The derby of the round in EuroLeague: Olimpia Milano hosting Monaco
Round 15 of the EuroLeague features some interesting games, but maybe the most interesting one will be played on Friday evening in the Mediolanum Forum in Milan when Olimpia Milan will host AS Monaco.
Milan has had a disastrous season so far in the EuroLeague. Before the start of the season, everyone considered the Italian team to be a Final Four contender and the fans had a reason to dream about winning the most prestigious trophy in European basketball for the first time since 1988. However, the new players had difficulty finding their roles in the team and injuries also hurt the team’s chances of performing at their best. The biggest issue is on the offensive end, as Milan is by far the worst offensive team so far this season with only 68.9 points per game.
After an incredible streak of negative results in the EuroLeague (Milan lost 9 straight games), the “Little Red Shoes” managed to win in Belgrade against Crvena Zvezda in a tough environment. This win should give confidence to Ettore Messina’s men and could turn the season around for them.
On the other side, Monaco did not disappoint at all so far. It’s only their second year in the EuroLeague, but the French team can already be considered a powerhouse in European basketball. With 10 wins and 4 losses, Monaco is tied for 1st place with Barcelona and Fenerbahce. We can also expect a very motivated Mike James on the floor tomorrow in the Mediolanum Forum. James played for Milan in the 2018-19 season, but after that season Ettore Messina decided to release the American guard.
Because of the positions in the standings, Monaco is considered to be the favourite, but it should be a very close game. Milan cannot afford to lose any more games at home if they want to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Imre Halasz
Photo credit: Basket Marche
