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A battle of David and Goliath

Nanterre were a second division side just three years ago; now they are playing in the Euroleague against the title favourites. CSKA have got better players in all positions, and their frontcourt could be the deciding factor

Just three or four years ago, playing in the Euroleague seemed beyond Nanterre's wildest dreams. However, in their second first division season they beat the odds and won the national title, which earned them a place among the very best European sides. The debut couldn't have been better. The mighty CSKA, prime candidates for the title, are coming to France.

Last season Nanterre set the bar very high, and they surely felt under pressure after losing in the Supercup. However, the they've had a brilliant start in the national championship, grabbing three win. The easiest one was at home against the newly-promoted Antibes.

This still relatively small club is facing the toughest opponent in their history. CSKA have got a fantastic squad, and they surely want to start the competition with a win. The home team will once again be without shooting guard Kevin Lisch. The injury will leave him sidelined for some time.

- It's our Euroleague debut, and we're already playing the title favourites. I wouldn't mind an easier opponent at this stage to tell you the truth - said Donnadieu jokingly.

Even though CSKA are covered very well on all positions, their frontcourt advantage could be the deciding factor. Ali Traore is a big acquisition; he transferred in just before the start of the season. However, he still hasn't made an appearance, so the burden of responsibility will be on Will Daniels, Passave-Ducteil and Jaiteh. Daniles is the only player with experience at this level. However, Krstic, Kaun, Hines and company are several levels above, and they shouldn't have any problems dealing with Nanterre.

- I'm feeling well, but I understand if the club wants me to be 100% fit before playing. Otherwise, I could risk an even bigger injury. I've waited for a very long time; I can wait a little longer - said Traore, who will miss the game.

CSKA's frontcourt was the deciding factor in VTB league opener against Riga. Kaun was the player of the match with 27 points. The team had a long journey before the game, which reflected on their performance in the first half. However, Messina's boys turned the match in their favour in the second half, so it ended very one-sided.

- For three quarters it was anybody's game. I had great support from my teammates and I had lots of shots. I'm glad it ended well. The important thing is that we won. I hope that my form will be at an optimal level against Nanterre - said Kaun.

CSKA were disappointing in last season's Final Four, so the Euroleague is their top priority this time. There haven't been many changes in their roster. Fridzon was acquired from Khimki, Hines from Olympiakos, while point guard Pargo came with a wealth of NBA experience. They look great so far. Messina was particularly impressed with his point guards in matches against NBA teams. Messina will continue to play with both Teodosic and Pargo on the court at the same time, and sometimes with Jackson. We can expect the same today. Weems will be a tough matchup at small forward. Team captain Khryapa is a real leader on and off the court and his contribution is often a deciding factor. In short, Messina has got two or three quality players in every position, and Nanterre are up for a very tough debut.

- After winning the French championship last season, Nanterre are full of enthusiasm. They've got a great coaching staff and they are a very athletic side. We mustn't take anything for granted; we have to be well prepared. Defense and ball distribution will be the key - said Messina.

- This is the opening match of the Euroleague, and it is very important to start on a positive note. We are disappointed by the way we ended the last season, so now we will try to go on a winning run right from the start - added Jackson.

The players, history and financial budgets indicate that this is a battle between David and Goliath. Nanterre will surely count on the support from the fans, but the players might be too impressed by the opponent. Traore and Je'Kel Foster are the only players in the team who have experience of playing in the Euroleague and against such strong opponents. CSKA will put pressure on their backcourt line right from the start; they know that shooting is Nanterre's biggest asset. Nanterre are greatly outmatched under the rim, so CSKA should have a huge rebounding advantage, which will result in many second chance points.

Kudos to Nanterre for what they did in the last season, but i think CSKA is at the moment far out of their range. Messina has put together a terrific team, with that as backbone added three exceptional players and now has the depth chart to keep up a high rhythm during a whole game. I think I would not be wrong in saying that the nominally second five of CSKA is much stronger than Nanterre's starting five and that fct says a lot. The Moscow team will have a huge advantage in the paint, especially since Traore is not yet ready to play, and the backs line will put pressure on Nanterre preventing a three-pointer series. Nanterre has a three-win streak in the championship, but one of those was over Strasbourg that gathered the team just a few days before the match, while at Nancy they managed to get overtime and win after a deliberately missed free throw. Antibes is among the main candidates for relegation. CSKA is something entirely different, most of those players are not used to playing against such a team and on such a stage and the nervousness will partly creep into their play. A great option is the team under for Nanterre, I doubt that they could go over 70 points here.