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Both Barcelona and Anadolu Efes made huge personnel changes in the offseason. Both teams have new head coaches, and both saw their leading scorers leave this summer. All that makes the opening game of the EuroLeague season very hard to predict, but there is no doubt that it will be exciting to watch.
Barcelona vs Anadolu Efes – game predictions
Contents
Barcelona and Anadolu Efes are traditionally among the top favourites to win the EuroLeague. Going into the season with a lot of new faces on board will demand time to make things work for both teams, and everything starts with their showdown at the Palau Blagurana on Thursday.
Prediction 1: Barcelona to win @ 1/2 (1.50)
This game is extremely important for both teams and may set the tone for the rest of the season. Nikola Mirotic was the go-to guy in Barcelona in the last couple of years, and we will see who will be their offensive leader this season. Nikolas Laprovitola seems ready to take over the team, and he will have a tough task going against Shane Larkin in this one. It will definitely be a tough game that can go either way, but Barcelona, with the support of the stands, will find a way to win at the end.
Prediction 2: Will Clyburn over 15.5 points @ 17/20 (1.85)
Will Clyburn will have a much bigger role on the team after Vasilije Micic went to the NBA. He is a proven scorer, and his shot attempts will rise this year. Clyburn is a versatile scorer who will be very aggressive in this game against Nikola Kalinic, who is a great defender but much shorter than the American. Anadolu Efes will need Clyburn to be efficient to have a chance to win, and the two-time EuroLeague Sixth Man of the Year will be on his level and score over 15.5 points.
How difficult this season will be for Anadolu Efes after the departures?
Head coach Ergin Ataman was the one to make Anadolu Efes a championship team, and now, with Erdem Can, they will face a lot of uncertainties. The team still has a solid roster, but without Vasilije Micic, they will have to find another leader on the court.
Barcelona news, injuries, and starting lineups
Barcelona’s top scorer in the last couple of years, Nikola Mirotic, is no longer with the team, and that will change things for the Catalans. The signing of Willy Hernangomez brought a lot of hype in Barcelona, and if that was the right move, we will see in this game.
Barcelona injury report
None listed
Barcelona starting lineup
Nikolas Laprovitola, Jabari Parker, Nikola Kalinic, James Nnaji and Willy Hernangomez
Anadolu Efes news, injuries, and starting lineups
The team that won the EuroLeague in 2021 and 2022 does not look the same at all after the departure of head coach Ergin Ataman, who led them in the last six seasons. The 2021 EuroLeague MVP and the 2022 EuroLeague leading scorer Vasilije Micic also left, and now the team from Istanbul will have to rebuild their identity. Shane Larkin and Will Clyburn are still here, meaning that Anadolu Efes is still a contender.
Anadolu Efes injury report
None listed
Anadolu Efes starting lineup
Shane Larkin, Elijah Bryant, Will Clyburn, Ante Zizic and Tibor Pleiss
Barcelona vs Anadolu Efes head to head record
Anadolu Efes leads 10-5 in the previous games against Barcelona.
- 13.01.2023: Anadolu Efes won 80-75 in Barcelona
- 17.11.2022: Anadolu Efes won 96-86 in Istanbul
- 13.01.2022: Barcelona won 82-77 in Barcelona
- 03.12.2021: Barcelona won 95-93 OT in Istanbul
- 30.05.2021: Anadolu Efes won 86-81 in Barcelona
Key game details
- Date & Time: October 5th, 2023 at 19:30 GMT
- Venue: Palau Blagurana, Barcelona, Spain
- Where to watch match in UK: EuroLeagueTV and Eurosport Player
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