From a gala to match point: The basketball pros from Bayern Munich can continue to dream of making it into the Final Four of the Euroleague for the first time.
Thanks to a strong performance, coach Andrea Trinchieri's team defeated title favorites FC Barcelona 59:52 (36:25) in the fourth quarter-final game on Friday and equalized the best-of-five series to 2:2.
The decisive game in the battle for the final tournament in Belgrade (May 19-21) will take place in Barcelona on Tuesday evening (9 p.m. / MagentaSport).
A German team has never been in the final tournament.
Last year, Bayern were the first German team to reach the play-offs in Europe's premier class.
In the quarter-finals against Armani Milan was the end of the line after five games.
“I am very proud and very happy for my players.
We played unbelievably defensively," said Bayern coach Trinchieri on the MagentaSport microphone.
Bayern President Herbert Hainer enthused: "It was a fantastic evening.
The team defended excellently.
The atmosphere here was fantastic.
Everything is possible."
It is a surprise that the Munich team will once again reach for the semi-final ticket this year.
After FC Bayern equalized the series with a win in the second game (90:75), Barca brought game three home seriously (66:75).
Before the game on Friday evening in the Audi Dome, however, Trinchieri still believed in progress: "We're still in the series," said the coach.
And Bayern played big.
Driven by the best FCB pitcher Nick Weiler-Babb (12 points), the hosts gained a double-digit lead early on.
The Catalans had huge problems, especially in attack, in the third quarter the star team scored just nine points.
The frustration was unmistakable, Bayern then brought success easily and coolly over time.