By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Round 19 of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague will feature a special game, with Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet hosting Partizan Mozzart Bet in another chapter of the great Serbian basketball rivalry.
While Crvena Zvezda will be waiting for injured Luka Mitrovic until the last moment, it looks like Partizan won’t be able to count on one of its best players, who excelled in derbies since coming to the Serbian capital, Zach LeDay.
The US power forward missed the previous match against ASVEL due to a hip injury and didn’t train with the team on the night before the Belgrade clash.
“We’ll see on the day of the game, but the lineup will most likely be the same as against ASVEL. LeDay couldn’t train, Trifunović started training at the usual intensity, and Avramović has started working with the ball a bit,” Partizan’s head coach Zeljko Obradovic said.
The first two derbies of the season were played in front of Partizan’s audience, and Obradovic‘s side prevailed on both occasions. This time, Crvena Zvezda will be hosting their arch-rivals in front of the packed Stark Arena, which will be colored in red and white. The most decorated European coach, who is in the third year of his second stint with Partizan, is very familiar with what the games against the city rivals bring.
“The match against the biggest possible opponent for us, Crvena Zvezda, seems to come at a good time for both teams. They played a very good game against Fenerbahce, and we performed well against Asvel, so we hope it will be a good match,” Obradovic said.
The experienced coach also touched on the latest addition to his upcoming rival, talented Nikola Topic, who is projected to be among the top picks in the 2024 NBA Draft.
“He plays exceptionally well and smart. At his age, he shows a level of maturity that is unusual. He will be highly placed in the NBA draft next year. A significant reinforcement for them,” Zeljko Obradovic concluded.
Photo: ABA League/Dragana Stjepanovic