Paris (AFP)
Unless there is an incredible turnaround, ASVEL-Lyon will not play its first Final Four of the women's basketball Euroleague after its very heavy defeat against the strong Hungarian team of Sopron, 94 to 66, on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. final go.
Because of the coronavirus epidemic, this duel takes place in two matches played both in a health "bubble" in Sopron, the second act being scheduled for Friday.
The Lyonnaises will have to win by more than 28 points to continue their journey.
In view of the superiority displayed by Sopron, which aims for a third Final Four in four seasons, it is almost mission impossible.
This scenario is not a surprise, except perhaps the magnitude of the gap, because the Hungarian club is unstoppable this season: 23 victories now in as many matches in all competitions, including two against Bourges and two against Basket Landes in the group stage of the Euroleague.
President Tony Parker's team is going through a difficult period.
She has lost three of her last four French Championship games and traveled to Hungary without her injured American Alysha Clark.
After a hung quarter (20-20), Sopron irresistibly escaped (+13 at the break), under the impetus of her major duo, the American Gabby Williams (24 points), one of the candidates for the title MVP of the season, and Serbian Jelena Brooks (19 points).
The Lyonnaises, overwhelmed in defense, did not shine either on the other side of the field like their usual spearhead, Marine Johannès, blocked at 3 points.
Only the Canadian Michelle Plouffe and the Serbian Aleksandra Crvendakic added to the score (14 points each).
The other quarter-finals oppose clubs from the same nations: Ekaterinburg against Kursk for Russia (also in Sopron), Salamanca against Girona for Spain and Galatasaray against Fenerbahçe for Turkey (these last two meetings in a second "bubble" in Salamanca).
© 2021 AFP