MATCH OF THE ROUND: Last season’s finalists meet again – Crvena zvezda mts vs. Budućnost VOLI

AdmiralBet ABA League Round 2, Monday, 4 October 2021:

CRVENA ZVEZDA MTS - BUDUĆNOST VOLI

Where? Aleksandar Nikolić Sports Hall, Belgrade

When? 21:00

Story of the game: There were really no second thoughts when choosing this week’s AdmiralBet ABA League match of the round. Monday evening in Belgrade brings us the clash of the last season’s finalists as it is time for another duel between Crvena zvezda mts and Budućnost VOLI.

The rivalry between these two teams has become very intense over the past few years as Crvena zvezda mts and Budućnost VOLI faced each other in the last three AdmiralBet ABA League Finals. Recall that Zvezda were victorious in 2019 and 2021, while Budućnost prevailed in 2018.

It is interesting to mention that their rivalry was quite intense even during the previous summer as Crvena zvezda mts signed no other than Budućnost VOLI star player Nikola Ivanović as well as another ex player of the blue-and-whites Luka Mitrović, while then the Podgorica side answered back by acquiring Zvezda’s former player Marko Jagodić-Kuridža.

Both sides have created very strong teams for the 2021/22 season and they have already showed their power in the opening round when each of them scored a comfortable win. Crvena zvezda mts defeated Split at home by no less than 36-point margin, while Budućnost VOLI outplayed FMP in Podgorica.

Home-court advantage was a factor in some of their previous games. Budućnost VOLI defeated Crvena zvezda mts the last two times they played in Belgrade in the regular season, however Crvena zvezda mts managed to bounce back after those home-court defeats as they beat Budućnost VOLI three times in Belgrade in the 2021 Playoffs to win the title.

And each side plans to return to the Finals this year.

Match-up in focus: Nikola Kalinić (Crvena zvezda mts) vs. Vladimir Micov (Budućnost VOLI).

These two experienced players made a real noise over the summer when they decided to return to their favorite clubs. Kalinić and Micov have a reputation of top-class forwards and that is why their transfers were so big for the entire league.

Now, they will face each other for the first time in AdmiralBet ABA League and their duel will definitely decide many things in the upcoming match.

Head-to-head score in the regional league: In total 26:25; In Belgrade 22:5