“The Final Four is a special event, where basically one game decides the season. You know, anyone can have a bad day,” he said before adding:

”I don’t see any big favorites in this year’s Final Four. Everyone can win it. There will be even match-ups and it’s gonna be details that will decide the champion.”

This season hasn't been all plain sailing for the reigning champions. They lost two matches at home, while suffering their heaviest defeat in ten years at Siena.

The Armymen got their act together in the quarter-final series against Partizan Belgrade – winning through to the final four without dropping a game.

One man CSKA will know very well in their clash-up against Barcelona is David Anderson. The Australian played for the Muscovites for four seasons, winning two Euroleague titles. He moved to Barcelona at the start of this season, and will be looking to put one over his old team mates.

It is sure to be a very tight match up between two sides, which have deep rosters, but perhaps CSKA's extra experience and excellent defence may just prove to be crucial in the end.