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Only 8 teams will reach Round of 16 and 8 will join from Champions League. That means only the top spot guarantees the next round in Europe Cup. Two best runner ups will go through as well. Demir are 3-1, their h2h record with Antwerp is worse and if the Belgians win the two of their remaining games, the Turks will not be able to reach the top spot. Antwerp are set to play teams which do not stand a chance of reaching the next round. Demir need to focus on trying to advance through the runner-up spot and they are currently only the third best team in that spot (+23 goal difference). They will try and get that difference higher today. If Antwerp lose to Gravelines, everything changes and the Turks can reach the top spot. But their game starts three hours before Antwerp's game.

Demir win by an average of 23,5 points in this competitions. They haven't been doing well away all season long. They beat Antwerp home by 14, lost by over 20 away to them. They won all 4 European home games, Enisej by 16, Antwerp by 14, Rilski by 22 and Sigal by 42. They recorded 5 out of 6 wins home in the Turkish league. They didn't play last weekend (All-Star weekend) so they had a week to rest and prepare.

Prievidza opened with second Europe Cup stage with a surprising win away over Gravelines but they are clearly in decline. They lost to Bnei by 24, to Lukoil by 15, to Steaua by 11 and Antwerp by 17. They lost to Demir 75-101 home. In the Slovakian championship, the last time they played was on Monday when they lost to Rieker by 79-87. This is their third meeting in five days and have already recorded 5 defeats in the domestic championship.

The home team have a much greater quality. Demir beat Prievidza away by 26 points and I think it would be very surprising if they didn't win by at least as many points today. They want as big a point difference as possible. Getting that point difference will be tougher against Gravelines next week. They beat them in overtime in France.