Zenit — CSKA, 17 May 2021

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

Unfortunately, Iffe Lundberg wasn’t able to rejoin the team because of illness. He felt dizzy during Game 3 vs Nizhny Novgorod and did not play in the second half. The Army Team also do not count on Joel Bolomboy (ankle injury), Nikola Milutinov (shoulder surgery) and Janis Strelnieks (not on VTB League roster).

Before going to the airport the Red-Blues watched the video and practiced at USH CSKA.

This time the game in St. Petersburg will be held at SIBUR-Arena.

WORD TO THE COACH

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

This season doesn't stop surprising us. We had this unfortunate incident with Iffe. He feels better, he is hospitalized and not able to help us. But we are ready to fight. It seems like the team is stressed too much, it's obvious that we are not shooting the ball good. We have a lot of burden to carry on our backs. We are trying to work on that. We have players who are ready, they've been there, they have huge experience, they want the best for the club. We are going there to compete against great club, Zenit had proved this year how good of a team they are, they are leading the VTB League from the beginning, they've pushed the playoff series against Barcelona to five games. So for sure it's going to be a fight.

CLOSE “RELATIONS”

Zenit’s Andrey Zubkov was a teammate of Nikita Kurbanov in Lokomotiv-Kuban during 2014-15 season.

Vitaly Fridzon spent five seasons with CSKA from 2013 through 2018. He helped the club win the 2016 EuroLeague and five VTB United League titles. He played under Coach Itoudis and alongside Semen Antonov, Will Clyburn and Nikita Kurbanov.

PAST MATCHUPS

Wins-losses: 16-6 (18-0 against Triumph Lyubertsy)

Games of the 2020-21 season:

18-Dec-2020. EuroLeague. Regular season. CSKA – Zenit: 83-65 (+18)
13-Feb-2021. VTB League. Regular season. CSKA – Zenit: 71-74 (-3)
30-Mar-2021. EuroLeague. Regular season. Zenit – CSKA: 74-86 (+12)
05-Apr-2021. VTB League. Regular season. Zenit – CSKA: 81-87 (-6)

SHORT DOSSIER

Zenit St.Petersburg, Russia

Founded: 2014
Colors: dark-blue, white, light-blue
Homecourt: SIBUR Arena (7,120)
CEO: Alexander Tserkovny
Head coach: Xavi Pascual
Website: basket.fc-zenit.ru