Crvena zvezda hosted Bayern Munich at the “Stark Arena” in the sixth round of the EuroLeague. The win eventually went to the red and whites after a significant comeback by 74:68.
The lineup of the red and whites was uncertain until the last moment. Adam Hanga returned to the lineup, while Branko Lazic and Nemanja Nedovic missed this match due to injuries.
The match started quite nervously for both teams, and after five minutes of play, Bayern led 7:6, with a few missed three-point shots from Crvena Zvezda. The duel continued at the same pace, and in the last three minutes, the home team was penalized for poor execution, with Serge Ibaka scoring points at the buzzer, setting the score at 19:12 after ten minutes of play.
Milos Teodosic orchestrated his teammates to a 5:0 run at the start of the second quarter. Bayern managed to punish the mistakes of Crvena Zvezda for a 22:17 score, prompting a reaction from coach Sfairopoulos. Although Bayern took a lead of 27:19, Teodosic was again in the spotlight, and the centers of Crvena Zvezda benefited from another 5:0 run.
The biggest difference was created by Bayern’s three-point shooting, bringing them a maximum lead of nine points (35:26). A total of 13 turnovers in the first half by the German team brought Crvena Zvezda back into the game, and at halftime, Bayern led 35:33.
In the third quarter, Crvena Zvezda allowed Bayern to start with an 8-0 run, putting them in an uncomfortable situation. The aforementioned duo of Ibaka and Edwards led Bayern to their largest lead, 14 points (52:38). Then, Shabazz Napier initiated a 10-4 run in favor of the home team with his first three-pointer in the game, bringing the red and whites within single digits after a layup by Rokas Giedraitis.
When Yago dos Santos hit another three-pointer to reduce the deficit to five (56:51), there was an eruption of excitement in the arena, and Dejan Davidovac, after an offensive rebound, brought Crvena Zvezda within just one possession. Isaac Bonga’s three-pointer set the score at 59:53 in favor of Bayern before the decisive fourth quarter.
With a 6-0 run led by Giedraitis and Teodosić, Crvena Zvezda tied the game, and Mike Tobey missed a layup for the lead, but Luka Mitrovic managed to secure the lead at 61:60. The Belgrade team managed to take a five-point lead, but Leandro Bolmaro interrupted it with four consecutive points. Then, Teodosic hit a long-range three-pointer over his defender’s hand to make it 68:64.
Bonga then reduced the deficit from the low post, and Crvena Zvezda missed two opportunities to extend their lead, which Bolmaro capitalized on to tie the game at 68:68. Teodosic made one of two free throws, and then dos Santos hit a three-pointer to make it 72:68 with 20 seconds left.
Milos Teodosic was the leading scorer for the winning team, scoring 16 points and providing 10 assists. Shabazz Napier and Luka Mitrovic each scored 11 points. In the opposing team, Carsen Edwards led with 16 points, while Isaac Bonga and Leandro Bolmaro each scored 12.
In the next round of the EuroLeague, Crvena Zvezda will visit Barcelona at the “Blaugrana.” On the other hand, Bayern Munich will face Maccabi Tel Aviv.