Virtus faces defending champion Olympiacos at PalaDozza: home debut at 20.30

Tonight at 20:30 Virtus Bologna makes its home debut in the Euroleague and does so in the most complicated way possible: facing them at PalaDozza will be Olympiacos Piraeus, the defending champions.

As the Resto del Carlino reports, Alex Mumbrù's team arrives at the match with "some additional certainty" but also with a "robust dose of anger" after the Milan game against Olimpia, in which the Bianconeri came close to pulling off an upset. Weighing heavily, according to the newspaper, was a refereeing incident late in the game that left the Bianconeri environment frustrated: the whistle in the final moments remained at the center of the controversy.

The dispute over the referee

In the sights of the club is also the assignment of Ukrainian referee Boris Ryzhyk for today's match. The Carlino recalls that Euroleague has assigned referees via an algorithm this year, but emphasizes that the relationship between Ryzhyk and Virtus has never been smooth. The club, writes the newspaper, has chosen not to fuel the dispute publicly, reserving the right to assert its reasons "in the appropriate venues," that is in Barcelona, the seat of the Euroleague.

An uphill battle

On paper, in terms of budget and track record, the match looks prohibitive for the Bianconeri. Virtus is counting on a growing squad, described by the Carlino as sometimes naive but evolving, with Daniel Hackett to provide character and experience and newcomer Wendell Moore tasked with adapting to European basketball.

Meanwhile, a chapter in the club's recent history closes: the relationship between Marco Belinelli and Virtus as ambassador ended on June 30, with the two parties now going their separate ways.

In the standings, after the first games, Olympiacos is undefeated while Virtus is still at zero points, alongside other teams including Real Madrid and Baskonia. Sky Sport explains where to watch the match on TV and streaming in its game guide.