The battle. We don't expect anything else

Without top scorer

Both meetings of the red-blues and blue-white-blues this season pleased the fans. Especially the Moscow team fans, of course, because CSKA won twice. But both games came down to a desperate fight in the end.

Both times the Muscovites earned a solid advantage and lost it at the end of regulation. In St.Petersburg, the hosts were brought back into the fight by Thomas Heurtel, and the guests needed to play very disciplined in the last couple of minutes and get free throws from Amath M’Baye to finish “+4”. In Moscow, CSKA almost missed out on victory in the fourth period, letting a three from Brendan Frasier, then committing a turnover and letting another three to Igor Volkhin - fortunately, the Zenit guard was a moment too late. In overtime, the Muscovites left no chance for their opponents.

In both meetings, the highest scorer for the red-blues was Casper Ware (17 and 28 points), who will be out this time. CSKA co-captain sustained injury, underwent surgery and is actively recovering. He is the only one absent from the guests.

Almost without a pause

While many coaches gave basketball players fairly long holidays during the break for national team games and the All-Star Game, the Moscow team didn’t have many days off. The team received the latter on Monday, upon returning from the Turkish voyage, worked for three days in Krylatskoye and set off from here, after another practice session, on an Aeroflot charter.

"We did not rest much, continuing our preparations for the most important part of the season," CSKA head coach Emil Rajkovic said. "I hope that two good games that we played in Turkey helped us maintain the rhythm and gave the team some extra confidence. It is especially important before the game vs Zenit, that plays excellent basketball recently and has great potential. The players and coaches know each other really well, understand the systems so it will be all about effort and some tactical details. Both games that we played so far in the league turned out to be great spectacles, and I do not expect anything else this other time in St.Pete."

Past matchups

Wins-losses: 33-13 (5-0 in EuroLeague, 18-0 against Triumph Lyubertsy)

Games of the 2023-24 VTB United League season:

08-Oct-2023. 1st stage. Zenit - CSKA: 76-80 (+4)
10-Dec-2023. 1st stage. CSKA - Zenit: 104-89 OT (+15)

Brief dossier

Zenit St.Petersburg, Russia

Founded: 2014
Colors: dark-blue, white, light-blue
Homecourt: SIBUR Arena (7,120)
CEO: Alexander Tserkovny
Head coach: Xavi Pascual
Website: bc-zenit.com