Maccabi Tel Aviv Seeks Quick Recovery in Tough EuroLeague Road Game

Maccabi Tel Aviv is set to face Valencia on Thursday in the sixth round of the EuroLeague, aiming to bounce back from a dramatic last-second loss to Barcelona. The team, now with a 4-1 record after the 90-87 defeat, faces another significant challenge in Spain's "double week" of games. Maccabi is still processing the painful loss in Barcelona and needs to recover both physically and mentally for the demanding match against a strong opponent in one of the EuroLeague's toughest arenas.

Guard Yam Madar is questionable for the game due to a back injury sustained when he landed on a Barcelona player's foot. Madar, who set a career-high in the EuroLeague against Barcelona with 22 points and a 31 efficiency rating, participated in a partial practice and received treatment. A decision on his availability will be made shortly before tip-off.

Coach Oded Katash described the upcoming game as potentially more intense than the one against Barcelona. "It wasn't simple, even more intense than what we had in Barcelona. It was a loss with a different feeling. We felt we were there and needed to win, but we need to recover quickly," Katash stated. He noted Valencia's contrasting performances in their game against Olympiacos, where they led by 28 points before their opponent mounted a comeback. "We need to learn from that as much as possible, we must fly to the defense, be focused, and show ourselves. It's a difficult place to play," he added.