Olympiacos-Panathinaikos: Streak and prestige come in the middle

The derby of the ages in the SEF between Olympiakos and Panathinaikos (9:30 p.m., Novasports Prime, News Bulletin 247, www.sportfm.gr) attracts attention for its 32nd matchday Euroleague. A match with one-sided scoring interest, however the prestige comes in the middle since we are talking about the biggest match in Greece.

Rating interest as o Olympic he is looking for another pink card that will bring him closer to the first place of the regular season, having already secured home advantage.

In addition, there is also the winning streak of the Piraeus, who count twelve consecutive victories against the “greens” (12-0), who naturally want to put an end to it. Of course, a victory in a derby like this plays a role in prestige and can give psychology to the “clover” ahead of the championship playoffs.

THE Olympic comes from the emphatic 81-55 on her Villerban and has been uploaded to 22-9, remaining at the top of the standings. He has a record at home 12-3 and counts 9 consecutive victories, with the last one in SEF coming on December 22, 2022 by Red Star. His team Giorgos Bartzokas boasts the third best offense and top defense in the Euroleaguewhile she is first in assists, steals and accurate two-pointers.

“Psychology, confidence and all that doesn’t play a role. The momentum is there right now. Panathinaikos plays without pressure and has nothing to lose, only to win. We have to lose if we lose the game, so what counts is the approach with respect to the opponent, competitively being ready. They are a group that we value and respect. We don’t think we’re going to take the game without trying.”said among others Bartzokas in his statements.

On his part, Panathinaikos returned to winning ways last Tuesday by winning 86-76 her Bayern Munich to go up to 11-20. He does not have a European target in a bad season and is looking ahead to the derby first and then the league. Away from home he has with her Bayern the worst harvest since it counts only 3 wins but also 12 losses. In the most recent match, of course, outside of Greece, he managed to get the pink match sheet in Astroball against Villerban (82-86).

“It’s clear that my team has to be very strong in defense. They must be very focused. I’ve said it many times. The best and strongest point of Olympiakos is not the plays it executes but the way it manages the situation after the plays. So we have to be focused on defense for 24″, that’s very important. The second part is that he has found ways, with his defense and turnovers, to trouble all teams. We have to hit the right spot there as well point, with the right options so that we don’t give Olympiakos easy baskets”emphasized Serelis.

In pure racing, o Mustafa Fal overcame the virus that was bothering him and will play normally unlike the recent game with Villeurbanne, while the chances of him catching Isaiah Canaan who is in the US for the birth of his child is not on his side. At the same time, definitively out for Panathinaikos are the Mateus Ponitka, Nate Walters and extremely doubtful is the Panagiotis Kalaitzakis. On the contrary, Mr Dimitris Agravanis he will be available and for the first time he will compete with the “clover” against Olympiakos.

The “red and white” have announced a sell-out for almost three weeks. Tradition is in favor of Piraeus in the Euroleague, having 15 wins against 7 of the “greens”, while with Olympiakos at home, the record is 7-2.

The refereeing trio appointed by the organizing authority consists of Ilia Belosevic, Miguel Angel Perez, Mendy Difala.