FC BAYERN MUNICH (GERMANY)

Founded in 1946
Team colors: red, white, navy
Honors: German National League (1954, 1955, 2014, 2018), German National Cup (1968, 2018)
Arena: Audi Dome (capacity – 6700)
President: Uli Hoeneß
Official website: fcb-basketball.de

Where to watch

LIVE: Match! Nash Sport (19:55), Match TV (replay at 02:15), Match! Igra (replay at 00:15), EuroLeague TV, matchtv.ru
Text online: EuroLeague website

GAME NOTES

It will be 300th game for Rimas Kurtinaitis as Khimki head coach. He had 299 games on the Khimki bench and holds a 217-82 record.

Bayern guard Petteri Koponen returns to Khimki where he played for 4 seasons, from 2012 to 2016. He helped the team win the 2015 EuroCup together with Sergey Monya and Egor Vyaltsev. He was also a teammate there of Alexey Shved during the 2015/2016 season.

Dee Bost played under current Bayern head coach Dejan Radonjic during the 2012/2013 season at Buducnost VOLI Podgorica.

Khimki guard Stefan Markovic has been a teammate of Bayern guard Stefan Jovic and injured forward Milan Macvan on the Serbian national team. They all won silver medals together at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and Markovic and Jovic also won silvers at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

INJURY UPDATE

Alexey Shved, Anthony Gill and Casey Prather are out because of injuries.

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Rimas Kurtinaitis, Khimki Moscow Region head coach:

“First of all, I’m happy to be back to Khimki. It’s a huge challenge and I accept it. We have many important games and consider each one like a final. Each coach has his own philosophy and tries to do some new things. We didn’t have enough time to make significant changes as main things will be the same. We have to play with more energy and have extra effort on the court. Also, I like my team playing with discipline that reduces the number of turnovers and makes you control the game better. I have spoken with the players and coaches and the situation is clear. When you come, you have many ideas but little time, like in life. We have to make some small changes, but we need some time. Historically, Khimki has never defeated FC Bayern Munich, and that will be one of our motivation as we have to break this streak. I think, we are well prepared and ready to beat them. Their coach Dejan Radonjic has some players from his ex-club Crvenza Zvezda; they play team basketball on defense and understand each other. They have individually strong players in Nihad Dedovic and Derrick Williams who contribute to the teams’ results. This whole season they’ve been showing great basketball”.

Egor Vyaltsev, Khimki Moscow Region guard:

“We have a huge desire to win this game. We rely on our fans. We have to play with great effort, teamwork and trust in ourselves. We have to be back on a winning track. FC Bayern Munich is our direct rival for a playoff spot, so we need this win like yesterday. We know their players, especially Petteri Koponen who played for Khimki. He has quality and he is a great shooter. Derrick Williams is a very strong player with huge NBA experience. Overall, they have a very organized team with a strong point guard Stefan Jovic, surrounded by his teammates. Bayern has strong players at each position. They play smoothly and aggressively on defense. It will be a tough game but we have to win”.