Galatasaray meets CSKA Moscow in crucial game

ISTANBUL

Galatasaray found itself in a place to qualify for the Euroleague Top 16 with three wins in a row, with the latest one coming against Bayern Munich.

Galatasaray visits CSKA Moscow while Anadolu Efes hosts Olympiacos in two Turkish Airlines Euroleague games tonight.

CSKA Moscow, currently leading the Group F, is fighting with Real Madrid for first place, while Galatasaray is battling to reach the playoffs spot.

“It’s obvious that it will be a tough game for us,” Galatasaray coach Ergin Ataman told the Euroleague website. “CSKA Moscow is one of the candidates for the championship this season. We won our last three games in Euroleague by playing good basketball. Our goal is to continue this rhythm and win.”

The Turkish champions are fighting for the fourth spot with Russia’s Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, with the two teams are both on 6-6 winning runs.

Galatasaray will have to keep the score close no matter what as its point differential over the entire Top 16 is now the tie-breaker that would get it into the playoffs if it stays tied with Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar at the end of the phase.

Also tonight in Istanbul, Anadolu Efes will play its final home game of the season.

The Istanbul club had a poor campaign, with just two wins in 12 games, sitting on the bottom of the Group E. Olympiacos could make the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season. The Greeks would need to win and expect either Laboral Vitoria or Panathinaikos to win, too.