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Both teams are in great shape, and since quality-wise they're close to Euroleague than Eurocup, today we're up for a real treat in Fonteta

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Without a doubt, Valencia vs Khimki is the best match of the quarter-finals. Many have pronounced this to be the finals before the finals, because we're talking about teams who possess Euroleague quality, and we'll be up for a real treat. It's hard to determine the favorites, and the coaches didn't rush with estimates in the previews. Home manager Pedro Martinez said the following:

- This first leg is crucial. If we start off with a defeat, then in the second leg everything will be against us. Khimki are very strong opponents, and Shved is one of the best defenders in Europe. He'll record his points, but that's why we have to limit the others.

Valencia's problem will be at the play position where, due to injury, Diot is out (8.7 points and 4.4 assists) who is very important in the offense, even in the defense where he creates pressure for the opponents with his aggressiveness. This way the playmaker duties will be divided between Vives and Van Ross, which is a significant step back for the Spaniards.

That proved to be true during the weekend in the match against Joventut where the offense was the biggest problem, and Valencia were limited to only 77 points in the match against very modest opponents. Khimki are extremely fast, so at first they may not seem to have a good defense (on average they allow 82 points per match). But under Ivanovic that defense became a lot stronger and by the possession percentage Khimki actually have very good numbers,

Valencia have the best defense of Eurocup (on average they allow 71 points) which is a consequence of extremely aggressive game in which they rotate all 12 players, but the also have an organized game under Martinez where they're not rushing around so much like they did the previous years. The question is how much will these different styles add up today.

Both teams are in excellent shape because Khimki won in nine out of the last ten games, and Valencia were defeated only by Real and Barca in the last 22 games. Khimki are maybe slightly impressive here because in the last two away games they pulverized Unics and Kuban, even though they weren't the favorites in either of the matches.

But, with the briliant Shved nothing is impossible, so the Russian defender recorded 29 points against Kuban, 31 against Unics and practically led his team to victory.

- We're in good shape. I wouldn't point myself out as the leader, I'm simply doing my job. The coach assembled us good and now it's showing. The focus is now on Valencia - said Shved.

And here we'll see him really being tested. Valencia are very aggressive in their defense, and Shved, together with Rowland and Pullen, is the key of crushing that defense. The first match is thus important because they can't allow the hosts to have the advantage:

- It's going to be a tough game because I believe Valencia are the best team of Eurocup. They won in almost all of the games so far in this competition. They've been playing together for years and everything in their game is automated. We have to stop their counterattacks and limit their main players: Dubljevic, Van Rossom and San Emeterio - thinks coach Ivanovic.

It's hard to say based on what did Ivanovic estimate that, because Valencia don't have the best players - all 12 of them participate equally in the game. If someone should be pointed out, then it's Dubljevic who is in excellent shape and Khimki will have the hardest time stopping him. But the speed of Khimki's players could be of use here, and the impression is that Valencia will have a very hard job today, not just in achieving advantage, but also winning against the Russians.