Ludwigsburg Extends Champions League Revenge Tour
The MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg squad has flexed their muscles in the Champions League, well and truly exacting revenge on Banco di Sardegna Sassari for their 79-89 thrashing two weeks prior. The German Basketball League titans stamped their authority on Sardinia with a 97-80 (54-41) triumph on Wednesday, leaving them with the crucial edge in the direct comparison. Ludwigsburg's record in the European Cup now stands at an impressive 2-2 victories.
The Swabians stormed out of the gates with laser-sharp focus, maintaining possession and finishing reliably around the rim. A 24-18 first-quarter lead was extended to double figures within the opening three minutes of the second period, as Ludwigsburg continued their unrelenting dominance.
The visitors also boosted their scoring from beyond the arc in the second half, amassing an impressive thirty points. Ludwigsburg's lead extended to a resounding 54-41 at the break, demonstrating their irresistible form.
Ludwigsburg temporarily stumbled against Sassari's zone defense in the final period, but their poise never wavered. Momentum shifted to the Swabians' advantage with a pair of clutch triples, injecting an electrifying burst of energy into their performance. Jayvon Graves (20 points) and Eddy Edigin (12 points, 10 rebounds) emerged as Ludwigsburg's standout performers on the night.
Groups A, B, C, and D in the Champions League preliminary stage have two matchdays remaining. Only the group toppers secure automatic progression to the second group stage, while the runners-up and third-placed teams must endure the cauldron of play-off contests to continue their European adventure. AEK Athens lead Group D with an unblemished 4-0 record.
Ludwigsburg's triumph on Italian soil has significantly bolstered their Champions League record to 2-2 victories. In their subsequent two encounters in the preliminary stage, Ludwigsburg will put everything on the line, aiming to garner one of those coveted, victorious group positions.
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Although the article does not reference any recent matches between MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg and Banco di Sardegna Sassari in the Champions League, it is worth noting that the top eight clubs in the competition book their tickets to the knockout stage. Those finishing ninth to twenty-fourth hurl themselves through a fiery play-off tournament, vying to join the elite group in the last sixteen.
To achieve automatic qualification for the top eight, a team must amass a sizeable amount of points from a possible twenty-four, such as five wins and a draw, or other combinations. For Ludwigsburg, their performance in the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and other competitions would be decisive in identifying their prospects of qualifying directly for the Champions League's second group phase. However, without the specific results of their matches against Banco di Sardegna Sassari, it is not feasible to gauge their direct qualification chances based solely on these encounters.
