Panathinaikos vs Olympiacos

Panathinaikos enjoyed a remarkable season in the Greek league, remaining undefeated and entering the final series as clear favorites. However, their overall success is tempered by their EuroLeague Final Four setback, where they fell to Fenerbahce in the semifinals and then lost to Olympiacos in the third-place game.

This has left them in a challenging mental state heading into the finals. Still, the intensity of these derby matches is likely to ignite their drive, and Panathinaikos is expected to leave everything on the court.

The Athens squad has plenty to reflect on with regret. Despite bolstering an already elite roster that previously conquered Europe, they couldn’t retain their EuroLeague title. They appeared to underestimate26/05/2025 underestimate Fenerbahce, showing a lack of defensive intensity.

A pivotal moment came when Kendrick Nunn picked up his fifth foul early in the fourth quarter, leaving Cedi Osman as one of the few standout performers. The Olympiacos game allowed some players to rest while others, like Mathias Lessort (12 points), regained form, with Omer Yurtseven leading the scoring with 23 points.

Olympiacos, meanwhile, had a less impressive season. Outshone by their arch-rivals in the Greek league, they pinned their hopes on the EuroLeague. Expectations were high for a final appearance in Abu Dhabi against Monaco, but a dismal offensive performance—scoring just 68 points—resulted in a major letdown for fans. They salvaged some pride by defeating Panathinaikos in the third-place match, giving them momentum heading into the finals.

The loss to Monaco may trigger significant changes for Olympiacos this summer. Most players underperformed, with Evan Fournier being the exception, scoring 31 points in a valiant effort to reach the final. Sasha Vezenkov, however, struggled, managing only seven points against Monaco, a far cry from his usual form, contributing to the team’s double-digit defeat. He bounced back with 23 points against Panathinaikos, where Alec Peters shone with 32 points and seven rebounds.