CSKA — UNICS, 01 February 2026

The visitors have 11 in a row

The Red-Blues' previous defeat came in a narrow away game against Kazan. Then, Velimir Perasovic's team took the lead in the standings from the Army Men. But their hold on the lead was short-lived, as they soon lost to Parma on the road. Since then, the green-and-whites have won 11 straight in the VTB United League.

For a long time Kazan side had to cope without Paris Lee, the team's key playmaker (13.9 points, 7.5 assists), who was sidelined for an extended period due to injury. But the American has already returned to action and scored 14 points in a recent WINLINE Basket Cup match against Igokea. The team's balanced performance is driven by a pair of big men: Marcus Bingham (17.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.4 steals) and Jalen Reynolds (17.3 points, 4.8 rebounds). Ty Brewer, who joined the Kazan team this season, is averaging 15.8 points on 48.4% three-point shooting, while Dyshawn Pierre is averaging 12.9 points and 6.4 rebounds. Alexey Shved is a significant contributor, averaging 7.1 assists per game while averaging 9.3 points on 43.7% three-point shooting.

To desire more

The day before the game, the Army Men held their traditional daytime practice at Megasport, with 13 players participating – without the injured Ivan Zaytsev and Daniil Klyuchenkov, who played for CSKA-2 in the Leningradka Derby.

"This will be a game between two very good teams with top-notch players," said CSKA head coach Andreas Pistiolis. "You won't know whether you're stronger or not until you prove it on the court. To win, you have to show you want it more than your opponent. Games like these, featuring so many athletic players, are always tough; a lot depends on dedication, rebounding, and defense. That's why our games against UNICS always feature a high level of contact. I know fans want to see individual battles, but our goal is to stop not just any individual players, but the entire Kazan team. And that's very difficult, because the opponents have so many players who punish you for your mistakes."

Past matchups

Wins-losses: 97-29

CSKA biggest margin of victory: 102-54 (+48) (1997-98 Russian Championship. Quarterfinal)
UNICS biggest margin of victory: 113-77 (-36) (2000-01 Russian Superleague. Regular season. 2nd stage)

Game of 2025-26 VTB League Season:

Regular season

25-Oct-2025. CSKA – UNICS: 86-75 (+9)
15-Nov-2025. UNICS – CSKA: 76-75 (-1)

Brief dossier

UNICS Kazan

Founded: 1991
Color: green, black, white
Home court: Basket Hall (7,500)
President: Evgeny Bogachev
Head coach: Velimir Perasovic
Website: www.unics.ru
Trophy case:
- EuroCup winner (2011);
- FIBA Europe League winner (2004);
- VTB League and Russian champion (2023);
- 9-time Russian League runner-up (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024),
- 8-time Russian League bronze winner (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2022, 2025),
- NEBL champion (2003),
- 3-time Russian Cup winner (2003, 2009, 2014),
- 3-Russian Cup runner-up (2005, 2007, 2010),
- 5-time VTB United League runner-up (2010, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024)
- 3- time VTB United League bronze winner (2014, 2022, 2025)