressure, no matter who you play against. But we know that if we are at a good level, we can compete against anyone. But also, if we are not completely focused, we can lose to any team, and it's not a cliche."
Oscar Da Silva, Barcelona player
"We cannot rest, and we want to try to win two more games this week. I am happy I can see my former teammates there, and also playing against a team that plays well at home. They are a young, hungry team. The games against teams like Barcelona and Real are special there, I know what I am talking about. That's why we have to be ready to play hard in Berlin from the first minute. This will be a special game for me, for sure."