Game of the Week: Girona ready for reigning champs Sopron
GIRONA (Spain) - Spar Girona will look to bounce back from their loss in Mechelen in the Game of the Week, but it won't be easy against reigning champions Sopron Basket who are yet to taste defeat so far.
Girona have already played five games in the competition so far this season having had to navigate through the Qualifiers against Villeneuve d'Ascq LM, while Sopron didn't show up at the SuperCup Women Final in Bourges, though they have since found top gear.
You can watch the live broadcast of the game between Spar Girona and Sopron Basket on the EuroLeague Women YouTube channel on Tuesday, November 15 at 21:00 CET.
Form guide: Spar Girona are 2-1 after beating Basket Landes and Beretta Famila Schio. But they suffered their first loss last week when they went down at Kangoeroes Mechelen. In the Spanish league, Girona are top of the table with a 5-1 record having picked up a hard fought 75-71 success at Gran Canaria.
Sopron Basket have won all three of their games so far. They racked up road wins at Kangoeroes Mechelen and CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld, before beating fellow Hungarian club DVTK Hun-Therm. Domestically, Sopron come into this game having suffered the rarest of losses. They were pipped 70-68 by Atomeromu KSC Szekszard, although remain top of the standings with a 9-1 record.
Last meeting: This fixture has only had four previous meetings and each team has collected two wins. The last meeting came in December last year when Sopron won the home fixture 68-53. Six weeks earlier, Girona won 68-63 at home.
Ezi Magbegor had the best game of her short EuroLeague Women career last week and faces Opals' teammate Marianna Tolo
Key matchup: There is a potentially fascinating all-Australian clash in store in this game. Just over a month ago, Spar Girona center Marianna Tolo and Sopron Basket's Ezi Magbegor were both celebrating helping the Opals win bronze at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Sydney. Now they will swap being teammates and go up against each other. Veteran Tolo has the size advantage and is the model of consistency, while Magbegor has the quick feet an athleticism. Whoever comes out on top might have a big say in who gets the win!
X-factor: The difference in shooting this season between the teams is stark, with Spar Girona having the second worst percentage in the competition from the field at 37.8 and Sopron the second best in the tournament with 45 percent. Can Girona turn up the dial, or will Sopron finally have a poor shooting night?
Tuesday, November 15
Group A
Atomeromu KSC Szekszard v Olympiacos SFP - 18:00 CET
ZVVZ USK Praha v BC Polkowice - 19:00 CET
Valencia Basket Club v Tango Bourges Basket - 20:00 CET
Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Fenerbahce Alagoz Holding - 20:00 CET
Group B
Basket Landes v Beretta Famila Schio - 19:30 CET
Perfumerias Avenida v Kangoeroes Mechelen - 20:30 CET
Wednesday, November 16
Group B
CBK Mersin Yenisehir Bld v DVTK Hun-Therm - 17:00 CET
FIBA