Spar Girona continues to make history in Europe and now faces a major challenge in the EuroCup Women. After convincingly defeating NKA Universitas Pecs in the Round of 16 (88-65), the Girona team is preparing to take on one of the tournament favorites: LDLC ASVEL Féminin.
The first leg will take place this Wednesday at Fontajau (8:05 PM, Esport3), where the home crowd will once again play a crucial role. The return match is scheduled for February 27 in Lyon, a traditionally difficult venue.
A High-Level Opponent
ASVEL arrives at this stage after eliminating Galatasaray, the same team that Spar Girona knocked out last season. The French side, boasting a talented roster, stands out for its physical presence and dynamic playing style. One of their key players is Dominique Malonga, an 18-year-old, 1.98m center who leads the team with 18 points, 10.5 rebounds, and a 22.4 efficiency rating per game. They also have promising young talents such as Ainhoa Risacher (16 years old, 1.87m) and experienced players like Julie Wojta and Laura Quevedo.
Íñiguez: “It will be a very demanding duel”
Spar Girona head coach Roberto Íñiguez is well aware of the difficulty of the challenge: “This is a high-level game, as expected at this stage of the quarterfinals. We are facing a team that competes very well in Europe.” He also highlighted the physicality of the French league and ASVEL’s dynamic approach, a team that plays at a high tempo with open-court attacks.
Despite the recent loss against Valencia, Íñiguez believes it will not affect the group: “We always have to move forward. When you win, you prepare for the next game; when you lose, you learn and get back up.”
Mack and Tate in the Squad
For this match, the coaching staff has opted for Natasha Mack and Imani Tate, leaving Pierre-Louis out. “With Mack, we will be a more complete team. This decision was made in the best interest of the team,” explained Íñiguez.
