Lokomotiv Kuban — CSKA, 05 December 2021

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

A unique situation developed on the eve of the game. Lokomotiv-Kuban played the previous match on November 16 and spent three weeks in the FIBA ​​“window” preparing for the meeting with the Army Team. The Red-Blues, on the other hand, were fully loaded and played four games in the EuroLeague. Therefore, the fans will find the answer to the age-old question: which is better - to rest for a long time and purposefully prepare or be in the game rhythm?

After the victory over Panathinaikos, the Muscovites got a well-deserved day off, on Saturday they held the only practice session in preparation for Loko. The same dozen basketball players that took part in the previous game went to Krasnodar. Also on the spot, Andrey Lopatin joined his teammates after playing for CSKA-2 against Loko’s second team in Superleague-1.

The teams have already met in the current lineups: in the semifinals of the VTB United League SuperCup, the Army Team won with a score of 94-80.

WORD TO THE COACH

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

Loko had around 20 days to prepare for the game and we had just one. That’s a different story. They’ve signed a new, experienced player recently [Quinn Cook], they run the court well, they are always motivated and play high-tempo game. They are very aggressive on boards, especially Williams and Motley with everybody helping on that. Overall it’s a game that’s going to be very interesting and challenging.

PAST MATCHUPS

Wins/losses: 57-10,
In Moscow: 32-3, in Rostov: 9-1, in Krasnodar: 15-5, on neutral arena (Berlin): 1-0.
Games of 2020-21 VTB United League season:
04-Oct-2020. CSKA – Lokomotiv Kuban: 94-80 (+14)
18-Apr-2021. Lokomotiv Kuban – CSKA: 103-94 (-11)

SHORT DOSSIER

Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar, Russia
Founded: 1946
Colors: red, green, white
Home court: Basket Hall (7,500)
President: Andrey Vedishchev
Head coach: Evgeny Pashutin
Website: www.lokobasket.com
Trophy case: Euroleague bronze winner (2016), EuroCup winner (2013), VTB United League runner-up (2013), BEKO PBL bronze winner (2011/12), Eurochallenge runner-up (2011), FIBA Europe Cup runner-up (2005), Russian Cup winner (2018)