08.07.2008 12:45
Euroleague first round draw
www.fcbarcelona.cat
FC Barcelona will face Montepaschi Siena, Panathinaikos, Zalgiris, Prokom Trefl and Nancy in the first group stage of European basketball’s premier club competition.
The draw was made at midday on Tuesday in the German capital of Berlin. FC Barcelona find
themselves in Group B along with Montepaschi Siena, Panathinaikos, Zalgiris, Prokom Trefl and
Nancy.
Change of system
The forthcoming edition of the Euroleague includes some important changes in the format of
competition. The first phase now includes four groups of six teams, and the four best teams from
each group go into the Top 16. The two qualifiers from each four-team group in the second group
stage will then meet in a best-of-five quarter final series, with each of the winners going on to
the Final Four in Berlin.
The dates
The first stage will be played from October 22 to January 15, 2009. The second stage takes us
from January 28 to March 12, and the Top 16 is scheduled for March 24 to April 8. The Final Four
will be staged in Berlin from May 1 to 3.
The groups
Group A: Maccabbi Electra, Olympiacos, Unicaja, Cibona, Le Mans and Avellino.
Group B: Montepaschi, FC Barcelona, Panathinaikos, Zalgiris, Prokom Trefl and SLUC
Nancy
Group C: Tau Ceramica, Fenerbahçe Ulker, Virtus Roma, Olimpija, DKV Joventut and
Alba Berlin.
Group D: CSKA Moscow, Partizan, Real Madrid, Efes Pilsen, AJ Milano and Panionios.