Olympiacos vs Real Madrid

Olympiacos cruised past Real Madrid in Game 1 of the EuroLeague quarterfinals, taking control early and never looking back. Just minutes into the first quarter, they had already built a double-digit lead that they maintained throughout the game. They forced Los Blancos into a high number of turnovers and completely neutralized any one-on-one offensive efforts. By the time the visitors started finding cleaner looks from beyond the arc, Olympiacos’ lead was too large to threaten. If Georgios Bartzokas’ squad can replicate that same defensive intensity on Friday, they’ll give themselves a strong chance to go up 2-0 in the series.

Sasha Vezenkov once again led the way with 23 points and seven rebounds. Coach Bartzokas emphasized that his superstar wasn’t fazed by Kendrick Nunn being named MVP, noting that Vezenkov doesn’t need individual awards to validate his impact. Evan Fournier played one of his more measured games, avoiding unnecessary three-point attempts, while Nikola Milutinov looked composed and purposeful in the paint. Alec Peters also stepped up with a couple of key three-pointers, and overall, Olympiacos lived up to their regular-season dominance with a statement win to open the series.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, must look to the first quarter as the root of their problems. They trailed by as much as 17 points on two occasions during that stretch, a hole that’s almost impossible to climb out of in Piraeus at this stage of the season. Making a break in the Peace and Friendship Stadium requires 40 minutes of consistent, high-level basketball, and the reigning Spanish champions never came close to achieving that. Frustration bubbled over both on and off the court, with Chus Mateo ejected early in the second half after receiving his second technical foul. Several players also showed visible signs of nerves, which they’ll need to keep in check on Friday.

A key factor for Real Madrid will be Walter Tavares avoiding foul trouble. Just as he did in the play-in game against Paris, he picked up his second foul early in the first quarter and didn’t return until after halftime. Los Blancos simply can’t afford to play such crucial games without their most impactful player for extended periods. Dzanan Musa and Mario Hezonja hit some shots late, but by then the game was already slipping away. Sergio Llull had a solid showing individually, but it mattered little in a double-digit defeat. The team will need more defensive grit and smarter offensive decisions if they want to avoid heading back to Spain down 0-2.