Heavyweights collide at Palau Blaugrana as FC Barcelona welcomes Olympiacos Piraeus, boosted by the knowledge of already having beaten the Greek team twice this season: 86-78 at home and 68-77 in Greece.
Georgios Bartzokas: "There's no doubt about the difficulty of our mission."
2023-24
3 Minute de lecture
The Reds made the stronger finish to the regular season, winning 10 of their last 11 games, and head coach Georgios Bartzokas has been further strengthened by the return of towering center Nikola Milutinov after nearly three months out injured. His physical presence will be important against the outstanding Barca big-man duo of Jan Vesely and Willy Hernangomez, who combined for an average of 24 points and 9.3 rebounds during the regular season.
Roger Grimau, Barcelona head coach
"I am astisfied with the way we arrived here. I think we are ready to compete and we earned the right to have the home-court advantage. I hope that the Palau Blaugrana is decisive in this series. Olympiacos is a solid team playing five-on-five, with athletic players who collapse the paint. All the Olympiacos players are very mobile and they pass the ball really well. They key will be having patience in the transition game. We have prepared the games counting on a full Olympiacos roster."
Georgios Bartzokas, Olympiacos Piraeus head coach
"There's no doubt about the difficulty of our mission. However, we are only focusing on the first game and not on the series. Papanikolaou had a very high fever and had to stay behind. Anyone who knows about Olympiacos, they know his presence is significant and hence his absence is going to be significant as well. Thankfully, we have enough players this year to cover for the things he does on the floor. Barcelona is a very experienced team, with a very strong home court. I read that they have the strongest home court in the Euroleague. That means that to win there we must really play good games. Both as a team, but also the players as individuals have to perform well. Our plan needs to be effective. I think that rebounds always play a very important role. The possessions... Math is really important in situations like that. We'll try to lower their percentages. We definitely play good on defense, but we must not allow them extra possessions, avoid turnovers. If we control the game in that regard, I think we have have a real chance at winning."
Willy Hernangomez, Barcelona player
"Olympiacos has great inside players, they are tough and aggressive. I am happy that we get to have the home-court advantage because this will be a very tough series. Yes, we beat Olympiacos twice this season, but that's in the past and I don't think we should pay attention to that. We should focus on the current state of their team."
Thomas Walkup, Olympiacos Piraeus player
"Our defense must be up to par. We must not allow them to run. They are a talented team, they know how to play, they've been together for years. If we do that, then we'll have taken a step in the right direction. Papanikolaou's absence is significant. He's our leader; it's important. Some of the guys need to step up. That's what we've been doing as a team. There's no other choice. He's going to be with us soon, but for now, we have to cover for him."
Game Videos
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f1af31c4-10a0-427c-8dcb-f0a5a50880a2.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens | 3rd Place Game Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/tacf1HLLQtM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Mic'd Up: Alpha Diallo and Thomas Walkup | 2025 EuroLeague Semifinals
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/027a4ab4-b48f-4c27-bca9-abffed80979f.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-AS Monaco | Semifinal Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:15
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/49c234bc-bca9-48c1-a004-b8d02e01e4d4.jpg?crop=652%3A367%3Anowe%3A391%3A44]()
Fall with a monster slam! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/PpOjSJnWmvA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
At the Final Four: Saben Lee, Olympiacos Piraeus
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ryEfF4EJqkA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Playoffs MVP Sasha Vezenkov joins the pre-Final Four EuroLeague & Friends podcast
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c12a0edd-d88c-4409-b77c-e8d4d43c31a7.jpg]()
AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | Playoffs Game 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/02/teigg4iwfstiEoc1xSGup2QvvBoj6pC2-1746222337652.jpg]()
Jabari Parker: 'The Barcelona fans are amazing'
- 00:54
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/02/8j6gSPRASBZ7p9KkYXbNvC1HZzMx0kxK-1746222397140.jpg]()
Youssoupha Fall: 'We will keep that same energy'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/a808e080-40c9-4d61-85df-3a62ecb274f5.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-AS Monaco | Playoffs Game 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:07
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/0b452ede-7143-4aab-8066-e61e3329910b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A126%3A78]()
Satoransky's huge block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:23
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/01/SxEAvJZJPAcuHuIDjXklqXUknL8t9Oba-1746137116043.jpg]()
Kostas Papanikolaou: 'We want to go all the way'
- 01:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/01/zHBJvlKzb2m9lGfFIqkhR4lwzf4Z9Cmm-1746137035393.jpg]()
Evan Fournier: 'We're getting closer to our goal'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/0107f761-08f1-4658-838b-5db9dd64bb37.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:29
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/01/TLKeZEDtelI1kInX2lZ8Ltuiywdtx3Qg-1746134080649.jpg]()
Vezenkov hits a crucial three! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/7bba8651-fe4d-4b4d-a531-2f1415dda978.jpg?crop=1178%3A663%3Anowe%3A79%3A40]()
Hezonja dunks off the baseline! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/b6439d8e-2a59-44aa-93e6-8213eac37803.jpg?crop=1150%3A646%3Anowe%3A48%3A112]()
Peters’s dunk on the break! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:05
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/63a7677d-788f-437c-9955-a802c20e27cf.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A155%3A57]()
Fall monster dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:48
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/30/0cVxt3sTClR8Cqw566dBvpWKU8vl0qB7-1746046454067.jpg]()
Willy Hernangomez: 'Friday, we have another big opportunity'
- 00:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/30/WYQYNZQ9TT8ub9H86O0N7q6hbRqp3B70-1746046418026.jpg]()
Kevin Punter: 'It was a must-win for us'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ixVNKzRorFI/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-AS Monaco | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/8515ffc1-6aa8-487f-bc3d-dd7708ae73c3.jpg?crop=696%3A391%3Anowe%3A356%3A79]()
Parker seals the outcome! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6a9761a4-8f4b-4861-84da-f0114be63bc6.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A49%3A53]()
Parker's huge buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c02762d4-ef93-4745-aded-d8ae110a639a.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A123%3A0]()
Brizuela finds Parra! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6c0ed04a-20cd-4422-a45b-fea872646363.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:23
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/a4c40c8e-7871-4137-a12c-4e2958af9abe.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A237%3A47]()
Wright rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/67ba7453-4024-4a4f-811e-364a76f3bba2.jpg?crop=695%3A391%3Anowe%3A83%3A88]()
Lee’s two-handed slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/25/2dIPkamxk4ZL2LCk9I6VthTOjLOPhRgz-1745619475025.jpg]()
Nikola Milutinov: 'We know Real Madrid is capable of coming back from 0-2'
- 00:31
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/25/2ZzzVVJFXYIc2cH5wsDNsyOnnmc7rW14-1745619260904.jpg]()
Sasha Vezenkov: 'We go to finish the series on Tuesday'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e5f275e4-956d-49ff-856d-8257cd8c9822.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c434196f-2c3b-4a3c-9e75-9bb1358ab5db.jpg]()
AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/046d3ac3-d7dd-4fe6-86f6-b7872e60304e.jpg?crop=1224%3A688%3Anowe%3A100%3A46]()
Milutinov rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/8632bfd1-6799-43a7-b3db-cc24611617c0.jpg?crop=1340%3A753%3Anowe%3A5%3A51]()
Parker flushes on Barca fast break! Motorola Magic Moment,
- 00:50
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/23/zqwPRfY6SWcNFRnhI4n8sSOh3pdxJMQ5-1745442546967.jpg]()
Nikola Milutinov: 'We have to stay humble'
- 00:45
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/23/pxRyY7TksQyy34xQCQuW4qV0SuoDdZvH-1745442522890.jpg]()
Sasha Vezenkov: 'Real Madrid will come ready to play in Game 2'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/65dc624a-c107-4a2f-a63e-3660148417f3.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:26
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/23/MNpEVTF7XBbmypZF8BcgiUtdNzpQNtXA-1745442527164.jpg]()
Tarpey's big block! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/a858182f-8b6e-4c92-bdf3-f9b0e8f202cc.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A118%3A52]()
McKissic skies for a ferocious slam! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/9UbmSTdkv9A/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Follow the Monaco-Barcelona post-game press conference
- 00:58
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/23/01Vb0KNent3LNoG2l7eoYqnJZ2Qn45Kr-1745438152702.jpg]()
Daniel Theis: 'Matthew Strazel sets the tone for our defense'
- 00:55
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/23/6OXuS7cMklN446eP9hQKXFHJSR9vod3x-1745438098489.jpg]()
Elie Okobo: 'We showed great character today'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/52666067-1016-45a4-b5ff-200e06f4cb13.jpg]()
AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/2b027fe5-9d41-46ca-ae46-86891b1bac56.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A142%3A121]()
Fall detonates the dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/56b9db61-26a3-416c-b245-d3957f567828.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A136%3A97]()
Milutinov rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/60182b3f-81cd-47cd-bf88-3c401e48102f.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A103%3A122]()
Theis throws it down! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5571b7d4-0389-4409-bce4-ed85a86f595d.jpg?crop=1236%3A695%3Anowe%3A57%3A40]()
James turns defense into offense! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/3e9c96b9-823b-4571-94d2-2eddf8da1da5.jpeg?crop=1029%3A579%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Xavi Pascual, Boniface N'Dong remember 2010 title triumph on The Crossover
- 00:45
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/11/w1rvNUY5pgEG6l2TwRnClu7NljJR7ZSB-1744413967189.jpg]()
Kevin Punter: 'True testament of us being a team'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f20bc237-7edd-4cdd-b811-d7153da3cd6a.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/034a6c98-4fbe-48d6-bdd1-ddfdd7d0814b.jpg?crop=1277%3A718%3Anowe%3A0%3A65]()
Willy posterizes Toko! Motorola Magic Moment
