CSKA Moscow play host to Galatasaray Medical Park in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague on Thursday.
An unprecedented match-up in European club competitions will take place in the Russian capital, where CSKA Moscow welcomes Galatasaray Medical Park on Thursday.
CSKA (2-0) is undefeated in the 2011-12 Turkish Airlines Euroleague after 12 games and leads Group E. Galatasaray (1-1) survived a tough test against Olympiacos to grab its first-ever Top 16 win in overtime.
Galatasaray is 1-5 on the road so far and lost its last three games outside Abdi Ipecki Sports Hall. CSKA leads the Top 16 in scoring (91 ppg.), three-pointers made (16) and performance index ranking (105.5). Expect a tough battle in Moscow, as Galatasaray rarely surrenders.
CSKA has a full team ready to go against Galatasaray but only 12 of its 15 players can be with the team. Galatasaray is without Tutku Acik, who has hepatitis, and Sertac Sanli. Former CSKA player Darius Songaila is not expected to travel to Moscow.
Both teams have deep, versatile backcourts with a lot of alternatives and possibilities at both ends. Galatasaray can opt for a pass-first playmaker like Ender Arslan, or a more physical and aggressive style with Jamon Lucas and Huseyin Koksal at both guards, or use veteran bomber Jaka Lakovic at either guard spot to improve range and spread the floor.
Arslan must make the most out of his creativity and passing skills against Milos Teodosic, while Lucas and Koksal will probably see extended playing time against two athletic, physical players like Jamont Gordon and Alexey Shved – the latter could make a difference in this game due to his size, poise and great ball handling.
In a very intriguing mismatch forced by CSKA's very tall line-up, we may see Lakovic guarding Ramunas Siskauskas in a battle between two Euroleague legends. Andrei Kirilenko is always a tough assignment at small forward due to his unique combination of intensity and quickness.
Galatasaray’s Josh Shipp will take on Kirilenko in what promises to be a critical matchup in this game. CSKA must box out against two very good offensive re-bounders – Boris Savovic and Furkan Aldemir.
Savovic will see playing time against Viktor Khryapa, in great form recently, while Aldemir and Luksa Andric will need to step up against Darius Lavrinovic and, above all, powerful Nenad Krstic. Preston Shumpert can be the X-factor for Galatasaray due to his dynamism and deep range.
Euroleague Live Streaming Schedule:
- 16:15 - CSKA Moscow vs Galatasaray
- 18:30 - Fenerbahce vs Panathinaikos
- 19:45 - Barcelona vs Zalgiris
- 19:45 - Cantu vs Maccabi Electra
- 19:45 - Unicaja vs Montepaschi Siena
