Nanterre won 82-70 against AEK Athens in the quarter of the Champions League. A brilliant victory, but everything will be played in Greece. The qualification for the Final Four is at hand …
Imagine a basketball room transformed into a Real cauldron, where each dunk, each three -point basket vibrates the stands. This is the atmosphere that reigned on Wednesday evening, when the Nanterre players faced the Greeks of the Aek Athens in the quarter -finals return from the Basketball Champions League. With a brilliant victory (82-70), the Nanterriens overturned the steam after their defeat on the outward journey, offering a unique chance to win a place in the prestigious Final Four. But behind this score, it is a story of passion, strategy and electric atmosphere that has been written.
A victory for history
Ten years ago, Nanterre raised his first European trophy, theEurochallengein Türkiye. This memory still resonates in the memories of the supporters, and this Wednesday, April 16, 2025, the team proved that it always had the fabric of the big ones. Beaten 76-69 in Athens the previous week, Nanterre players had to win, but also erase a deficit of seven points. Mission accomplished with brilliance, thanks to an impressive collective performance and an molten room.
This return match was not just a question of points. It was a question of showing that Nanterre could compete with an experienced Greek team, in a competition which represents the third European level. The 82-70 victory now offers a support match Decisive, scheduled in a week in Athens. A qualification for the Final Four would be a resounding feat, especially since this tournament could be held at theAdidas Arena from Paris.
An atmosphere of fire in the stands
If the prosecution was the scene of sporting exploits, the stands were not to be outdone. The room, full of cracking, vibrated to the rhythm of songs and encouragement. Nanterre supporters, faithful and passionate, have competed with Greek fans, known for their fervor. The latter, often linked to the supporters of Olympique de Marseille, had deployed banners and smoke bombs, transforming the end of the match into a scene worthy of the great Greek derbys of the 80s.
“It was like playing in an arena!” The supporters gave everything, and it worn. »»
An anonymous Nanterre player after the match.
To guarantee security in the face of this explosive atmosphere, dozens of agents, police and CRS were mobilized around the Sports Palace. The meticulous excavations at the entrance did not prevent some smoke from the party, causing thick white smoke in the fourth quarter. But far from disturbing the players, this atmosphere galvanized the local team.
The turn of the match: a spectacular rise
The start of the meeting had nothing to reassure the Nanterriens supporters. Quickly led 13-24 at the ninth minute, the players of Philippe Da Silva seemed to be overwhelmed by the intensity of the AEK. But it was in adversity that Nanterre found his resources. In the heart of the second quarter, a raging dunk from Rodrigue Day has reversed the dynamics, allowing its team to take the advantage (32-31) for the first time.
This key moment was followed by a series of three -point baskets Benjamin Sènewho ignited the room. At halftime, Nanterre led 42-33, a gap which testified to their found domination. This spectacular rise is explained by an iron defense and an offensive aggressiveness which have destabilized the Greeks.
Nanterre victory keys:
- Solid defense : Limitation of long -distance fire from the AEK.
- Exterior address : Senne three decisive three -point baskets.
- Collective energy : A burst of pride after a difficult start.
Desi Rodriguez, the man of the match
If Nanterre shone collectively, a player has particularly distinguished himself: Rodrigue Day. His spectacular dunk in the second quarter not only gave the advantage to his team, but he also electrified the crowd. Omnipresent in attack as in defense, Rodriguez embodied the combative spirit of the Nanterriens. His statistics, although not detailed here, speak for themselves: it has been everywhere, all the time.
By his side, Benjamin Sène also marked the spirits with its long distance shots. Together, they brought the team in crucial moments, proving that Nanterre could count on strong individuals at the service of the collective.
A decisive match in Athens
Thanks to this victory, Nanterre offered the right to dream. But the road to the Final Four Go through a final challenge: the support match in Athens in a week. This third match, on the Aek prosecution, promises to be a real test. The Greeks, strong from their boiling audience, will not fail to give everything to overthrow the situation.
For Nanterre, the issue is clear: a victory in Greece would open the doors of Final Foura feat that would mark the history of the club. And if this scenario is realized, the competition could take place at theAdidas Arena from Paris, offering supporters a chance to vibrate at home.
French boil basketball
This match is not just a Nanterrian affair. It is part of a broader dynamic, that of a French basketball in full effervescence. With clubs like Paris Basketball, which recently created the feat in Euroligue against Real Madrid, France affirms its return to the European scene. Nanterre, with its history and its ambition, participates in this rise in power.
The supporters are there. Between smoke bombs, songs and banners, they embody this passion that makes basketball a special sport. In Nanterre, as in Paris, the atmosphere of matches becomes a show in itself, attracting more and more curious.
| Team | First leg score | Return match score | Next issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nanterre | 69 | 82 | Support match in Athens |
| Athene Athenes | 76 | 70 | Home support match |
Why this match counts
For Nanterre, this quarter -final is much more than a simple match. It is an opportunity to reconnect with the big hours of the club, to prove that French basketball can shine at European level. A qualification for the Final Four would be a reward for the players, the staff and the supporters who have been carrying the club for years.
But beyond the sporting issue, it is the emotion that prevails. The raging dunks, the decisive baskets, the smoke bombs in the stands: it all makes basketball a live spectacle, where every moment can switch. And for Nanterriens, the adventure is just beginning.
Towards a European feat?
In a week, all eyes will be turned to Athens. Nanterre players know that the task will be difficult, but they have already proven that they could overthrow mountains. With a solid defense, players in good shape like Rodriguez and Sène, and an audience that will support them remotely, anything is possible.
If Nanterre manages to win in Greece, the Final Four to theAdidas Arena will become a reality. Such a scenario would vibrate not only club supporters, but also all basketball enthusiasts in France. In the meantime, one thing is certain: this Wednesday, April 16, 2025 will remain engraved in memories like an evening where Nanterre made Europe tremble.
Basketball is more than a sport. It is a passion that unites, which transcends. In Nanterre, she expressed herself with force.
