Olympiacos-Panathinaikos AKTOR: Key derby of the “eternal” against the backdrop of the Euroleague four

Derby “eternal” act… sixth for this season!

Olympiacos and Panathinaikos AKTOR face off tonight (7:45 p.m., Novasports Prime, News Bulletin 247, sport-fm.gr) at SEF for the 29th matchday of the Euroleague, in a game that is considered pivotal in the efforts made by the two teams to finish the regular season being in the top four of the standings, which means home advantage in the playoffs.

In fifth place with a record 17-11 the hosts, “run” five game winning streak against Alba (101-87), Bayern Munich (72-76), Valencia (65-78), Zalgiris (76-95) and Virtus Bologna (74-69), with their last loss in the Euroleague being at home champion Real Madrid, on the 25th of last January.

Last week the “red and whites” struggled, but stepped on the gas in the fourth quarter, when they got double-digit differences, winning with the final 74-69, having Papanikolaou (16 points, 8 rebounds), Kanaan (12 points) and Fal ( 11 points, 6 rebounds), while last Saturday (9/3) they comfortably overcame (84-63) the obstacle of Lavrio for the 20th matchday of the Stoiximan Basket League.

Regarding the racing plans of Giorgos Bartzokas, the Williams-Goss and Lorentzakis have overcome the injuries that plagued them and have returned to the regular training schedule, while the dozen will also include Walkupalthough he is not completely well after the sprain he suffered.

“A game of particular gravity, as everyone obviously understands. Mainly because we are getting close to the end of the regular season, we had and have a very difficult schedule, with teams that have goals, to get to be with a good chance for the playoffs. We had, in my opinion, three very big wins, in Munich, Valencia and Kaunas, we also got Bologna here, which is a very difficult team, without Walkup. So now, again with injury problems, we have to take on another team that is above us in the standings. A very good team, without a doubt, its position proves it. Of course, it goes without saying that the people there have done a very good job. So it will be another difficult game for us, demanding, without our preparation conditions being the best, I mean with the injured. But we are in a good situation, we believe we have a serious chance to win”the Olympiakos coach said, among other things, ahead of the big derby.

On the other hand, Mr Panathinaikos AKTOR is in third place in the standings with a record 18-10, riding a three-game winning streak against Fenerbahce (74-63), Real Madrid (86-97) and Villerban (85-67). In good… moon the “greens”, seem to be finding a rhythm at a very critical point of the season and at the moment they seem to have the first say in terms of the battle of the four.

Last Sunday (10/3) they passed comfortably (64-87) from the home of Karditsa, having Lesor (16 points, 8 rebounds) and Mitoglou (15 points, 7 rebounds) as the leaders, while Ergin Ataman will not be in the his disposition for tonight’s injured derby Luka Vildosa and Costa Antetokounmpo.

“We still have six games, tomorrow is the first and for us it is very important to win. I believe if we beat 5 of them we will be in the top four. Every game will be difficult, we have a difficult schedule and the derby with Olympiakos is one of the most difficult games for us. Olympiacos is a very good team, they play very nice basketball, they have a very good mentality and nobody wins easily here. It will be a very important match for both teams, we have just one point difference. It will be important, not only for the top four, but also for a place in the top six and direct qualification to the playoffs. We will be ready”said the coach of Panathinaikos, with Nan to add: “It will be a match where physical condition and strength will play a big role. It is the battle of Greece, there is great rivalry and we must be serious to win”.

Tonight will be the sixth derby of the “eternals” this season, with Olympiakos having three wins, against Panathinaikos’ two. The “red and white” prevailed with an impressive 75-51 in their first meeting last September, in the Super Cup final, while they also celebrated in the first round matchup, in the premiere of this year’s Euroleague (88-78 in overtime after 74-74 of regular time), but also in the final of the Cup (69-58). On the other hand, the “greens” were the ones who celebrated in the two matches for the Basket League (66-54 in SEF and 85-80 in OAKA).

The referees of tonight’s match will be Sreten Radovic (Croatian), Carlos Peruga (Spain) and Uros Nikolics (Serbia).