On Tuesday March 22 the Euroleague 2010/2011 quarter-finals will start. This round will be played in a playoff series to the best of five games in which each team that was ranked first in their group will face one of the Top 16 teams that finished second in another group.

The formula is the 2-2-1: game 1 and game 2 will be played on Tuesday 22 and Thursday 24 at the home of the teams that won their Top 16 group, Game 3 and, if necessary, Game 4 will be played on Tuesday 29 and Tuesday 31 at the home of the teams that placed second in their group. If necessary, Game 5 will be played on Wednesday April 6 or Thursday April 7 at the home of the teams that won their group.

Caja Laboral vs. Maccabi Electra

Caja Laboral has conquered the first place in its Top 16 group in front of Panathinaikos while Maccabi lost the race within its group against Barcelona. On paper the Spaniards are slightly favored because they can play a possible Game 5 in their home but the Israeli team has extensive experience in the Euroleague so they could win one of the first two games abroad then win at home to qualify for the Final 4.

Regal FCB Barcelona vs. Panathinaikos Athens

The Panathinaikos Athens players are experienced and are led by a coach who has won the Euroleague several times with different teams but sometimes they take great risks in the Top 16. This season’s defeat at home against Lietuvos Rytas led to a series of quarter-final against Barcelona that could very well be a final. The Catalans on their side ended the Top 16 undefeated so they must be considered favorites at least because they can play Game 5 at home.

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Real Madrid vs. Power Elec. Valencia

Real Madrid has lost only the last game of the Top 16; it was useless for the ranking but then coach Ettore Messina resigned. The consequence is that what was already a balanced setup between two Spanish teams – in the Liga ACB they ended their two games 1-1 – has become what is perhaps the most uncertain series. Again I consider Real Madrid the favorite because it can play a possible Game 5 at home.

Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Montepaschi Siena

Siena has lost the chance to win its Top 16 group losing at home to Real Madrid a game dominated for almost three quarters and played very badly in the last quarter. The Italian team played the Top 16 without its playmaker McCalebb and earlier this month Kaukenas injured too. It’s not a good situation to deal with Olympiacos, which after losing the first Top 16 game  won the next five and has to be considered the favorite in this series.

The winners of the quarter-finals will compete in the Final 4 to be held in Barcelona between 6 and 8 May. We’ll definitely have fun!