MADRID: Real Madrid will face Olympiacos in Wednesday’s Champions League clash with a paper-thin defense after a new wave of injuries and illness struck on the eve of their crucial trip to Greece.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was ruled out with a stomach virus and the Spanish side will also be without key defenders Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen.
Militao sustained an adductor muscle injury on international duty with Brazil and Huijsen stayed in Madrid as a precaution following a muscle strain suffered during Spain’s World Cup qualifier against Georgia.
Real were already missing Antonio Ruediger, David Alaba and captain Dani Carvajal due to long-term injuries, leaving coach Xabi Alonso with precious few options at the back.
The timing could not be worse for a team still smarting from a humbling loss at Liverpool in their last Champions League game.
Alonso has faced growing scrutiny as his side failed to win successive LaLiga matches with disappointing draws against lowly Rayo Vallecano and Elche.
Still a point ahead of bitter rivals Barcelona in the domestic league, Real Madrid are seventh in the Champions League group-stage standings with nine points from four games. They trail leaders Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Inter Milan by three points.
Real Madrid’s defensive woes increase for Olympiacos trip
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Real Madrid’s defensive woes increase for Olympiacos trip
- Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was ruled out with a stomach virus
- Militao sustained an adductor muscle injury on international duty with Brazil
Dubai Basketball with statement win in Paris
- A dominant 99-79 win sealed a strong 3-match stint on the road
DUBAI: Dubai Basketball capped off a demanding three-game road stretch in emphatic fashion, delivering a dominant 99-79 victory over Paris Basketball in Round 24 of the EuroLeague last night. The win marked Dubai’s second victory from three away fixtures across EuroLeague and ABA League play, while also preserving the club’s unbeaten record in the ABA League.
Facing Paris at Adidas Arena, Dubai produced one of its most complete performances of the season. From the opening minutes, the visitors imposed their authority at both ends of the floor, controlling tempo, disrupting Paris offensively, and steadily extending their advantage as the game progressed. The victory improved Dubai Basketball’s EuroLeague record to 11–13.
The Paris result followed a narrow EuroLeague defeat just days earlier in Barcelona, where Dubai pushed one of Europe’s elite sides to the final seconds in a thrilling 91:89 loss at Palau Blaugrana. Despite trailing entering the fourth quarter, Dubai mounted a remarkable comeback to level the game late, showcasing resilience in a hostile environment. McKinley Wright IV delivered a career-high 29 points in that contest, while the game also marked the EuroLeague return of Dzanan Musa following injury.
Dubai’s road trip began on Jan. 17 with a commanding 110-93 win over U-BT Cluj-Napoca in Round 15 of the ABA League. In front of a packed arena, Dubai pulled away late to secure the victory and maintain a perfect league record. Kabengele and Wright led the scoring with 24 points apiece, while Musa made a timely impact in the fourth quarter during his return from a three-month absence.
Across three challenging away fixtures in six days, Dubai Basketball claimed two road victories, remained unbeaten in ABA League competition, and reinforced its ability to compete consistently across multiple fronts, closing the stretch with a statement performance in Paris that highlighted the team’s growing presence on the European stage.
On Jan. 26, the team will take on Serbian side FMP in front of home fans at Coca-Cola Arena as their “invincible” attempt continues with a 13-0 run.
