The 31st act of the legendary confrontation between Željko Obradović and Ettore Messina takes place this evening, when Partizan and Olimpia Milano will face each other in a crucial match
The 31st act of the legendary confrontation between Željko Obradović and Ettore Messina takes place this evening, when Partizan and Olimpia Milano will face each other in a crucial EuroLeague match (8.30 pm). Both coaches, the most successful in the history of the tournament, lead teams in difficulty, making this challenge even more important. Partizan tries to interrupt a streak of five defeats, while Milan wants to make up for the defeat against Alba Berlin.
Obradović, with 9 European titles, and Messina, with 4, represent two institutions in the EuroLeague. Their historic confrontation began in 1992 in the quarter-finals of the European Cup, when the young Obradović with Partizan defeated Messina’s Kinder Bologna. Since then, the two have faced each other 30 times across EuroLeague, domestic competitions and international matches, with Obradović leading 16-14.
Among the most memorable battles, Obradović’s success in 2002, when his Panathinaikos overcame Messina’s Virtus Bologna in the final, overcoming a 14-point deficit at the home of the favorite Virtus.
Tonight, both coaches look not just for a win, but for a turning point in their respective seasons. For Partizan, it will be essential to stop former key players such as Zach LeDay and Nikola Mirotić, now pillars of Olimpia. Another chapter will be added to the rivalry that has marked the history of European basketball.
Related
