Last Wednesday, on the opening matchday of the EuroLeague, the red-and-black club showed yet another example of its grit and resilience by securing an agonizing 76-75 victory over Basket Landes in a tight game that Zaragoza trailed by seven with 43 seconds remaining, yet still managed to win in overtime. It was a tremendous moral boost that should help Casademont continue counting its games as victories in a European competition where every game is worth its weight in gold.
To do so, Cantero's team will have to overcome a Greek side they faced twice in preseason, with Casademont claiming two wins: first in Ejea de los Caballeros (66-58), and then at Príncipe Felipe (66-47). Even so, official competition is a different story, and the Aragonese side will have to overcome the formidable Greek hell to claim victory and extend its strong run of results at this early stage of the season.
The Zaragoza team arrives after comfortably defeating Ensino Lugo in the league. Photo: Ensino Lugo
Furthermore, Casademont comes into this game after continuing its dominant start in the Liga Femenina Endesa. With a perfect record of four emphatic wins, capped last Saturday by a 95-64 victory over Ensino Lugo, Carlos Cantero's team sits top of the standings with a commanding +125 points differential, level only with the other unbeaten team: Azulmarino Mallorca Palma.
A WOUNDED OPPONENT
In pursuit of its second EuroLeague win, Casademont will face an opponent arriving wounded for the game. On the opening matchday of the continental competition, Athinaikos suffered a surprise defeat in Lithuania against Kibirkstis in a game in which it had no chance whatsoever (103-65). The result means the Greek team needs a victory against the Zaragoza side to avoid sinking at the first hurdle.
Despite that, the Greek team, the reigning league and cup champion in Greece and EuroCup runner-up, has made a strong start to the season in the domestic competition. Athinaikos, which boasts dangerous players such as Mariella Fasoula, Ivana Raca and former red-and-black players Robyn Parks and Julie Vanloo, has won all three of its league games and demonstrated its offensive potential at the start of the campaign. Its most recent victory came against Panseraikos (95-62), after beating Giannina (92-62) and Kavala (94-55).
