Will ZSKA beat Anadolu Efes again?

13 matchdays before the end of the group stage, defending champions Anadolu Efes still have to fear for their participation in the playoffs. The Turkish top club is currently in ninth place, but opponents like Bayern and Unics Kazan are still within reach. It is therefore all the more important to end the mini-crisis on the international stage.

The defending champions lost three of their last four games in the Euroleague, including the most recent away defeat against Zenit St. Petersburg. Wednesday evening, Anadolu Efes are again guests in Russia, this time at ZSKA Moscow. Wednesday’s opponents, unlike Anadolu Efes, have been in fine form of late, winning three of their last four group games.

The only defeat for ZSKA Moscow came at home against Olimpia Milano. Against the Italian representative, it was a defensive battle for long stretches, in which only 124 points were scored in total. It is quite possible that a forecast for a low-scoring encounter between ZSKA Moscow vs. Anadolu Efes will also come true.

This assessment is supported by Anadolu Efes’ recent run of points on foreign soil. Internationally, Anadolu Efes have failed to break the 80-point mark in their last three away games. ZSKA, on the other hand, have averaged “only” 71 points in their last three home Euroleague games.

ZSKA Moscow – Statistics & current form

ZSKA Moscow is on course for the next playoffs in the Euroleague. As the figurehead of Russian basketball, the “Koni” is one of the strongest teams in Europe internationally. Since 2011, ZSKA has been represented in every final tournament – the Final Fours – of the Euroleague. It is quite possible that the trend will continue this year.

So far, ZSKA Moscow has played a commanding group phase. Although there have been eight defeats for the “Koni”, the eight-time Euroleague champions have also won 13 times against the international competition. Especially in their own arena, the Russians left a positive impression.

ZSKA lost only three of ten home games, including the most recent defeat against Olimpia Milano. On average, 156.5 points per EL match have been scored in the “Koni’s” home games. Nevertheless, we don’t think it’s at all far-fetched to tip ZSKA Moscow vs. Anadolu Efes as a low-scoring encounter.

Will ZSKA keep the Anadolu Efes attack in check?

In four of their last six home games on the international stage, ZSKA Moscow conceded less than 80 points. In addition, the Red and Blues already defied the offensive of Russian rivals Unics Kazan in their last group match, conceding only 75 points. Nevertheless, the match against Anadolu Efes will be an endurance test for the “Koni”.

In the first round, ZSKA conceded 96 points against the Turkish defending champions. Because the Muscovites scored 100 points in return, they still managed a narrow away coup in Istanbul. This also ended ZSKA’s series of losses against Anadolu Efes. Before that, there had been two defeats in a row.

This time, an offensive spectacle tends to be ruled out, which is also partly due to the “Koni’s” personnel problems. Because ZSKA is not strong enough across the board to compensate for the recent absences, they have recently received reinforcements from Turkey. The Russians have signed Allerik Freeman from Bursaspor. According to media reports, a playmaker will follow.

Projected starting five of ZSKA Moscow:
Hackett – Kurbanov – Milutinov – Shved – Voigtmann

Anadolu Efes – Statistics & current form

Anadolu Efes have so far lagged behind the great expectations on the international stage. In recent weeks in particular, the defending champions from Istanbul have suffered severe setbacks, which ultimately even led to Anadolu having to give way from a starting spot for the play-offs. In the last four group matches, they suffered three defeats.

Only in the home game against Panathinaikos, the second-last team in the Euroleague 2021/22, was there a narrow victory. The match-winner was Adrien Moerman with his buzzer-beater in the last second. However, the momentum fizzled out again with the defeat in St. Petersburg.

Anadolu Efes lost their away game in Russia last week 67-76 and thus conceded their eleventh defeat on the international stage. This also continued the negative trend for the defending champions away from home.

Is Anadolu Efes without a chance in Moscow?

In the eleven away matches of the current season, there have been eight defeats for head coach Ergin Ataman’s team. So far, the Turkish record champions have only overcome the away hurdles at Fenerbahce, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Alba Berlin. They were also the only group games away from home in which Anadolu Efes broke the 80-point mark.

Since the last away win, there have been three defeats in a row in the Euroleague, in which Anadolu Efes scored an average of only 70 points. Nevertheless, there was also positive news before the showdown with ZSKA. Last weekend, Anadolu Efes beat Fenerbahce in the league.

Larkin was back on the pitch for the first time. The star player of the Turkish representative did not deliver the best performance after his time out due to injury. Nevertheless, Larkin will also be in the starting line-up for the match in Moscow. Betting fans who would like to place a bet on the visitors at ZSKA Moscow vs. Anadolu Efes, despite the recent form curve of the Turkish record champions, can pick up odds of 2.25 in the event of success.

Predicted Starting-Five of Anadolu Efes:
Beaubois – Larkin – Pleiss – Simon – Singleton

ZSKA Moscow – Anadolu Efes Direct comparison / H2H-balance

This is the 28th time the two clubs have met on the international stage. So far, ZSKA Moscow leads the direct comparison against Anadolu Efes with a record of 21-6. However, in the last five competitive matches, the Turkish record holders have had the upper hand, with three wins for Anadolu Efes.

Among them was the semi-final of last season’s Final Four, when Anadolu Efes set the course for the title with an 89-86 win. ZSKA could already take revenge for the defeat in the first round of the current Euroleague 2021/22.

ZSKA Moscow – Anadolu Efes Tip

If the recent form curve of both teams is anything to go by, ZSKA is ahead. Internationally, the “Koni” has been far stronger than the defending champions from Istanbul this season. After 21 match days, Anadolu Efes are even worried about their participation in the play-offs, after all, the Turkish record champions slipped down to ninth place after the recent series of bankruptcies.

It is unlikely that they will be able to overcome the difficult away game in Moscow in their current condition. Especially since Anadolu Efes will have to improve their offensive performance, especially with Larkin, a key player who recently returned to the squad.

In contrast to the first leg, where both teams delivered an offensive spectacle, we expect a hard-fought game this time, with a tendency to expect less than 160 points. After all, bets on this paid off in four of ZSKA’s last six EL home games.

For ZSKA Moscow vs. Anadolu Efes, our betting odds of 1.90 are on under 161.5 points. We are betting six out of ten possible units on this one.