Bayern Munich loses Fenerbahce Istanbul after a weak start. The way to the quarter -finals is now a very rocky one.
Running without a happy ending: Bayern Munich basketball players missed the direct entry into the play-offs of the Euroleague. The team of coach Gordon Herbert lost to the title candidate Fenerbahce Istanbul on 34th and last main round of the round after a false start 77:89 (31:46), the German champion has to take the detour in the fight for the quarter-finals.
On Thursday evening, Carsen Edwards was the best scorer for FCBB with 23 points, which had reduced an interim 24-point deficit to six points in the sold-out SAP Garden around three minutes before the end of the game. In the final phase, the guests kept the nerves in front of the eyes of Bavaria President Herbert Hainer and pulled away again.
FC Bayern with horror start
The Munich team had previously experienced a horror start. After the first quarter, the home side were already back with 15 points, Istanbul found perfectly into play in an atmospheric setting. Herbert, who most recently missed the Bundesliga top game at Ratiopharm Ulm due to an infection, was looking for solutions for a long time from the outside.
It is not yet clear to whom the Munich players play for participating in the hot season phase. This depends on the final plan. Bayern last reached the round of the last eight in 2021 and 2022, and Herbert had issued the first move into the final tournament as the goal before the current season.
In the play-ins, the seventh place first meets the eighth, the winner qualifies directly for the round of the last eight. The loser gets a second chance and meets the winner of the duel between the ninth and tenth. The winner of this duel secures the last ticket for the play-offs, where the best-of-five mode is about participating in this year’s Final Four in Abu Dhabi (May 23 to May 25).