Clash of in-form teams in Israel against Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv

Valencia Basket men’s team faces its second road game of the week in search of its first away victory (having failed to win in any of its five previous visits) against Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (Thursday 18, 8:05 PM, Pais Arena Jerusalem, Movistar+ Deportes) in a matchup corresponding to Round 17 of the EuroLeague.

The taronja side will be the first Spanish team to visit Israeli soil to play a game in the top continental competition after two years, and the only one to do so this season, although this encounter will be held in Jerusalem due to Maccabi’s usual arena being occupied by another event.

Pedro Martínez’s men carry the fatigue of their comeback win on the court of Olympiacos Piraeus and the subsequent trip, but with the positive momentum of having started the week by extending their winning streak in a meeting between two of the teams with the best recent shape in the competition (five wins for Valencia, three for the Israelis).

The clash between two of the teams that play at the highest pace and with the strongest offensive capabilities in the EuroLeague suggests a game with great rhythm and high scoring, although the improvement of both teams in recent weeks has come from their growth on the defensive end.

Small forward Xabi López-Arostegui (with a muscle injury in his right leg) is the only confirmed absence. As we await the final games of Round 16 today, Valencia Basket remains in second place in the EuroLeague standings with a record of 11–5.

Rosters

REFEREES: Milivoje Jovcic, Kristaps Konstantinovs, Guido Giovannetti