It's time for the play-in: Barça and Red Star want to extend their hopes

Tuesday and Friday are reserved for the Euroleague play-in - a competition played by four teams, two of which will advance to the quarterfinals.

Seventh against eighth, or ninth against 10, in the standings after 38 rounds, in this case means Panathinaikos with Monaco and Barcelona with Red Star.

Red Star was in a great position for most of the season, with fans dreaming of a direct place in the top eight, but unexpected defeats at home - to Bayern, Maccabi and Partizan - caused the "red and white" to fall to 10th place.

If they want to reach the quarterfinals, the chosen ones Saša Obradović They must win two games, both away - tonight in Catalonia (8:45 p.m.), and then away against the loser of the clash between Panathinaikos or Monaco (8 p.m.).

Chima Moneke believes that Red Star has a chance against Barca, to whom it has lost both times in the league - smoothly in Belgrade and only after extra time recently in Catalonia.

- We have to fight and play as if our lives depended on it. Barça did beat us twice, but the second match was in a double round and after a difficult journey. And then we had a chance... - says the Nigerian winger.

Barca is the favorite - because of its name, tradition, home field. It wants to beat Red Star, then prepare for the trip to Athens or Monte Carlo.

- All I ask is for the stadium to be full. I think we have the advantage, we have to take advantage of this opportunity - the Blaugrana coach emphasized Xavi Pasqual.

PAO and Monaco, on the other hand, are teams that didn't see themselves in the play-in but in the play-offs. However, the "greens" are struggling this season, and for the "princes" everything went downhill when financial problems began - in the end they stabilized and want to be in the Top 8 again.

- We are a team for the Final Four, but we have to prove it - said the Panathinaikos coach Ergin Ataman whose team, if they advance, would play in the quarterfinals against Valencia.

Olympiacos are already in the playoffs - waiting for the team that finishes eighth through the play-in, as well as Valencia, Real Madrid, Fenerbahçe, Žalgiris and Hapoel.

The quarterfinals are scheduled to begin on April 28th, and two pairs are already known: Real - Hapoel and Fener - Zalgiris. The Final Four will be held in Athens from May 22nd to 24th.