Avtodor — CSKA, 21 October 2023

Travel warm-up

The start of the VTB League championship for the red-blues is not difficult in terms of travel: two home games, a short visit to St. Petersburg, and now a flight to Saratov. At the same time, it was very comfortable - for the first time this season, the team boarded an Aeroflot charter, which they will use to fly home immediately after the game.

Before the trip, the Muscovites worked in Krylatskoye with the already familiar composition. The coaching staff still lacks the help of Ivan Ukhov, who continues to work individually to rehab his injured knee.

From a clean Saratov slate

People here are used to change, so it’s quite natural to watch the formation of the new Avtodor. This summer, the Volga team got a new head coach, Milenko Bogicevic, and the recruitment of foreigners and the roles of home-grown players changed.

“Avtodor has already shown that it is a dangerous opponent this season,” CSKA head coach Emil Rajkovic says. – They played great against Uralmash and lost to Yenisei in the last seconds. Therefore, we must approach the meeting with the Saratov team responsibly and act collectedly throughout the match.”

Five of Avtodor’s six foreign players are the most effective players on the opposing team. The most formidable of them in the first four games is guard Kyle Vinales, who is averaging 23.3 points and 6.3 assists. Fans are also expecting a lot from another black-and-white newcomer, Sindarius Thornwell. So far, the success of the forward, who spent five years in the NBA, can be called modest (10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds), but there is a long season ahead.

Past matchups

Wins/losses: 64-16
Games of 2022-23 VTB League season:

Regular season
23-Oct-2022. Avtodor – CSKA: 75-102 (+27)
23-Nov-2022. CSKA – Avtodor: 103-76 (+27)

Quarterfinal series
31-Mar-2023. CSKA – Avtodor: 103-68 (+35)
02-Apr-2023. CSKA – Avtodor: 111-85 (+26)
05-Apr-2023. Avtodor – CSKA: 67-76 (+9)

Brief dossier

Avtodor Saratov

Founded: 1960
Colors: black, white
Home court: Kristall Ice Palace (5,500)
President: Vladimir Rodionov
Head coach: Milenko Bogicevic
Website: www.avtodor.ru
Trophy case: 4-time Russian League runner-up (1994, 97, 98, 99), 2-time Russian League bronze winner (1992, 96), EuroCup semifinalist (1998), Superleague A champion (1997, 98), Superleague B champion (2009), Superleague champion (2013/14)