Olympiacos, Panathinaikos must run EuroLeague gauntlet
Both Olympiacos and Panathinaikos have a difficult run-in of fixtures as the push for the EuroLeague playoffs intensifies.
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With six rounds of action remaining in the EuroLeague regular season, the postseason is far from a guarantee for both of Greece’s representatives.
Panathinaikos currently sit sixth in the standings and are in playoff position but after four-straight losses and just one win in their last seven outings the Trifylli appear to be losing their grip on the playoffs.
In Piraeus, Olympiacos are looking to make a late push for the postseason after a trying season in the port city. The Erythrolefki have gained ground in the chase for the eighth in recent weeks, but a defeat to league leaders Anadolu Efes last week put things in perspective for Georgios Bartzokas’ men.
The standings are a familiar picture for Greek basketball fans as it was as a similar situation last season with Olympiacos in playoff position while Panathinaikos were on the outside looking in. Olympiacos would go on to concede their spot in the playoffs in the final few weeks of the season while Panathinaikos managed to grab one of the final playoff spots.
Fans of both clubs will be hoping that this season won’t follow last year’s script as the Trifylli look to end their freefall in the standings and Olympiacos look for some consistency in the stretch run.
What complicates things for both sides, however, is that one slip-up down the stretch could come costly as a total of 10 teams remain alive in the race for the final three playoff spots.
EuroLeague Standings
1. Anadolu Efes* 23-4
2. Real Madrid* 22-6
3. Barcelona* 22-6
4. CSKA Moscow* 19-9
5. Maccabi Tel Aviv* 19-9
6. Panathinaikos 14-14
7. Khimki 13-15
8. Fenerbahce 13-15
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9. Zalgiris Kaunas 12-16
10. Valencia 12-16
11. Olympiacos 12-16
12. Armani Exchange Milan 12-16
13. Baskonia 12-16
14. Crvena Zvezda 11-17
15. ASVEL Villeurbanne 10-18
16. ALBA Berlin 9-19
17. Bayern Munich 8-20
18. Zenit 8-20
* denotes already qualified.
PANATHINAIKOS: TIME TO PRESS THE RESET BUTTON
For Panathinaikos, the road to the playoffs will depend heavily on the club’s ability to reset after their worst run of the season. The Athenians will spend the majority of the final six rounds of action away from home with trips to Turkey (twice), Germany, and Spain lined up for the final few weeks of the season. While Panathinaikos cannot afford any further slip-ups, perhaps one of the most pivotal games will come this week when Panathinaikos face fellow strugglers Fenerbahce in Turkey on Friday (13/3).
Clashes with the likes of ALBA Berlin and Baskonia could be seen as more manageable fixtures with both sides well out of the race for the playoffs, though the home clash with Khimki Moscow Region is another important matchup down the stretch.
Perhaps Panathinaikos’ toughest games will come against the likes of already-qualified sides like Anadolu Efes and Maccabi Tel Aviv as both sides will be keen to secure a favourable playoff spot.
Panathinaikos’ remaining schedule
13/3 Fenerbahce- Panathinaikos
19/3 ALBA Berlin - Panathinaikos
25/3 Panathinaikos - Khimki Moscow Region
27/3 Anadolu Efes - Panathinaikos
3/4 Panathinaikos - Maccabi Tel Aviv
10/4 Baskonia - Panathinaikos
OLYMPIACOS: ONE FINAL PUSH
Olympiacos’ turbulent season started with a shock defeat in France, a loss that ultimately cost David Blatt his job. A rocky campaign for the Erythrolefki ultimately led to the return of Georgios Bartzokas as head coach, and the Greek bench boss has slowly put the Piraeus outfit back on track in recent weeks.
Olympiacos are scheduled to face Armani Exchange Milan in Italy this Thursday, but with Italy under a nationwide quarantine due to the coronavirus the chances the game still goes ahead as planned are slim. Olympiacos requested for the game to be moved to a neutral location, though no action has been taken by EuroLeague Basketball as of yet.
While Olympiacos are rightfully preoccupied with their clash with Milan, the Erythrolefki will also face stern opposition in the form of Real Madrid and Crvena Zvzeda next week in what could be an empty Peace and Friendship Stadium, also due to the coronavirus.
A trip to Russia to face Khimki could prove pivotal for the Erythrolefki as the Russians currently hold a one-game edge on their Greek counterparts, a similar story for the clash with Fenerhabce just one week later.
A visit from Barcelona on the final day of season might be a blessing and curse. Barcelona have already clinched a spot in the playoffs, but with the Catalan giants in a dead heat with rivals Real Madrid, Barcelona could be extremely motivated for the final round of action.
Olympiacos’ remaining schedule
12/3 Armani Exchange Milan - Olympiacos
20/3 Olympiacos - Real Madrid
24/3 Olympiacos - Crvena Zvezda
27/3 Khimki Moscow Region - Olympiacos
2/4 Fenerbahce - Olympiacos
9/4 Olympiacos - Barcelona
