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The new 2023-24 EuroLeague season ends its first double week with a juicy clash between Virtus Bologna and Crvena Zvezda. This relatively new rivalry began only last season with the first two clashes ever between the teams. Both matches were won by the team hosting the fixture last term. Will that trend continue now?
Virtus Bologna vs Crvena Zvezda – game predictions
Contents
Here are our Virtus Bologna vs Crvena Zvezda predictions. You can find more EuroLeague predictions here.
Prediction 1: Tornike Shengelia under 3.5 assists @ 8/11 (1.73)
Virtus Bologna forward Tornike Shengelia went on for 26 points on Wednesday night. He is a gifted scorer and we think he will be forcing the issue again against Zvezda. However, taking so many shots means other parts of Shengelia’s game are not so good and we don’t think he will record more than 3 assists. He had exactly 3 assists on Wednesday and for his 12-year EuroLeague career, Shengelia averaged only 2.1 assists per game.
Prediction 2: Over 153.5 total points @ 1/2 (1.50)
Our second prediction is that there will be at least 154 points scored in this match. Both clashes between the sides last season went over 157 points. Only 1 of Crvena Zvezda’s 3 EuroLeague games so far had fewer than 154 points, their round 2 match had 153 points. Also, only 1 of Virtus Bologna’s 3 EuroLeague games had fewer than 153 points.
These odds were correct at the time of writing.
Virtus Bologna vs Crvena Zvezda preview – who can dominate from beyond the arc?
Which team will shoot better from distance?The winner will likely be decided by this one thing.
Virtus Bologna news, injuries, and starting lineups
Virtus Bologna improved to 2-1 with a decisive 87-76 home win vs Alba Berlin on Wednesday. Storming start secured a big lead after just one period and from that point on the experienced Italians simply controlled the proceedings.
Virtus shot over 40% from beyond the arc in both their wins in recent weeks and they can be very hard to beat when they shoot well from distance. Defensively things had been solid too. Virtus are yet to concede more than 82 points in a game in the EuroLeague this season.
Starting power forward Achille Polonara is expected to miss the rest of the season due to a serious health condition. Mickey looks poised to be starting often from now on. He did well on Wednesday.
Virtus Bologna Injury Report:
Achille Polonara PF – ruled out
Virtus Bologna Starting Lineup:
Alesaandro Pajola, Marco Belinelli, Ognjen Dobric, Tornike Shengelia and Jordan Mickey
Crvena Zvezda news, injuries, and starting lineups
Crvena Zvezda lost back-to-back dramatic matches in the EuroLeague after opening the season with a big home win vs Lyon. On Wednesday slow start to their home game vs Monaco led to an unpleasant 76-82 defeat in the end. The inability to knock down open shots from beyond the arc was the main reason why Zvezda lost this match.
Sitting at 1-2 Crvena Zvezda know that they need to be doing much better in offence. They were held to below 80 points in both recent defeats.
Veteran Bjelica has been absent since last March. He trains again but might not be risked just yet. Starting centre Branko Lazic hurt his knee at the weekend in the domestic league. He’s considered a doubt. Lazic sat out the game on Wednesday.
Crvena Zvezda Injury Report:
Nemanja Bjelica SF – doubtful
Branko Lazic C – doubtful
Crvena Zvezda Starting Lineup:
Shabazz Napier, Rokas Giedraitis, Marko Simonovic, Ognjen Kuzmic, Branko Lazic
Virtus Bologna vs Crvena Zvezda head-to-head record since 2000
The only two previous meetings between the sides were during last season’s regular season of the EuroLeague. The teams exchanged home wins.
- 31.01.23 EUR Virtus Bologna vs Crvena Zvezda 84-72
- 02.12.22 EUR Crvena Zvezda vs Virtus Bologna 83-74
Virtus Bologna vs Crvena Zvezda game details
- Date & Time: Friday, October 20th, 2023 at 19:30 GMT
- Venue: PalaDozza in Bologna, Italy
- Where to watch the match in the UK: EuroLeagueTV, Eurosport 2, Eurosport Player
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