Alba Berlin - Bayern Munich predictions and free betting tips [18/01/2024]

In the third match of the Euroleague regular season game day, two German teams, Alba and Bayern, will face each other.

Alba

Alba had a poor run in the last season, and then lost long-time leaders: Sikma, Jaylen Smith, and Maodo Lo. The team is starting anew, now primarily relying on the trio of Sterling Brown, Matt Thomas, and Johannes Thiemann. Alba began in the Euroleague with four straight losses: from Bayern (80:68), Baskonia (86:91), Virtus (87:76) and Monaco (86:75). They managed to break this losing streak only in their game against the Italian team, Olimpia (85:82). But they could not maintain the winning wave: in the following rounds, the German club yielded to Valencia (79:71), Panathinaikos (85:99), ASVEL (68:73), Partizan (89:74), Real (99:75), and the Israeli team, Maccabi (102:81).

An unexpected silver lining in the barrel of poor performances by the German club was a win in the first game of December against the Lithuanian team, Zalgiris (64:62). However, following this, the Germans twice yielded to Anadolu Efes (89:97) and Crvena Zvezda (85:71). The German club surprisingly managed to break the losing streak in a game against Barcelona (74:70). Yet, just three days later, Alba yielded to Turkish Fenerbahce (82:91).

It was also not possible to end the year with a win: Olympiacos brought the German club 27 points in the away game and just barely did not reach a hundred (67:94). In the new year, Alba yielded to Zalgiris (77:71), Virtus (68:83), and Milan (82:76). But in their last game, the team unexpectedly confidently beat the French Villeurbanne (63:88). With the result 4-17, Alba remains the worst team of the regular season.

Bayern Munich

What's significant about Bayern is Pablo Laso, supposedly the most underrated or overrated coach in Europe. However, this season, this coaching bench experience is backed up by some of Europe's finest on the court.
You've got the young and promising Leandro Bolmaro, Carsen Edwards who was snatched from Fener, and Serge Ibaka who has finally healed his injuries. Beside them are newly crowned world champions: Obst, who just crushed Team USA, Bonga, who can defend on all positions, as well as stretching centre Booker, who would strengthen any Euroleague team's roster.

Nevertheless, the Germans had a dismal start. In the first five Euroleague matches, the team managed to notch only one victory. They were able to defeat Baskonia away (68:76). November turned out to be slightly more successful. In six games, the Germans snatched three victories over Partizan (94:85), ASVEL (100:101), and Virtus (90:76). In December, Bayern predictably lost to Real (88:73), Olympiacos (77:69), and Monaco (80:91), but there were also positive surprises such as victories over Efes (86:71) and Valencia (85:84).
The Germans have started this calendar year with four straight losses from Olimpia (76:62), Virtus (85:83), Real (71:92), and Fenerbahce (98:91)
Pablo Laso's team displays high-scoring basketball, which is well-received by fans, but against teams who can put a lock on their ring, Bayern gets lost and loses games. Given this situation, it's even problematic for the Munich club to hope for landing in the play-in zone.

Head-to-head

In the first round of this Euroleague regular season, Bayern claimed victory (80:68).

Prediction for the match

Though Bayern has lost in all its starting matches of 2024, it's not all doom and gloom. Moreover, some leeway should be made considering the level of opponents at the beginning of this year. I think it's about time for the first victory and Alba's crushing victory over another tournament outsider shouldn't influence the outcome of today's game.