Paris Basketball, surprising leader of the European competition, plays Tuesday evening against the Israeli club. But this away match will take place in Belgrade.
Published on 03/12/2024 15:08
Reading time: 2min
Another feat for Paris Basketball? The club plays Tuesday December 3 at 8:05 p.m. against Maccabi Tel-Aviv, on behalf of the 13th day of the Euroleague. A new match against a European basketball star who should not frighten the players of the capital. The Parisians are in fact the leaders of the European competition and will try to achieve a ninth success in a row.
After facing, among others, FC Barcelona, Panathinaikos or Partizan Belgrade, the players are now used to important matches and warm atmospheres. But the Paris Basketball players will avoid that of the Menora Mivtachim Arena, the hall with more than 10,000 seats at Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Israeli club plays its home matches in Belgrade (Serbia), at Pionir. This room, also called Aleksandar-Nikolić and renowned for its lively atmosphere, also hosts certain meetings of Red Star Belgrade and Partizan Belgrade, recalls the Parisian.
Meetings on neutral ground which do not bring luck to the Israeli club, which has lost three of its five “home” matches. Maccabi Tel-Aviv, six-time winner of the Euroleague, is only in 15th place in the standings with only four victories in twelve days. While the Parisians are on an incredible journey in this European Cup. With nine victories, Paris Basketball shares the lead in the standings with the Turks Fenerbahçe and hopes to continue its momentum in Serbia.
The Maccabi Tel Aviv club is also known for its football section. But for European Cup matches, footballers play at “home” in Hungary, like the Israeli national team. Very closely monitored meetings, particularly after the violence of November 7 on the sidelines of the Maccabi Tel-Aviv match in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Tensions which had pushed the authorities to place the League of Nations meeting between France and Israel at the Stade de France under very close surveillance, a week later. More than 4,000 police officers, a double perimeter and drastic searches were deployed. A device that could be reproduced in a little over a month, the basketball players from Maccabi Tel-Aviv will travel to the French capital on January 19 to face Paris Basketball.
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