The PalaBubani was packed with 1500 spectators while thousands of fans without tickets watched the game live on television either at home or in their local sports bar.

Inside the arena, the atmosphere was just right for a European cup final, the first ever in the history of Faenza, Italy’s oldest club.

Anete Jekabsone-Zogota led the way for Dynamo Moscow as the Russians took a commanding lead in their EuroCup Women final against Faenza.

The Latvian international, who joined the team last summer from Bourges, scored 18 points and dished out eight assists as Dynamo prevailed 74-61 in  Italy.

Simona Ballardini, the hero of Germano Zama Faenza's EuroCup Women semi-final win over Dynamo Moscow Region, says the Italian side will do everything in their power to beat favourites Dynamo Moscow in game one of the final on Wednesday.

Ballardini scored 26 points in the second leg of the semi-final to help secure a 125-116 aggregate victory for Faenza, but knows their opponents in the final will be a tougher proposition.