It's time to open up for Price in the Premier League, if it wasn't for yesterday he might not have been my choice, but in the floor tournament the Welshman performed excellently, he was often a dangerous opponent in the Premier League, before the era of Littler he was always the favorite. It's uncertain how Van Veen will cope with nerves, he didn't play very well in the floor tournament yesterday, I think Price will at least take some points today.
Bunting didn't have a great year in the Premier League, he wasn't able to keep up and last year it took him a long time to pick up his first win. I think this year will also be a struggle for him, Noppert should have been in his place. Clayton, on the other hand, had a great start, with a 109 average against Josh Rock, 6/9 doubles, showing that he can play like a top player in the world. Overall, he always performs well in the Premier League format, as seen in his 2021 debut as champion.
The Thun club is creating a fantastic history in the Swiss league and with each round it seems more and more likely that they will become champions for the first time in the club's history. Currently, they are in first place with +10 points on the table, and the team is performing at their peak, winning 6 league matches in a row, including all 4 since the winter break. Today, they will face seventh-placed Lausanne, whose current form is not very good, having lost 3 matches in a row without scoring any goals. I believe that Thun will continue their excellent form and take another step towards the title.
This team took a strong stance and the players are starting their training. There isn't a lot of immense talent, but many hardworking role players who take on their limited roles. Lucicius should return, so without long-term injuries, everyone else is healthy. The team's form is great, with a desire to break into the top 10, so it's necessary to take on the Jews who have similar ambitions but lack discipline and overall talent. Lonnie shouldn't come back yet, and once Clark/Lundberg recovers, he should not try to carry the team on his shoulders.
A suitable opponent, an indoor arena, a game that gives a lot to Sveta - everything here leans towards the Obstacle's side. She stands out with her maximum speed, there are no unnecessary rotations, she freely runs for 30+ minutes because she is obviously the most talented in the team. Overall, the match should be productive, so I am also looking forward to the German's significant contribution, scoring from all over the court in different ways. Plus, the motivation to hang onto the playoffs and showcase good form - it's going to be intense.
I agree with T. Masilius that the tournament table does not reflect the real strength of Anadolu Efes. V. Poirier and J. Loyd have returned after injuries. It has been some time since the change of coach and I believe the game should only improve. It is very rare for them to win away, and they even managed to lose to ASVEL at home.
From 2025, Rybakina has caught impressive form in the second half. Her serves are cosmic and she also receives considerable support from Qatar. It's not difficult to deal with Rybakina's first serves, but even raising her percentages in the second serve can be challenging for opponents. Her opponent, Mboko, is also not to be underestimated as one of the most improving players. Yesterday, she defeated M. Andreeva, who has had a tough time against Rybakina's decisive moments. In any case, Rybakina's solid game, experience, and strong support from the spectators should work in her favor.
I don't expect that Barcelona will come to Madrid and only compete for the 3 points. They should be prepared to play disciplined football, as even a draw in this away game would be enough to secure their fate and move on to their home stadium. Atletico is currently in poor form and does not appear to be capable of offering a quality attack at this moment. When the offense is not working, their main weapon and option remains defense. Atletico is still the team that relies on strong defense in the most important matches.
I am eagerly waiting for Clyburn's productive game today. Many people have fallen apart under the impression that Barca losing Punter will definitely require Clyburn to take on a full leading role in the attack, at least along with Shengelia whom it is not clear if he will play. Clyburn, after his injury, only scored 15 points in the Euroleague, but he did have two games with 14 points. Today, I think he should play above his average, as not only does Barca lack important players, but also the opponent, Paris team, is one of the highest scoring teams due to their fast-paced game, which is very favorable for the team's players from other teams. I believe we can expect around 20 points here from Will.
Anderlecht lost the first game at home and it was a surprise in my eyes. The team was better than Antwerp, with 23 shots taken, but lacked in quality, however, they controlled the game in terms of over/under, but conceded a goal in the first period of added time. Maybe Anderlecht's recent performance and form are not the best, but it does not reflect the team's capabilities. Especially since Antwerp themselves haven't been in better form lately.
The aging Barcos is playing worse as the season comes to an end, with Shengelia also on the sidelines and Punter out today. Paris, despite having many losses, can still play good games when they want to and is not a bad team. They recently beat Real Madrid and only lost by 2 points to Fenerbahce, showing initiative until the end. The odds for today's game are too high, taking all circumstances into account.
Kalinskaya looked strong against Svitolina, not giving her even the slightest chance to engage in rallies, she was able to catch all the balls. I think the odds against Muchova are too high, it should be maximum 2.2, but we are getting 2.7.