FCBARCELONA.CAT

03.05.2009 10:27

History and prestige

Roger Bogunyà (enviat especial)

Regal Barça take on Olympiacos on Sunday afternoon (17:00 CET, live on C33 and R@dio Barça) in the Euroleague third and fourth place play-off, a game the Castalan outfit have never participated in before.

The Blaugrana are appearing in the prestigious encounter in Berlin after both teams lost their respective semi-finals on Friday and will now play before the final itself at the 02 World arena to see who will finish in third. It will not be an easy game to play in, but after months of playing for a place in the Final Four, Barça are pleased to have reached this stage.

As well as mentality, the two teams will be vying to see who is the better tactically and technically when they meet in a game that will require some extra motivation after the disappointment of losing in the semi final. Whichever side has put that reverse behind themselves the quickest will be the one that should claim third place.

If experience counts for anything, even at this stage, then Barça should have the upper hand as Olympiacos have not appeared in the Final Four since 1999.

The Blaugrana do not have a great record at this stage of the competition as they have lost on the previous four occasions that they have played in the third and fourth place play-off game. It is a difficult situation for the team as they will have to reproduce their best basketball in order to finish third. For history and prestige the Catalan outfit are playing for a lot in the game.