The Blaugrana visit a rival that has surprised at the start of the season (7-4)
Shengelia is the engine of Virtus, which has recovered Achille Polonara after his testicular cancer
Another important test awaits Barça this Wednesday in the Euroleague during its visit to Virtus Bologna (8:30 p.m.), the revelation team of the season that has started the Euroleague very strongly (7-4) and who comes into the duel on a streak without defeats at home this season.
A Virtus that presents its candidacy to be in the Final Four in Berlin, although there is still a lot of competition ahead. The Italian team, which fired Sergio Scariolo just two weeks before the start of the Euroleague, has found in power forward Tornike Shengelia his ‘alma mater’ and the reference player.
The former Baskonia and CSKA player is the most valued player in the Euroleague, with an average of 21.9 credits and a very high scoring average (16.7 points) in addition to rebounds (5.9) and assists to his teammates. (4.1). The star of the team, without a doubt, and the player who should worry Barça the most, so stopping him becomes a goal for the Blaugrana interiors.much higher than its rival.
Beware of Belinelli
Along with Shengelia, highlight a veteran like Marc Belinelli, one of the great ‘dangers’ of the Virtus from long distance and the return of Achille Polonara after overcoming testicular cancer, and who has given a lot of morale to the team by recovering one of its players who they thought they would lose for the longest time.
An Italian team that has become strong at home with five victories and a team that distributes the game well with an average of 19.8 assists per game – the third best in the Euroleague -, so the Barça defensive pressure will have to appear from the first minute, and try to short-circuit the Italian game by preventing the balls from reaching Shengelia and break his game much calmer than the Blaugrana.
Barça, second in the standings, one victory behind Madrid, arrives at the duel in good form with consecutive victories in the Endesa League and Euroleague and the clear objective is to continue adding wins, with a view to a new Euroleague duel, this coming Friday, against Fenerbahçe, at the Palau.
Laprovittola and Vesely, leaders
The good moment of Laprovittola, together with Jan Vesely playing the role of leader, must be key for this Barça that when it shows character, defensive intensity and success in shooting, It becomes a very difficult team to beat.
Before the Virtus, Roger Grimau’s men must demonstrate on the court that they have more resources than the Italian team and knowing how to face a hostile environment that will receive them at the Virtus Segafredo Arena, which will be full to see a victory for Luca Banchi’s team.