Climbing up through the Pyrenees

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

The Muscovites who just snapped their losing streak have tough challenge ahead of them. FC Barcelona relies on its efficiency at both ends. Barcelona leads the EuroLeague in scoring at 81.2 points per night, making 55.0% of its two-point shots and a league-best 38.7% of its three-pointers. Barcelona averages 13.4 turnovers but cut those to 10 in Round 9 against Baskonia. Barcelona is undefeated at home this season.

Theoretically the Army Men have all injured and ill players back, though some health problems remain. The coaching staff took 14 out of 16 rostered players on the road trip. Only Andrey Lopatin and Alexander Khomenko stayed to play for CSKA-2 in the Superleague 1 game.

REFEREES

Robert Lottermoser (crew chief, Germany), Olegs Latyshevs (Latvia), Saso Petek (Slovenia).

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

We are playing against a very good team that established good game lately and throughout last years, they have the same core of the team. Though we need to understand that all players need time to make certain adjustments, and it's not going to happen over the night. We are working good, this is important.

Marius Grigonis, CSKA guard:

It's still hard to come out of injury, I was one month out. Back injuries are tricky because every movement hurts. I still need time to be my 100 per cent but I am happy I can practice and play already. Barcelona is a contender to win everything. It's a really great team with great coach. It will be a battle. It will be a lot of tactics but in the end wins who wants it more.

“RELATIVITY” CONNECTIONS

Barcelona head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius and Dimitris Itoudis spent four seasons together at Panathinaikos Athens, first from 2007 through 2010 and again in 2011-12. Jasikevicius was a star playmaker and Itoudis was an assistant coach. In that time, they helped the Greens win the 2009 EuroLeague and three Greek League and Greek Cup crowns.

Barcelona swingman Cory Higgins played for CSKA for four years - his first four in the EuroLeague. He helped CSKA win two titles, in 2016 and 2019.

Marius Grigonis played under coach Jasikevicius and was a teammate of Barcelona's Nigel Hayes-Davies and Rokas Jokubaitis at Zalgiris Kaunas. Grigonis and Jokubaitis were teammates for the last three seasons, while Grigonis and Hayes-Davies were teammates for the last two seasons. Grigonis played under Jasikevicius for two seasons from 2018 to 2020.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Johannes Voigtmann has made at least 1 three-point shot in six of his last seven games.

Voigtmann has recorded double-digit PIRs in eight of his last nine games.

Marius Grigonis has made at least 1 three-point shot in nine of his last 10 games.

Grigonis is ranked second all-time in free throw accuracy at 92.5%.

Alexey Shved has made at least 1 three-pointer in 25 of his last 26 appearances.

Will Clyburn's next appearance will be the 150th of his EuroLeague career.

Will Clyburn has at least 1 steal in five of his last six games.

Clyburn made at least 1 three-point shot in five of his last six games.

Clyburn has made 11 consecutive free throws.

Will Clyburn ranks fourth this season in scoring with 16.7 per game.

Clyburn ranks sixth this season in average PIR with 17.3 per game, and Shengelia ranks 10th with 16.4 per game.

Tornike Shengelia ranks eighth this season in scoring with 15.4 per game.

Milutinov ranks eighth on the all-time list with 464 offensive rebounds. Bryant Dunston of Anadolu Efes Istanbul is seventh with 476 and counting.

Shved ranks eighth all-time with 431 three-point shots made for his career. Jaycee Carroll is seventh with 437.

Shved ranks ninth all-time in scoring with 2,838 points. Felipe Reyes is eighth with 3,029.

Shved is tied with Sergio Llull for 10th place all-time with 589 free throws made for his career. Kostas Sloukas of Olympiacos Piraeus is ninth with 600 and counting.

Shved ranks 14th on the all-time charts with 813 assists. Nando De Colo of Fenerbahce is 13th with 827 and counting.

PAST MATCHUPS

Win-loss record: 20-17

Games of 2020-21 EuroLeague season

Barcelona – CSKA: 76-66 (-10)
CSKA – Barcelona: 75-88 (-13)

SHORT DOSSIER

FC Barcelona, Spain
Founded: 1926
Colors: balaustine, violet, gold
Home court: Palau Blaugrana (8,250)
President: Joan Laporta
Head coach: Sarunas Jasikevicius
Website: www.fcbarcelona.cat

Trophy case:
- 2-time Euroleague champion (2003, 2010);
- 2-time Saporta Cup winner (1985, 1986);
- 2-time Korac Cup winner (1987, 1999);
- 19-time Spanish champion (1959, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2021);
- 26-time Copa Del Rey winner (1943, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, 1959, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1994, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019, 2021)
- 6-time Spanish Supercup winner (1988, 2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015)