Maccabi Tel Aviv Faces Real Madrid Amid Search for New Guard
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Maccabi Tel Aviv will play Real Madrid in Belgrade on Thursday in the EuroLeague, seeking to extend their winning momentum. The team is also actively searching for a new guard due to a significant injury to Ify Lundberg, who will be out for at least six weeks. Coach Oded Katash noted the need for reinforcement was present even before the injury. Real Madrid enters the game on a six-game winning streak, while Maccabi aims to improve their 2-4 EuroLeague record against the historically dominant Spanish side.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Maccabi Tel Aviv faces Real Madrid in Belgrade on Thursday in the EuroLeague.
- Guard Ify Lundberg is out for 6-8 weeks with a quadriceps tendon tear.
- The team is actively seeking to sign a new guard to bolster the roster.
- Yam Madar is expected to take on a larger role due to Lundberg's injury.
- Real Madrid arrives with a six-game winning streak across all competitions.
- Historically, Real Madrid leads the series 47-28 against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is set to face Real Madrid in Belgrade on Thursday in their seventh EuroLeague game, aiming to build on their recent victory over Valencia. The team is currently 16th in the EuroLeague standings with a 2-4 record, while Real Madrid is ninth with a 3-3 record. Maccabi hopes to replicate the performance that led to their 88-91 win against Valencia.
The team's preparations are also focused on acquiring a new guard following a significant injury to Danish guard Ify Lundberg. Lundberg suffered a partial tear of his quadriceps tendon during practice and is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, potentially longer. This injury has accelerated the club's search for a replacement, with hopes for progress this week. The need for additional backcourt reinforcement was already identified before Lundberg's injury, according to coach Oded Katash.
With Lundberg out, Israeli guard Yam Madar is expected to take on a larger role. Madar, who missed the previous game due to recovery from a tailbone injury, is anticipated to be available for the Real Madrid game. However, Lundberg's absence will increase the workload on Madar and affect the team's rotation.
Real Madrid arrives in Belgrade on a strong six-game winning streak across all competitions. After an initial three losses in the EuroLeague, they have since secured three victories. The Spanish team recently defeated Villeurbanne 111-92, with Andrés Felis scoring 26 points. Real Madrid also leads the Spanish League with a perfect 4-0 record, including a recent 119-84 win over Bilbao where they set a club record with 20 three-pointers.
Historically, Real Madrid holds a significant advantage in their 76 European encounters with Maccabi Tel Aviv, leading with 47 wins to Maccabi's 28. However, Maccabi has won their last two home games against Real by a single point. Maccabi is coming off two consecutive wins, including a domestic league victory over Ironi Kiryat Ata, maintaining a perfect record in their local league. Player Bonzie Colson emphasized the need for the team to prove their improvement on the court, stating, "Talk is cheap, we just need to win."
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