The Palau Blaugrana will host this afternoon (6:30 pm), with the presence of 1.00 fans, one of the most important derbies in recent years. The Barça receive the Joventut forced to win to avoid that a season that painted of outstanding ends in a suspense. Thursday’s defeat in Badalona (72-63) after the worst game of the season has put the team of Sarunas Jasikevicius, which needs to recover its best version, or at least a decent one, to redirect the situation, reach the semifinals of the Endesa League and think again about closing the best year in recent times.
The Cologne Final Four has left Barça very touched both on a mental level and by the loss of his great brain, Nick calathes, absent in the first two games of this quarterfinal series due to the sprained ankle that occurred in the Euroleague semifinals against him Armani. The Greek base, who did part of yesterday’s training with his teammates, could return today due to the importance of the duel, although he is still far from recovered.
The key, however, will be the mentality with which they come out. That battle was clearly won this Thursday on Joventut, who will try to take advantage of his lack of pressure and the nerves of the Barça to give the big surprise. While for Barça this derby is looking to the edge of the abyss, for La Penya it is a great opportunity. “Everyone has their job in a party. The public that will return to the Palau, cheering us on, the players coming out much more focused and mine preparing the team mentally, physically and tactically, “he said yesterday Jasikevicius. For its part, Leandro bolmaro He called the match “final” that his team “must win.”
The same word was used by the technician of Joventut Carles Duran to define the game this afternoon. “We are not the sparring partner or the Barça nor of TenerifeWe are playing to win a title, so this Saturday’s match is a final ”, he commented yesterday. For the preparer of the Penya his team has a “tiny percentage” of possibilities but that does not mean that he expects “an ambitious Joventut and with the illusion of facing a great team”. Last He described his team’s season as “ten” no matter what happens today at the Palau Blaugrana.