EuroLeague: Red Star Arrives in Milan Seeking to Break the “Italian Curse”
MILAN, Italy — Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet has touched down in Lombardy, ready to face one of their most daunting historical hurdles. The “Red-Whites” are set to clash with EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (Olimpia Milano) tomorrow, January 15, at 20:30 CET, in a Round 22 EuroLeague battle that carries heavy weight for the postseason race.
With both teams currently locked in a neck-and-neck battle for playoff positioning (both holding 11-10 records), the stakes at the Unipol Forum couldn’t be higher.
Overcoming the “Five-Year Curse”
The primary narrative surrounding this fixture is Zvezda’s historical struggle against the Italian giants. Media reports and statisticians have dubbed the matchup a “curse” for the Belgrade side.
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The Trend: Zvezda has managed to secure only one victory in their last ten meetings against Milan.
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The Streak: Olimpia has dominated at home, winning 7 of their last 8 matches at the Forum, while Zvezda has often found the Milanese defense impossible to crack, including a narrow 82-92 loss in Belgrade earlier this season.
Tactical Focus: Perimeter Lockdown
Coach Saša Obradović and his staff have reportedly spent the final training sessions in Belgrade and Milan focusing almost exclusively on defensive rotations.
The goal is clear: Shut down Milan’s perimeter. In past defeats, Zvezda has been dismantled by Olimpia’s ability to move the ball and find open shooters.
“We cannot afford to give their shooters rhythm early,” a source close to the coaching staff noted. “Our defensive focus on the perimeter will dictate the tempo of the game. If we let them get comfortable behind the arc, it’s a very long night in Milan.”
Momentum from the ABA League
Zvezda enters the contest buoyed by a narrow but vital 97-92 victory over Bosna in the ABA League two days ago. Jordan Nwora, the hero of that match with a clutch three-pointer, remains the focal point of the offense. Alongside Codi Miller-McIntyre, who has been the engine of the team’s transition play, Zvezda hopes their current domestic form can finally translate to a breakthrough on Italian soil.
