Now that the schedule for the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season has been unveiled, EuroLeague.net's staff is eyeing all the mouth-watering action.
Games I am looking forward to in April
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5 Minute de lecture
Here are the games staff members are most excited about in April. They already selected their must-see games for Round 1, October, November, December, January, February and March.
Round 33: Saras can exact some late revenge over Barcelona
Geoff Gillingham
In the penultimate round of the regular season, Saras Jasikevicius’s Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul takes on FC Barcelona, the club the Lithuanian coach left in acrimonious circumstances after the 2022-23 season. In the period between his exit from Palau Blaugrana and taking the job at Fenerbahce in mid-December last year, Jasikevicius wasn’t afraid to reveal his frustration over his departure from Barcelona. Therefore, it would be particularly sweet for the Lithuanian tactician if he is able to affect Barcelona’s seeding – or postseason hopes – by leading Fenerbahce to a victory in this Round 33 matchup.
Fenerbahce has a very strong roster entering the new season and will be hoping to reach back-to-back Final Fours for the first time since making five straight under Zeljko Obradovic between 2015 and 2019. A triumph over Barcelona would be a statement win, one which could instill even more confidence for a Fenerbahce squad aiming to finish the regular season on a high.
Round 33: Monaco's ex-Greens host the champs
Frankie Sachs
The drama levels could be very high when we reach April. In this penultimate round of the regular season, both AS Monaco and Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens could have plenty to play for. Preseason predictions would have them in the fight for the top spots in the standings, but one never knows how vital this game might be.
Just imagine a pack of teams clawing for positions, where the difference between winning and losing could be home-court advantage in the playoffs – or even the difference between the playoffs and Play-In Showdown. And a trio of former Panathinaikos stars – reigning MVP Mike James, assists king Nick Calathes and stud center Georgios Papagiannis – host the Greens in Round 33! Now that is drama and thus a game I would not want to miss.
Round 33: The stakes rise with late-season Derby d'Italia
Igor Petrinovic
A rivalry game in the penultimate round of the regular season is a real treat and there is no other way to look at Virtus Segafredo Bologna hosting EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in the first week of April. The two proud clubs and former continental champions have faced each other more than 210 times in all competitions, but just four times in the EuroLeague this century. And there are not many things better than two rivals bringing their rich head-to-head history into the EuroLeague… And the competition is better for it. Especially when it also means watching arguably the two best duos of forwards butting heads, with Will Clyburn and Tornike Shengelia going against Milan's Shavon Shields and Nikola Mirotic.
Then there is the other thing that comes into play, the recent success of the two teams, or better, lack thereof. Despite big ambitions, neither team has reached the playoffs the past two years. Last season, Virtus was ousted in the Play-In Showdown, while Milan disappointed with a 15-19 record in each of the last two seasons and is determined to put an end to the drought. Being on the EuroLeague menu very late in the regular season, the biggest derby of the Italian basketball carries even more weight. And I am all for it.
Round 34: Partizan, Real to finish regular season with a bang
Javier Gancedo
Tradition and rivalry come together when Real Madrid visits Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade at Stark Arena in the teams’ regular-season finale. Real won its first road game against Partizan 87-100 on February 14, 1980. Belgrade Arena hosted the 2018 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, in which Real won its 10th EuroLeague championship behind an unstoppable Luka Doncic. Two seasons ago, Real arrived in Belgrade with a 0-2 deficit in its best-of-five playoff series against Partizan, won twice on the road and advanced to the Final Four with a memorable come-from-behind victory in Madrid.
The fact that this is the final game of the regular season should add a lot of spice to the showdown. Real has done well against Partizan in Belgrade, winning its last three games. Walter Tavares played a decisive role in the 2023 playoffs, and Mario Hezonja led Real to back-to-back wins over Partizan in the 2023-24 season. It is always special to host Real and Partizan fans will be ready to deliver a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Last season's Alexander Gomelskiy EuroLeague Coach of the Year award winner Chus Mateo goes against nine-time champion Zeljko Obradovic. At this point of the pre-season, being under the April skies seems far away but this game checks all the boxes to guarantee a good time, both at Stark Arena and in front of your TV. Circle it in your EuroLeague calendar!