Reigning champ Real (12-1) will seek to maintain its two-game lead at the top of the standings with a visit from Bayern (6-7) and a coach who knows the hosts as well as anybody.
Pablo Laso, Bayern: 'They're playing with a lot of confidence'
Seasons
3 Minuto di lettura
Regular Season
Round 14 of 34
Regular Season
Real MadridRMB
8873
FC Bayern MunichBAY
Overview
w
w
w
l
w
l
l
w
w
w
The spotlight will fall on Bayern coach Pablo Laso, who will return to face his former club for the first time in an official game since his glorious 11-year reign – which delivered two EuroLeague crowns – came to an end 18 months ago. Expect a fierce battle inside the paint as Real giant Walter Tavares is confronted by Serge Ibaka and Devin Booker, who respectively rank second and third in the league in rebounding (7.1 and 6.5 rpg.). Real leads the competition in 10 different performance parameters, but there could be nobody better than Laso to devise the perfect game plan against the players he knows so well.
Chus Mateo, Real Madrid head coach
"We are motivated to play against Bayern, a team that plays very good basketball and who is fighting to get in the play-in, very close to the playoff spots. They rebound very well and that's why we will have to pay special attention to that aspect of the game, but they also have quality players with the one-on-one. Furthermore, Serge Ibaka is playing at a high level at the moment. We fell good despite the wear we have felt lately, we are confident and we are working hard. I see the lockerroom atmosphere and the way we compoete and I think this team can make it hard for anybody, win or lose."
Pablo Laso, Bayern head coach
"Right now, Real is probably the dominant team in the EuroLeague. (...) I think for them, we're talking about the reigning EuroLeague champions who acquired Campazzo. What else do they need? They're playing with more or less the same system and the players who have been together for many years, and they're playing with a lot of confidence."
Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid player
"We are facing this game with eagerness. We only think about an opponent that will be hard to play against if we want to maintain our positive streak. We keep working hard daily to give it all in every game, to keep improving and getting the wins, even if it is still a long way until the decisive part of the season. At the beginning Bayern had some problems to get into good dynamics, but after the arrival of Serge Ibaka and some world champions with Germany, the team has gained experience when facing EuroLeague games. It will be a difficult and complicated game."
Leandro Bolmaro, Bayern player
"I'm glad to be back in Europe and playing in the EuroLeague. The past few weeks haven't been easy due to my injury, but now I'm back and trying to find my rhythm. Real Madrid is an outstanding team, and it will be a very tough game for us. We need to stick together as a team and focus on defense."