Samara vs Zenit. Preview
Context
Samara’s losing streak continues. Two weeks after their last meeting with Zenit, the Volga team still hasn’t managed to secure a single victory in the new year. To put it bluntly, Vladislav Konovalov’s squad is going through one of the toughest stretches in their schedule. In their last four games, Samara has suffered heavy losses at home to Zenit (54:103), MBA-MAI (78:80) and Lokomotiv Kuban (69:96), as well as a crushing defeat in Kazan (94:59). Now they face the blue-whites on their home court once again. This string of losses has placed Samara in 11th position on the league table.
Since returning to the court in early January, home team guard Mikhail Kulagin has become the undeniable leader of the squad, striving to drive the Volga side forward in every game. Kulagin averages 15 points per game, making him Samara’s top scorer this season. Another key figure is center Ilya Popov, who ranks among the top five rebounders in the league with 5.8 boards per game and leads the tournament in offensive rebounds with an average of 3 per game.
Head-to-head
All six of the previous meetings between the two teams have ended in victory for Zenit.
Quotes
Zenit’s head coach Xavi Pascual on the upcoming game against Samara:
We are going again to Samara. Despite the fact that we have a lot of injury problems, we have to be serious and to play a good game, because it's very important to us.
Who. Where. When.
Opponent: Samara
Location: SKK Sports Palace, Samara
Date: January 24, 18:30 (Saint Petersburg time)
Broadcast: Match! Igra, Okko Sport, VTB United League website, Start TV
