- Žalgiris currently leads the EuroLeague standings, sitting at 6-1 through Week 7.
- Alba Berlin is having a brutal season and ranks last with a -75 point differential.
- Week 8 features several key matchups as the standings remain close in the middle.
The 2024 EuroLeague basketball season is approaching the midway point. Only two games separate 2nd and 13th place, which keeps most teams in contention for the title. This week’s results may reshape the landscape.
EuroLeague Basketball Week 8 Predictions
Crvena Zvezda vs. Alba Berlin
Crvena Zvezda lost to Panathinaikos last week, by a score of 81-77. They led by 8 points entering halftime, but collapsed in the second half. Isaiah Canaan led the way in scoring with 20 points off the bench. Alba Berlin sits in dead last place with the worst record and point differential in the league. They lost by 16 to Anadolu Efes at home, and now head on the road for an even tougher matchup. Crvena Zvezda should win this one at home.
Milano vs. Real Madrid
Milano is 2-5 through the first seven weeks of the season. They have underperformed expectations, but may finally be trending in the right direction. Last week, Milano led all teams in scoring, defeating Virtus Bologna 99-90. Meanwhile, Real Madrid lost a heartbreaker by 1 point against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Despite being on the road, Real Madrid should have the advantage in this matchup. Milano will likely keep it somewhat close at home.
Paris vs. Partizan
Paris won a very low-scoring clash against Baskonia last week, defeating them 67-65. Sitting right in the middle of the pack, Paris benefits greatly from victories of any margin. This week, they’ll host Partizan, who lost by 17 against Fenerbahçe in their most recent game. Paris should have a key advantage in this matchup. They have more momentum currently, and are at home. Look for TJ Shorts II and the offense to bounce back this week.
Bayern Munich vs. Žalgiris
Bayern Munich won in confident fashion on the road last week, toppling Lyon-Villeurbanne 84-71. They rose to the top-5 in the standings with a 5-2 record, but rank 11th in point differential at +7. Eventually, Bayern will begin to lose some of those close games. They’ll be aiming to post another blowout result against a Ĺ˝algiris team that held off Monaco by one point. Ĺ˝algiris has a good chance of pulling off the upset in this week’s matchup.
Anadolu Efes vs. Monaco
Anadolu Efes smothered Alba Berlin in a 16-point road win on Sunday. After confidently beating the worst team in the league, they return home for a clash between two 4-3 teams. Monaco came up just short against Ĺ˝algiris last week and will be aiming to get a revenge win. While this game may come down to the wire, we like Anadolu’s chances of winning at home. Jordan Nwora continues to be one of the best players in the league.
Lyon-Villeurbanne vs. Fenerbahçe
Lyon-Villeurbanne dropped to 2-5 last week, following their 13-point defeat at home to Bayern Munich. They’ll host once again this week, hoping to get back on track against a playoff contender in Fenerbahçe. It won’t be an easy task, especially after Fenerbahçe’s 17-point victory over Partizan. The road team enters as favorites by a big margin, and we’re inclined to agree with the odds. Nigel Hayes-Davis will aim to repeat his 24-point game.
Panathinaikos vs. Olympiacos
Panathinaikos and Olympiacos meet this week in a Greek rivalry battle. Both teams are coming off of wins last week. Panathinaikos took down Crvena Zvezda on the road, 81-77. Meanwhile, Olympiacos posted the largest win of the week, stunning Barcelona by 21 points. They face an uphill battle against the team with the best point differential in the league, but are carrying a lot of momentum. We like Olympiacos to win on the road.
Barcelona vs. Baskonia
Barcelona’s disastrous 21-point loss to Olympiacos raised some major concerns for the team that was 2nd in the standings prior to the defeat (and still 3rd after). While their offense has been solid, the defense has shown clear signs of regression since last season. Baskonia also lost last week, but in a much closer game. Ultimately, Barcelona is too strong of a team to lose badly twice in a row. We’ll take them to win at home in this matchup.
Virtus Bologna vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
Rounding out the week is a matchup between two struggling teams. Both rank in the lower half of the standings through seven weeks. Virtus Bologna gave up 99 points last week in their loss to Milano. Their defense isn’t as bad as they performed in that game, and should be able to improve this week. Meanwhile, Maccabi Tel Aviv notched a 1-point win last week, but continues to slide. We’re taking Virtus Bologna here.
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