Olympiacos-Real Madrid: huge game to kick off tough week
Our team have won their last four in a row - tonight, they head to the notorious Greek court, before facing Maccabi on Thursday and UCAM Murcia on Sunday (8:15 pm CET).
Following four wins on the bounce at the WiZink Center, Real Madrid now face an extremely demanding week, with three games on the road inside six days. It all begins tonight against Olympiacos, at one of Europe's most challenging courts. The aim is none other than to continue the winning ways and extend the positive run at the end of October.
As the games go by, Chus Mateo's return to their natural place in the EuroLeague - towards the top of the table. They now sit third, just a single win off the summit, where they will be hoping to mount a challenge soon. The team comes into the clash off the back of wins over Panathinaikos and Crvena zvezda, plus Bàsquet Girona and Baxi Manresa. By contrast, Olympiacos have dropped to eleventh (one win fewer than the madridistas) having lost on both away trips to Anadolu Efes and Bayern Munich.
Madrid are displaying an unbelievable level in defense. They have conceded an average of 66.6 points across the last three games. Concentration levels and bringing down the turnover numbers will once again be key if they're to pick up another win. Our boys also boast a well-stocked offense, reflected in this recent run, as Rathan-Mayes, Hezonja, Musa and Ndiaye have all shared the spoils as top point-scorers, not to mention Campazzo and Tavares. The point guard is currently the competition's highest-rated player, with a PIR average of 25.5, while the center is averaging 17.6.
Up the other end is an outfit who have strengthened wisely with two former NBA stars in Vezenkov and Fournier, alongside some of Europe's best in Dorsey and Vildoza. Those names are added to the likes of Peters, Williams-Goss, Papanikolau, Milutinov and company. They are sure to be a physical opponent, whose strength lies in their togetherness, and of course backed by the ever vociferous Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus.
100% record since Llull's impossible shot
This will be the 41st time the two teams cross paths in the EuroLeague, with a head-to-head that favours our boys by 23 to 17. Since the Kaunas final back in 2023, when Llull hit the historic basket that clinched La Undécima, Madrid have won every game against Olympiacos - three last season. Two came in the Regular Season, the third in the semifinals in Berlin. Next up, Maccabi (Thursday, 8:05pm CET) and then UCAM Murcia (Sunday, 6:30 pm CET).