Maccabi Tel Aviv and Real Madrid have met many times over the years and have also often fought in decisive games.
The last time was in the 2013/14 season when the Yellows defeated the Blancos in the Euroleague final after extra time at the end of a wonderful game that went down in the pages of history.
Now, just before the two big rivals meet again, we are back to the people who were a central part of that memorable evening in Milan.
"I have a lot of flashbacks, this evening was like a dream for me," says Yogev Ohayon.
"The biggest flashback is that we left the locker room before the game and saw the whole hall around yellow. Think, a game in Milan that is a home game for everything. I have a lot of pictures in my head from that evening, the moment I remember at the end of the game I was wrapped in Israeli flag with tears in my eyes We did it. "
"The truth is that the game itself seems to have been erased from my memory," adds Guy Pnini.
"I do not remember too much of what happened on the pitch, but rather the celebrations and the emotions that erupted. You enter the hall and it is all painted yellow with ten thousand fans, it was simply impossible to lose.
Milan was painted yellow.
A great display of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans,
After the way the game ended in the semi-final against CSKA (a winning basket by Tyrese Rice in the closing seconds, YM) there was a sense of power.
We were already in the pit and we felt that we were going to disappoint everyone, and then suddenly the comeback came, and from there we already felt that we could not be stopped. "
"You reach the final against Real and know you're going to win"
On paper Real was considered the leading favorite to win the championship in the 2013/14 season.
In the semi-final, they defeated Barcelona by no less than 38 points, and during the season they defeated the Yellows twice, with the resounding sweep of Maccabi a season earlier still sitting in everyone's head.
Still, all of our interviewees report that the feeling within the group was that "this trophy is ours."
Pnini and Ohayon in a frenzy, Photo: Alan Shiber
"I remember we wanted to get Milan in the quarterfinals," says Alon Stein, one of David Blatt's assistant coaches that season and currently the assistant coach at Maccabi Rishon Lezion.
"After realizing we were playing with Milan I wrote to Guy Pnini that if we pass Milan, our mine on the way to the cup will only be CSKA.
We knew that we would have a problem against CSKA, but if we pass it and play against Real in the final, we will win the championship. "
Pnini: "From the moment we defeated CSKA in the semi-finals, the talk within the team was that we were going to win the cup.
Think you're reaching the Euroleague final against Real Madrid and know you're going to win.
It could be that they swept us a season before and also that season they beat us twice, so you come away with a feeling that some can already be lost to them, certainly not in front of your crowd.
It was a game of character, and the character of our team won theirs. "
Ohayon agrees: "Felt it was written above that we should do it. It was a crazy Cinderella story just like in fairy tales. The unbelievable happened. We just did not stop believing. I felt forces from above, in general magic happened to us at that time. Just a dream."
Stand.
"We wanted Milan in the quarter," Photo: Alan Schieber
Professionally, although Real was a better and more experienced team than Maccabi Tel Aviv, the Yellows reached the final in better personal shape and with connection and faith created thanks to the amazing victories over Milan and the semifinals over CSKA.
"All of our key players came in record form, and for games like that if the players come in good personal form it helps a lot," says Pnini.
Ohayon points out: "Our players reached the Final Four in top form. The team connected defensively and the game plan of David Blatt and the team connected."
"The game plan of David Blatt and the team connected", Photo: Alan Schieber
Stein explains: "The difference was in the great actions of great players, whether it was Tyrese Rice who was in insane capacity, David Blue and Alex Tios. Ultimately in these games you need the players to come and give their best output. As a team we knew all of Real's weaknesses And we prepared the players. "
"They thought they were coming for a walk in the park"
Throughout the previous decade Real have been one of the best teams on the continent.
It defeated rivals on a weekly basis, including several victories by a wide margin over Maccabi Tel Aviv. .
"On Saturday, the morning after the semi-finals, we were given a few free hours to relax a bit before entering the video and training, and the routine of the day before a game," says Pnini.
"Towards noon just as we gather for the video, we see Real's players enter the lobby with bags of shopping and brands. We said to ourselves 'they are arrogant and confident they are going to win.' Modest. "
It later emerged that Real players also played football during training.
It may have been Pablo Lasso's attempt to free his teammates from the pressure, but it certainly added motivation for the players in yellow.
Real players.
Be arrogant, Photo: Alan Schieber
Ohayon: "Real is a team you always want to win. When you look at them from the side they are arrogant and their behavior can drive you crazy. "I'm 'revenge' on them when I drowned right at the last second and made a small celebration move near their bench."
Finally, how do you see the odds in the current series?
Stein: "It's good for Maccabi that Real went out and not Milan. In my opinion, against Milan and its guards, Maccabi had a harder time, so it's better to meet Real, which has been in a bad situation for several months. I'm not saying Maccabi is a favorite, but I do think Maccabi will move. "The matchup is good for Maccabi, and they also know Real. I believe that Maccabi will be in the Final Four and will be stopped in the semi-final against Barcelona."
Pnini: "At these moments it is most important that individual players arrive in top form. At the moment the advantage is Maccabi, its players are in better personal shape and with higher confidence. There will be a close series and I believe Maccabi can steal a game in Madrid and bring the decision to Israel. There is a good chance for Maccabi to qualify for the Final Four. "
Wilbkin.
Can Maccabi stun Real Madrid again? Photo: Danny Maron
Ohayon: "On paper, Maccabi's fitness is better, because Real is in less good shape. Maccabi has shown in recent weeks that it can beat everyone at home and away. Of Maccabi. "
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