EUROLEAGUE – Panathinaikos face CSKA in early showdown

ATHENS (Euroleague) - A mouthwatering clash between teams that have won four of the last five European crowns will be played on Thursday in the second week of the Euroleague.

The contest is between 2007 and ’09 winners Panathinaikos and 2006 and ’08 champs CSKA Moscow.

The Greens beat CSKA in both of their title triumphs.

Pana, who will host the contest, won impressively at Power Electronics Valencia in their opener while CSKA, who had just returned from a tour of the United States, slumped to a surprising 88-73 defeat at home to Armani Jeans Milano.

CSKA have been dealing with injury problems at the start of the season with the biggest concern of late the left knee of Sasha Kaun.

The Russia national team center has flown to the United States to have it examined.

Kaun, 25, had a terrific 2009-10 campaign but the knee has bothered him all summer and he may need an operation.

Regal Barcelona will be eager to run onto the floor in France on Wednesday at Cholet after falling to a surprise overtime defeat in Spain’s ACB to CAI Zaragoza at the Palau Blaugrana on Sunday.

Paolo Monteros tied the game for Zaragoza at the end of regulation with a three-pointer and then teammate Sam Van Rossom won the contest with another three from the left corner.

Xavier Pascual, the Barcelona coach, said: "It will be important for us to win again. I think that having lost Sunday, being able to play Wednesday is a good thing for us."

Cholet will be big underdogs after crashing to a 76-44 defeat at Montepaschi Siena last week.

Montepaschi, who have also won their first two games in Italy's Lega A, travel to Lithuania to face Lietuvos Rytas.

Efes Pilsen will attempt to bounce back from their 95-90 setback in double overtime at Union Olimpija when they host Power Electronics Valencia, a side that came back from a huge deficit to lead Real Madrid on Saturday but eventually lost by 12.

Valencia had suffered defeats to Barcelona and Pana in their previous two games.

"Before the season, we knew we would be in a difficult situation all season because the level is strong here," Valencia coach Manuel Hussein said.

"One month ago, everybody seemed to understand that but now, when negative results are here, everybody seems to forget it.

"I don't think it has to affect us.

"Our psychological state is fine, however, we are suffering from injuries and that affects the team."

Brose Baskets Bamberg went down to a heavy defeat at Roma last week and it doesn't get any easier for the German champions as they will host Olympiacos.

"I hope that our fans will bring play-off atmosphere in this game from the very beginning," Bamberg coach Chris Fleming said.

"That is always worth a few points for us."

Partizan also fell in their first game at Zalgiris and they'll be looking to reach .500 when hosting BC Khimki, six-point winners over Asseco Prokom first time out.

Prokom return home to Poland to face Spanish champions Caja Laboral and Spirou Charleroi are back in Belgium preparing for Roma.

The Thursday games other than Panathinaikos v CSKA Moscow are interesting match-ups.

Cibona will be at home against Fenerbahce Ulker, Unicaja Malaga visit Madrid, Maccabi Tel Aviv go up against Zalgiris and Milano face visitors Union Olimpija.

FIBA