The German basketball runners-up FC Bayern Munich started its “Spanish week” in the EuroLeague with a setback.
With the 73:82 (32:33) at fellow competitor Valencia Basket, the team of coach Andrea Trinchieri conceded a defeat after four competitive wins in a row.
Due to the halted recovery, Bayern could not further improve their chances of participating in the play-offs again after four successes in the previous five EuroLeague games. The ex-champion is still two wins behind the playoff zone in the bottom third of the table, on Thursday (8:30 p.m.) the guest game at FC Barcelona is scheduled.
In Valencia, Munich confidently played along with the momentum of its winning streak in what was possibly a trend-setting duel. Trinchieri’s players did not let themselves be shaken off well into the second half in the hard-fought encounter at eye level with several changes in the lead.
Cassius Winston best pitcher in FC Bayern
Only after an intermediate spurt by the hosts in the final phase of the third quarter was the third-placed Bundesliga player unable to counter sufficiently and fell back decisively. In the last section, Valencia initially extended their lead and only allowed Bayern to make up for the result.
The most successful thrower from Munich was the American Cassius Winston with 22 points. National player Niels Giffey recorded the second-best result with 14 points. In Valencia’s side, Jonas Radebaugh stood out with 14 points out of four players in double figures.
Bayern’s league competitor Alba Berlin will return to action in the premier class on Wednesday (8 p.m.). The German champions meet the French top team AS Monaco in their own hall before the defeated capital city club has to compete in Turkey two days later at title candidate Fenerbahce Istanbul.