UNICS Kazan - CSKA Moscow predictions and free betting tips [28/05/2024]

Today, the second match of the VTB United League final series will take place between Kazan's UNICS and Moscow's CSKA.

UNICS

The Kazan club made it to the finals after sweeping Samara 3-0 in the first round and overcoming Lokomotiv-Kuban 4-3 in a thrilling series. In the first match of the VTB United League final series, UNICS Kazan was unable to hold the lead in the closing minutes, losing to CSKA with a score of 95:96. Just minutes before the end of the game, UNICS was leading 95:90, but allowed the Moscow club to make a decisive surge. Loss of concentration and a series of questionable moments in defense cost the Kazan team dearly. It was particularly painful as until that moment, UNICS had shown solid gameplay, breaking their unfortunate streak of first quarter losses thanks to a successful long-range shot by team leader Nenad Dimitrijevic at the end of the first 10 minutes.

For most of the game, UNICS was chasing the army men, constantly facing fouls, which led to the breakdown. Many players finished the match on the verge of being expelled due to infractions. Team leader Dimitrijevic scored 22 points and 6 rebounds. However, his fifth unsportsmanlike foul towards the end became critical as it left UNICS without a key attacker at the worst possible moment. This moment turned the game, allowing CSKA to make important free throws and snatch the victory.

Despite good gameplay and an excellent performance by Dimitrijevic, who led in points and assists, the Kazan club needs to improve concentration in the final minutes. The loss in the first game obliges UNICS to review their tactics and prepare for the upcoming games in the series, to avoid repeating mistakes and aim for a comeback.

CSKA

Under the leadership of Andreas Pistiolis, CSKA Moscow demonstrated high skill levels in the first match of the VTB United League final series. The Moscow team, which had previously easily passed through Krasnoyarsk's Yenisey and a series with St. Petersburg's Zenit, continues to find their game, and the first match against UNICS confirmed their readiness to fight for the championship. The meeting started with an efficient performance by Amath M'Baye, who quickly scored 10 points, allowing CSKA to start the game confidently.

The game became particularly tense in the final minutes, when UNICS almost leveled the score, reaching 95:90. However, CSKA managed to regain control of the game thanks to the outstanding play of Melo Trimble, who not only narrowed the gap in the score in the last minutes but also took advantage of the technical foul by the opponent to ultimately put his team ahead. Trimble finished the game with 28 points, becoming his team's top scorer.

CSKA demonstrated not only excellent offensive play but also solid defense, particularly through the actions of Nikita Kurbanov, who effectively blocked key UNICS players. Such versatility allowed the Moscow team to recover after mid-game difficulties and ultimately secure a win with a minimal margin, giving them a leading position in the series.

Head-to-Head 

During the regular season of the VTB United League, UNICS twice defeated CSKA with scores of 88:78 and 84:78.

Match Prediction: UNICS vs CSKA

UNICS cannot afford to lose the second home match if they want to live up to their status as series favorites. I expect a victory for the Kazan team, whose loss of concentration hindered them in taking match number 1.