FMP - Partizan

International - Liga ABA, Round 24

FMP Železnik has nothing to lose against one of the continent's best teams Partizan, making this ABA league clash an essential and easy match for mental preparation, for a team that has shown some signs of return to form in recent two weeks.

Currently in fifth place in the ABA League, FMP has a record of 13-10 and even four losses in the last five matches in the regional competition. In the last two weeks, this team played two unexpectedly effective matches - they defeated excellent Zadar 112:87, and then lost away to Cibona 110:99 in overtime (92:92 after 40 minutes of play).

It is clear that coach Nenad Stefanović, with a squad that was significantly changed in the middle of winter, is now asking the first team to find solutions in shorter attacks. The physically extremely fit team will certainly insist on such a game on Monday evening as well.

There is no need to spend too much words on the form of Partizan. The team of legendary coach Željko Obradović defeated the great Real Madrid 104:90 in Belgrade just three days ago. Earlier last week, he played another outstanding attacking match and lost 89:80 to Barcelona, a team that has probably the best individual options on the continent.

At the end of March, in the victory over Cedevita Olimpija 76:73, Partizan showed that it can play a game at a slower pace with a combined rotation. However, there will be no any roster calculations against FMP, as the match is taken extremely seriously. Partizan knows that FMP has a big motive, because tonight's opponent is closely related to Partizan's biggest rival, Crvena zvezda.

Also, the guests know that they have to win this game if they want to keep the first place and the home field advantage in the playoffs. The atmosphere in the team is exceptional, Obradović's club is one step away from securing a place in the TOP 8 phase of the Euroleague, already this week.

A comparison of the teams' performance so far clearly indicates what kind of match to expect in Belgrade. FMP records an impressive 90.1 points on average, and Partizan a fantastic 93.9 per match. The home team receives 86.4 points per match and this is a key indicator that we should expect an extremely efficient game.

Expect a large number of three-point shots, but also an efficient score - FMP has 42.8 percent of three-point shooting, and Partizan even 46.1 percent in the ABA league this season.

The total score in the ABA League so far is on the side of Partizan 23:5 against this rival, and the "black and whites" have won seven in a row against FMP. The last time they lost was 73:72, back in March 2019. Since then, Partizan has progressed exclusively and reached the status of one of the best teams on the continent. But also became a synonym for top attacking basketball in Europe.