Jason Collins
Dailysports's expert
Virtus Bologna
Monaco
Among the EuroLeague matches scheduled for January 23, the clash between Virtus Bologna and Monaco deserves attention. Here’s my betting prediction for this matchup: do the hosts stand a chance against one of the league leaders?
Virtus Bologna
This EuroLeague season has been far from ideal for the Italian club, as they currently sit in 16th place in the standings. With only 7 wins in 22 games, they are five victories short of the coveted top 10.
However, there has been noticeable progress in their recent performances, with four wins in their last six games, including an 82:72 road victory over Bayern in their most recent outing. Despite this improvement, their playoff hopes are slim due to earlier setbacks. In the Italian league, things are looking better, as Virtus Bologna shares the top spot with three other contenders.
Monaco
Monaco is having a solid season overall, with 13 wins in 22 games securing them third place in the EuroLeague standings. However, their position is precarious, as four teams trail closely due to tiebreakers.
In their last game, Monaco suffered an 82:88 overtime loss to direct rival Crvena Zvezda on the road. This marked their third consecutive defeat, raising concerns about their current form. Breaking this losing streak is crucial for rebuilding confidence. Domestically, Monaco is in fourth place and should have no trouble qualifying for the playoffs.
Match Facts
- Virtus Bologna has won only 4 of their 11 home games this season but has claimed victory in their last three home outings.
- Monaco has won 6 of their 11 away games.
- The odds for this match are as follows: Virtus Bologna win (P1) – 2.56, Monaco win (P2) – 1.53.
Head-to-Head
The first-round encounter between these teams ended with a convincing 101:85 victory for Monaco.
Prediction
On paper, the visitors are slight favorites, despite their recent losing streak. The pressure to secure a result will weigh more heavily on Monaco, while Bologna will aim to deliver a strong performance in front of their home fans. My prediction is a bet on the hosts to win with a +6.5 points handicap.
