Beat the Expert: Can Avenida continue momentum or will Cukurova bounce back?
MUNICH (Germany) - After a tricky start to the campaign, Perfumerias Avenida are building some impressive momentum and their upturn in form will be put to the test against Cukurova Basketbol Mersin.
MUNICH (Germany) - After a tricky start to the campaign, Perfumerias Avenida are building some impressive momentum and their upturn in form will be put to the test against Cukurova Basketbol Mersin.
Our Game of the Week could be a Group B blockbuster and it is one of seven games to be played on Wednesday night after a similarly mouth-watering clash on Tuesday night between Valencia Basket Club and Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding.
We also get to resume our Beat the Expert challenge, with all fans having the chance to predict the winners, while EuroLeague Women voice Mark Mills himself drops in as our weekly guest.
Game of the Week: Perfumerias Avenida vs Cukurova Basketbol Mersin
Sat third and second in Group B respectively, this is a huge clash as Perfumerias Avenida eye up a third win on the bounce and one that could result in them moving to an identical 5-3 record as their opponents if they manage to do it. Pabellon Wurzburg will be bouncing to support their resurgent team after a season that had previously stuttered but is now looking like it could take off.
Cukurova Basketbol Mersin, on the other hand, were flying, but their first loss since the opening weekend of the season last week against Group B leaders ZVVZ USK Praha means that they will be looking to bounce back. Intriguingly, that first loss back on Gameday 1 was against Avenida, which means revenge might be on the menu.
You can watch the live broadcast of the game between Perfumerias Avenida and Cukurova Basketbol Mersin with commentary on the EuroLeague Women YouTube channel on Wednesday, December 7 at 20:30 CET
Key matchup: Sika Kone has been excellent of late for Avenida and it is no coincidence that her moving up the gears has come alongside some impressive results. The Mali forward, who is in her first ever season in the competition deservedly made the November Team of the Month.
As did Cukurova guard, Marina Mabrey - although she will obviously not be tasked with slowing down Kone. That responsibility is likely to fall into the hands of Virag Kiss and Elizabeth Williams. Either way, it could be the decisive battleground on the court in this one.
Predictions: The Expert vs Mark Mills
Each week our resident EuroLeague Women expert Paul Nilsen faces a different guest challenger in our prediction game. Fans also have the chance to show their prediction skills in the voting below. The first seven weeks of action have seen our expert mostly in front, but now the fans have edged ahead as we move into the second part of the season.
Our guest for Week 9 is lead EuroLeague Women commentator Mark Mills, who also knows the league inside out and will be looking to use his expert knowledge to bring Team Guest back into the fold after a slow start.
Do you have what it takes?
Predict the winners of this week's games below!
Season predictions so far:
The Expert: 44/56 (79%)
The Guest: 38/56 (68%)
The Fans: 45/56 (81%)
Question of the Week: Will Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding stay perfect?
With the first half of the Regular Season now done and dusted, we're heading into the last seven games with Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding sat on 7-0. But can they really post an unbeaten campaign?
Let us know what you think in the poll below!
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