Is Alba’s run of bad luck continuing?
Alba Berlin is still in free fall in the Euroleague. After ten matchdays, the Berliners currently have only three wins to their name, consequently the Albatrosses are in the lower third of the table.
This week, Alba is now threatened with the next defeat on the international stage, after all, FC Barcelona is the guest at the Mercedes-Benz Arena this week.
In contrast to the Berliners, the FCB basketball players have played a strong season on the international stage so far. The Catalans have already won seven out of a total of ten matches. If the next victory beckons, betting odds of up to 1.33 are paid out on Alba Berlin vs. FC Barcelona for tip 2.
Not only the recent form curve, but also the H2H with Alba Berlin speaks in favour of the guests. FC Barcelona have not lost a single match against the Berliners since January 2015. Most recently, the Catalans even celebrated seven wins in a row against the Albatrosses.
The last time the Catalans were guests in the Mercedes-Benz Arena, there was a 95:79 against the Albatrosses. A similar result cannot be ruled out this time, given the Berliners’ recent form curve.
Alba Berlin – Statistics & current form
The last week could hardly have gone worse for Alba Berlin. After two more bitter defeats on the international stage, the Albatrosses suffered their first defeat of the season in the BBL, the German Basketball Bundesliga. Alba lost against Göttingen in an exhausting match with 95:96 and thus lost for the first time this season on a national level.
It was already Alba’s sixth defeat in the last seven competitive games. In their current condition, they now have to face the difficult hurdle against the FC Barcelona basketball team. As can be seen from the Alba Berlin vs. FC Barcelona odds, the Berliners are the clear underdogs going into Thursday’s game.
Alba has not won a match at home against FCB for almost eight years. It is quite possible that the negative streak will continue this time. After all, the guests arrive in a much better condition.
Will Alba be shown up by the Catalans?
In addition, Alba has lost the last six meetings with FCB. In three of the last four matches, the Albatrosse conceded at least 90 points from the Catalans. This was also the case in the last Euroleague encounter, which Alba Berlin lost 79-95 to the FC Barcelona basketball team.
At that time, Oscar da Silva was still playing for the Albatrosses. In the meantime, the 24-year-old is under contract with FC Barcelona and is now facing the Berliners as an opposing player for the first time since 2021, when da Silva still played for Ludwigsburg. In order to keep the ex-player in check, Alba will have to hone their defensive play in particular in the upcoming encounter.
Recently, the Berlin defence did not leave a good impression. On average, Alba conceded more than 90 points per game in the last five games. It is quite possible that this negative trend will continue against FCB. If you still want to bet on Alba Berlin vs. FC Barcelona, you can get odds above the 3.00 mark.
Predicted Starting Five from Alba Berlin:
Blatt – Koumadje – Schneider – Smith – Zoosman
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
The FC Barcelona basketballers are brimming with confidence at the moment. In contrast to the Albatrosses from Berlin, the Catalans are in one of the eight starting positions for the playoffs after ten match days in the Euroleague. FCB recently celebrated two landmark victories against Partizan Belgrade and Baskonia.
Against Berlin, the Catalans are now aiming for their third win in a row on the international stage. If the latest H2H is anything to go by, a prediction on the guests from Catalonia in Alba Berlin vs FC Barcelona is quite obvious. After all, the “Blaugrana” have won the last six matches against Alba on the international stage.
The last two performances in the Mercedes-Benz Arena were particularly commendable. In 2020, the FCB beat Alba Berlin by a score of 103:67. Less than a year later, there was a 95:79 for the Catalans in Berlin in the 2021/22 Euroleague. A similar result cannot be ruled out this time either.
FCB currently in top form
Competitively, the FC Barcelona basketball players have won nine of their last eleven competitive games. Only against Joventut (79:82) and Anadolu Efes (86:96) the FCB remained winless. Since the last defeat against Joventut, however, FC Barcelona have won three matches in a row, including the most recent 100:82 against the basketballers from Granada.
Head coach Jasikevicius’ team will start the match in Berlin with its best line-up. Only Sergi Martinez will be missing in the ranks of the Catalans. Instead, Nicolas Laprovittola will be available in Berlin. The Argentinean has scored an average of 14.60 points in the Euroleague and is thus the Catalans’ best scorer. It is quite possible that the FCB point guard will extend his statistics against the Berliners.
Predicted Starting Five of Barcelona:
Kalinic – Laprovittola – Sanli – Satoransky – Tobey
Alba Berlin – Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H-balance
Alba Berlin will meet the FC Barcelona basketball team for the 15th time. The Albatrosse have won only three of the 14 matches against FCB so far. The last time was in January 2015, when the Berliners won 80:70 against the Catalans. Since then, Alba has lost the last seven encounters against FCB.
In three of the last four matches between the two clubs, Alba even conceded at least 90 points against the Catalans. With the current state of the defence, it is obvious that this negative trend will continue this time.
Alba Berlin – Barcelona Tip
The Berliners are currently in a crisis and have disappointed beyond measure not only on the international stage. In the BBL, Alba also suffered their first defeat of the season last week. Head coach Israel Gonzalez’s team slipped down to third place. For the Albatrosses, it was already the sixth defeat in the last seven competitive games.
Thursday’s opponents FC Barcelona, on the other hand, have won their last three matches. The Catalans most recently celebrated a 100:82 victory against Granada. For the “Blaugrana” it was already the third success in a row. On average, the FCB scored more than 90 points per game.
Just like the bookmakers, we see FC Barcelona as favourites in the upcoming match. The Catalans are currently in top form and will meet stumbling Albatrosses. We expect a clear victory for the guests and place our bet on a handicap victory for the Catalans with at least eight points. We are betting five units for this.
