Kazan will host WINLINE Game of the Week between UNICS and CSKA on Saturday.
Place: Russia, Kazan, Basket Hale
Time: November 15, 2025, 14:30 (Moscow time)
Broadcasts: VK Video, League website
Rivalry
In last season CSKA dominated UNICS, winning 71:55 and 97:86 in Moscow and 80:73 in Kazan. The Kazan team won 4th game – 86:78. In the Playoffs, CSKA was even more ruthless. Never in the history of the VTB United League had Semifinals ended with blowout. The series between CSKA and UNICS was the exception – 4-0.
At the end of October, CSKA handed UNICS another loss – 86:75. The Kazan team started the new season with 6 consecutive wins, but lost the status of the only undefeated team in the League. That loss remains the only one for the Kazan team in th season.
The rivalry history in League is 38-13, CSKA leads. In the history of all tournaments, the teams have played 125 times (97-28, the Moscow team leads). 9 of the last 10 head-to-heads ended with CSKA win.
Situation
UNICS (8-1) and CSKA (9-1) managed to pull away from competitors right from the start of the regular season and are currently fighting for first place. Their closest pursuer Lokomotiv Kuban has 7-3 record.
In the autumn stage of the season, it is the teams from Kazan and Moscow that look like the most likely contenders for the regular season title. The winner of this week’s match will be in first place in the standings for at least four days.
Series
In 2022, the Kazan team started with a record-breaking series of 8 consecutive wins, but CSKA prevented Velimir Perasovic team from repeating this achievement on October 25. On Saturday, the Moscow team will have to defend the streak – CSKA arrived in Kazan with 8 consecutive wins. This is the League best right now. After the loss in Moscow, UNICS managed to win 2 games.
Another powerful streak ahead – UNICS has 13 home wins in the regular season. The last loss at home was on December 1 last year against Lokomotiv Kuban (75:87). At the same time, CSKA arrived in Kazan as the best road team of the current season (5-1), with the only loss in Perm.
Old-new friends
Former CSKA player Alexey Shved made his debut for UNICS in the last round, having recently signed a 2-month contract with the team. He had a very successful game against Samara, scoring 11 points, 11 assists and 2 rebounds in 21 minutes. If the best scoring player in League history continues against CSKA, it will be a strong argument for the Kazan team management to keep the star veteran on the roster for a longer period.
Hidden threat
Shved’s participation certainly adds extra intrigue to the Game of the Week. CSKA’s roster also has players who are definitely worth watching separately. One of Melo Trimble’s main strengths is his ability to step up at the right moment. In a recent game against UNICS, the MVP of last 2 Playoffs had only 1 game with 20+ points – 25 points and 6 assists. 17 + 9 and 32 eff. points in the tense game against Avtodor allowed the guard to make it into the Team of the Week.
Injuries
The Kazan team will most likely be without injured C.J. Bryce, Paris Lee and Dyshawn Pierre.
Numbers
UNICS has the most efficient player in the League – October MVP Marcus Bingham averages 22.9 eff. points.
The 11 best players of the season in average +/- represent UNICS and CSKA. The League leaders are Paris Lee (+17.0), Andrey Lopatin (+14.7) and Melo Trimble (+12.1).
CSKA leads the season in average scoring (89.7 points), with UNICS at 2nd place (88.3).
CSKA leads the League in three-point shooting percentage – 40.7%.
UNICS is in 1st place in assists with 22.3, while CSKA is in the Top 3 (20.6).
