The 4th matchday of the Serie A UnipolSai 2023/24 ends with the postponement at 8 p.m. between Virtus Segafredo Bologna and Banco di Sardegna Sassari. The Bianconeri picked up a double win in the Euroleague round against ALBA Berlin and Red Star Belgrade, while the Bianconeri – after picking up their first league win of the season against Treviso – suffered a defeat against Szczecin in the BCL.
Where can you see it: Sunday, October 22nd, 8 p.m., DAZN
Referee: Manuel Mazzoni, Valerio Grigioni, Daniele Valleriani
PREVIOUS
There have already been 28 direct meetings between the teams, including three Scudetto quarter-finals (2011/12), a semi-final (2020) and a Supercup final (2022).
Overall the record is a draw (14-14), but Bologna is ahead in home games (7-5).
Segafredo won the three games last season, including victory in the final of the Frecciarossa Supercoppa in Brescia (Sassari-Bologna 69-72).
THE TRAINERS
The two coaches Luca Banchi and Piero Bucchi have already faced each other 18 times. The balance is nine wins each.
THE CURIOSITY
Filip Kruslin plays his 100th game in Serie A.
THE ABSENCE
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – Achille Polonara is out after having a testicular tumor removed.
Banco di Sardegna Sassari – Eimantas Bendzius is out due to an Achilles tendon injury.
THE EX
Virtus Segafredo Bologna – The absent Achille Polonara played in Sassari in 2017/18 and 2018/19 and averaged 10.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in a total of 76 appearances in domestic competitions. With Dinamo he won the FIBA Europe Cup in 2018.
Banco di Sardegna Sassari – Stefano Gentile played the 2017/18 season with the Black Vs and averaged 5.9 points in 20 minutes of average playing time.
Alessandro Cappelletti played for Bologna in the 2018/19 season and was on the scoresheet 30 times.
Piero Bucchi was born in Bologna and began his coaching career in 1984 with the youth team of Virtus Bologna. He left the club in 1992.
THE STATEMENTS
Piero Bucchi, coach Banco di Sardegna Sassari: “We have to carry the comeback in Poland with us, not forgetting what we did badly in the first 25 minutes, especially in terms of approach, we need more concentration and determination.” We have to beat Bologna in the right way face, they have two Euroleague games behind them but are in a great phase and have an exceptional squad. We are trying to make progress in terms of cohesion and the group. After we put the pieces back together, we need to optimize, grow and improve. Bologna? Nothing is ever impossible, strong team, strong squad, I never go back defeated, I want to see the right attitude from the boys, in terms of impact they gave everyone 20 points, a wave can come and try to withstand.”
