Game of the Week: UMMC Ekaterinburg face Perfumerias Avenida in 2021 Final repeat

EKATERINBURG (Russia) - UMMC Ekaterinburg and Perfumerias Avenida have just one loss between them so far in Group A and are reminding everyone why they contested the title game last season.

Still unbeaten after six games and gunning for a seventh consecutive EuroLeague Women success, UMMC head into this one as favorites - mirroring when they won the silverware in that meeting back in April.

However, Avenida have shown their teeth again this year and with just one loss to their name, they will be looking to push the champions hard and show that they have the capacity to make another deep run in the competition. 

This contest also brings together two of the most respected coaches in the competition as Miguel Mendez and Roberto Iniguez lock horns and try to mastermind a victory for their respective teams. 

The live broadcast of the game between UMMC Ekaterinburg and Perfumerias Avenida will be freely available on the EuroLeague Women YouTube channel, as well as on Facebook, at 15:00 CET on Wednesday, December 1.

Form guide: UMMC are 6-0 and have not lost domestically either, although they did slip up in the SuperCup Women Final earlier in the campaign when they lost to Valencia BC. As for Avenida, they are 5-1 in the group and will be looking to bounce back from a first loss of the season in Liga Femenina, having gone down 77-69 at home to Spar Girona this past weekend.

Last meeting: The 2021 Final saw UMMC Ekaterinburg lift the title in Istanbul with a 78-68 success. Tiffany Hayes starred for Avenida with a super 29 points, but UMMC had too much in the tank, with Emma Meesseman leading them to victory after contributing 19 points and 8 rebounds. 

Kahleah Copper could prove to be the key to another successful season for Perfumerias Avenida

Key matchup: The potential duel between WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper and UMMC ace Alba Torrens looks highly exciting. The former looks like she could be the key to Avenida making it back to Final Four, since she adds real dynamism to their great team ethic. Meanwhile, Torrens is just as dynamic in her play will get to step out against her former club, which she guided to the title a decade ago.

X-factor: If Avenida want to cause what to many would still be a surprise win, they will probably need to sharpen their outside shooting which has seen them convert only 26 percent so far this season. They must also slow down UMMC in the open court as Ekat do love a fast break score.

Wednesday, December 1

Group A
KSC Szekszard v TTT Riga - 18:00 CET
ZVVZ USK Praha v Umana Reyer - 19:00 CET
BLMA v MBA Moscow - 20:00 CET

Group B
Fenerbahce Safiport v Dynamo Kursk - 17:00 CET
Spar Girona v VBW Arka Gdynia - 19:15 CET
Beretta Famila Schio v Galatasaray - 19:30 CET

Thursday, December 2

Group B
Sopron Basket v Basket Landes - 18:00 CET

FIBA