The MSB, in great form, hosts AS Monaco this Sunday (4:30 p.m.) in a sold-out Antarès. Undefeated for six matches, Le Mans dreams of repeating the feat of the first leg against the Roca Team, who will be keen to take their revenge.
Le Mans with full confidence
Carried by impressive dynamics, Le Mans approaches this shock with full confidence. Guillaume Vizade's team remains on six victories in a row in all competitions, including a demonstration in Nanterre (67-85) and a success against leader Cholet (86-92) just before the break. The Sarthoise machine is running at full speed, well anchored in the race for the playoffs.
During the first leg, the MSB surprised everyone by winning on the Rock (74-86), a resounding success which precipitated the departure of Sasa Obradovic from the Monegasque bench. Since then, the Manceaux have solidified their bases and intend to do it again in front of their audience.
“We must be proud of the work accomplished in our last matches. Let’s focus on the sectors where we found stability: rebounding and defense,” confides Guillaume Vizade in Ouest-France.
Monaco in playoff mode
Since his arrival on the Monaco bench, Vassilis Spanoulis has revitalized his group, leading it to play each match with playoff intensity. The Roca Team remains on five consecutive victories in the championship and proved its resilience this week in the Euroleague, with a spectacular comeback in Bologna (80-86).
Despite the absences of Jordan Loyd and Elie Okobo, Monaco can still count on its leader Mike James and an XXL squad (Diallo, Motiejunas, Papagiannis, Blossomgame, Calathes, etc.) capable of turning any match around.
“Compared to the first leg, all their players have returned to their season. Some like Brown, Tarpey and Begarin have found minutes and sensations. Everyone has become very dangerous,” continue Guillaume Vizade.
-
Key duel: Matthew Strazel in the spotlight
At 23, Matthew Strazel (1.82 m, 22 years old) continues to assert himself as one of the most formidable young talents in the championship. Trained at Marne-la-Vallée then at ASVEL, he was able to find a place within the rich Monegasque squad, taking on more and more responsibilities. Guillaume Vizade knows him well and does not hide his admiration:
“It takes talent, nerve and character to take shots alongside Mike James, Élie Okobo or Jordan Loyd. He won in Monaco, as he did at ASVEL”explains the Auvergne in Le Maine Libre.
The duel between Strazel and the Le Mans team will be one of the hot spots of the match.
A molten room to push for the feat
Antares has been sold out for a week, a sign of the enthusiasm surrounding this meeting. Le Mans, who have won six of their eight home games this season, know that their home crowd can be a valuable asset.
“It’s not every day that we play a match of this caliber in front of a full house. It’s up to us to take advantage of it,” recalls Vizade.
Recent history, however, does not work in MSB's favor: Monaco has not lost at Antarès since 2019. But with a squad full of confidence and a crowd in fusion, the Sarthois believe in their chances.
