Euroleague up for grabs

Prague. One of the most beautiful cities in the world. On Sunday night, the Czech capital's Sazka Arena will host the beautiful game of basketball's Euroleague final bewteen Maccabi Tel-Aviv and CSKA Moscow. A real clash of the titans, as both sides have illumintaed the European scene in the past three years.

Maccabi have won the trophy in the last two years whilst the Russians have reached the Final Four in the last...four, always failing to reach the final. Matjaz Smodis, the CSKA center, realises his team's achievement:

"It's already a relief to be in the final".

The Russians haven't won this competition since 1971, at a time when only one player from the current team was already born, which underlines the youth and strong character of the Moscow squad.

Coach Ettore Messina, who won the trophy in 1998 and 2001 with Virtus Bologna, underlines the fact that mental strength is a crucial aspect of the game in such a final:

"At this stage of the competition, matches are won with character, unity and the ability to play simple under pressure. Tactics are less significant."

Tel-Aviv have a chance to make history tonight, as they can join Riga and Split in the hall of fame of European basketball, the latter having won the tournament three years in a row, respectively in the late 1960's and early 1990's.

Maccabi coach Pini Gershon realises this year's final will be a tough challenge for his side:

"We are aware of the expectations of the fans and all the sacrifices they made to be here with us. We owe it to them to win this. This time the pressure is on us."

Messina will have statistics on his side tonight, as he has never lost against Maccabi in twelve matches. It's up to his side to make it a lucky thirteen...