By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Which one between CSKA Moscow and Real Madrid have the longest winning streak? And who are the veterans and rookies that have made an impression with their performances?
EuroLeague Experts (including Eurohoops Turkey’s Bugra Uzar) share their thoughts…
Per EuroLeague.net:
Welcome back to the Experts Round Table, where we ask a variety of the most-knowledgeable Turkish Airlines EuroLeague followers across the continent their opinions on the topics of the day. This week’s panel includes Euroleague Basketball Legend Theodoros Papaloukas; Luca Chiabotti, the former basketball expert-in-residence at La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy; Gokhan German, basketball writer and columnist for Fanatik sports newspaper in Turkey; Bugra Uzar of Eurohoops Turkey; and Javier Gancedo, EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge guru and Editorial Senior Manager for EuroLeague.net. Check out their opinions on three key questions before Round 6 of the regular season.
1. Which team will stay unbeaten longer, CSKA Moscow or Real Madrid?
Theo Papaloukas
It’s very difficult to make a prediction. In such a competitive league, a mediocre night can bring on a defeat in any game. If we assume that, until Round 10 when Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow will meet for the first time this season in Madrid, one of the two teams will have maintained their unbeaten record, I’m going to bet on CSKA. Simply because, until then, they only have one difficult game on their schedule, against AX Armani Exchange Olimpia Milan tonight, while Madrid plays in Israel against Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv on the same day and also have the away game against Olympiacos Piraeus in Round 9, before the Real Madrid-CSKA confrontation on November 29.
Luca Chiabotti
I say CSKA despite the fact that tonight the team from Moscow will face Armani in Milan, one of the best teams at the start of this EuroLeague season. CSKA has a nice schedule until the big clash with Madrid in Round 10. Real has had a couple of slow starts on the road in Milan and Kaunas and that could be dangerous because it’s hard to win every game with big comebacks (and its next opponent, Maccabi, has to win its home games: Tel Aviv will play six of its first eight games on the road). So I say CSKA, but the game in Milan will be the toughest of the next four.
Gokhan German
Today’s games are very crucial for both teams. İ think both of them will lose today. But if I had to choose one team it would be Real Madrid. CSKA’s schedule is a little bit harder.
Bugra Uzar
Real Madrid. Both Madrid and CSKA Moscow started the season in the best possible way. Even though both teams have had a relatively tough schedule, they managed to stay undefeated. I was more surprised at Madrid than CSKA because, after losing a major player like Luka Doncic, I expected them to be a bit confused. However, the Madridistas have played great basketball under the leadership of their star players, who know the competition very well. Many different players have contributed in every game. This makes them a difficult team to stop. Plus, I think Madrid has an easier schedule than CSKA. So, that’s why I picked them.
Javier Gancedo
I would say CSKA Moscow for two reasons. First, Real Madrid has a tougher schedule, visiting Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv and Olympiacos Piraeus. Second, even though CSKA will play five of the next six games on the road, it has found ways to win games without playing too well. Things did not go well for CSKA against Darussafaka and Olympiacos, but the Russian powerhouse found ways to win. That mental strength and ability to win at all rhythms should keep them undefeated for some time. If both arrive undefeated to their showdown in the Spanish capital in Round 10, however, I think Madrid will win.