As a result, Xavi Albert's revamped team will arrive in the Aragonese capital directly from France without stopping in Valencia. It will do so after facing ASVEL Villeurbanne in Lyon this Friday in its second EuroLeague game of the week. A charter flight will transport the Valencian club to Zaragoza during a schedule that offers virtually no respite, a situation Casademont will look to exploit as it seeks its second win of the season.
Even so, the Taronja side made a strong start to the week this past Tuesday against Baskonia in the first of its two European fixtures. Valencia beat the Basque team 111-88 in a game in which it set its scoring record in Europe's top competition, earning its second win in as many EuroLeague games so far.
Casademont want to challenge the reigning ACB champions. Photo: ACB Photo/Emilio Cobos
An intense battle in Europe's top tournament will continue just three days later on French soil before the team heads directly to Zaragoza. Xavi Albert's side will therefore play two EuroLeague games followed by an ACB fixture and will have to manage the accumulated fatigue to arrive in the best possible condition for its appointment at the Príncipe Felipe.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CASADEMONT
Casademont Zaragoza want to take advantage of the situation to make another statement. The Aragonese team will play its first home game of the season in front of the Marea Roja, aiming to secure its second win of the campaign after opening with a hugely valuable victory at La Laguna Tenerife, thanks to a Justin Jaworski basket almost on the buzzer.
That said, despite the circumstances, the opponent will pose the highest level of difficulty. Valencia arrive in Zaragoza as the reigning ACB champions with a revamped roster that, although still under construction, are once again expected to compete at the highest level. In addition, the Valencian team are still seeking their first domestic league win after suffering a surprising defeat to Lleida at home on the opening day.
That is why the Príncipe Felipe is shaping up to be an especially important setting for García de Vitoria's team. With the support of the Marea Roja, Casademont will try to take advantage of its opponent's accumulated fatigue and home-court factor to secure a victory that would be its second of the season and allow the new red-and-black project to begin building the strength it wants to establish at home.
