Bold predictions: Real Madrid vs. Olympiacos

As they've done all season, EuroLeague.net staff offers these bold predictions for the second semifinal on Friday between Real Madrid and Olympiacos Piraeus.

Real Madrid will show why it has dominated all season

by Javier Gancedo

Let's face it: Real Madrid started the season with a 10-0 record, it was the first team to qualify to the playoffs and also the first to punch its playoffs tickets. It reached the Final Four with 30 victories, two of them against Olympiacos, in 37 games. Olympiacos has been unlucky in each of its last two Final Four appearances, losing both times at the buzzer. This time, my prediction is that it will not be that close. Real has the experience and the confidence, and has naturally embraced its role as favorite, knowing that if it wants to win again, it needs to put together 40 minutes full of focus and intensity, being loyal to what went well throughout the season. It is the end of an era: Rudy Fernandez will leave the team and it is a final opportunity to win another big title together. I believe Los Blancos will be fighting for the title on Sunday. My pick: Real.

Olympiacos, because defense wins championships

by Frankie Sachs

For my money, this game is the championship game. Barring an injury or something else throwing a monkey wrench into things, the team that wins this game will be the one I pick to take the crown on Sunday. Which team will that be? That's the question. It's easy to make the case for either of them. I will pick Olympiacos for several reasons. I think the Reds have the options in the frontcourt with Nikola Milutinov, Moustapha Fall, Moses Wright and Filip Petrusev to make things difficult for Los Blancos's star centers. Olympiacos should be hungry and steeled after losing at the buzzer in the Final Four two years running. And, as they say, "defense wins championships." My pick: Olympiacos.

Real Madrid looking to join an exclusive club

by Geoff Gillingham

Just three teams have won back-to-back EuroLeague titles this century, but I think Real Madrid will give itself a good shot to make it four by knocking off Olympiacos. Chus Mateo's squad already know what it takes to succeed at the Final Four, having gone all the way last year, while Georgios Bartzokas's men must surely still have nightmares about Sergio Llull's game-winning shot in last season's championship game. Olympiacos certainly has what it takes to beat Real, but I think Los Blancos' experience in these moments will end up seeing them reach another final. My pick: Real Madrid.

The Reds are peaking at the right time

by Frank Lawlor

Much is legitimately made of Real Madrid's position as favorite. But a year ago, Los Blancos were a miss or a make – Sergio Llull's rainbow that fell or Kostas Sloukas's runner that didn't – from not defending anything right now. And in 2024, the reigning champs are 14-6 to the Reds' 16-6, so this season's dominance by Real was front-loaded. Olympiacos beat FC Barcelona decisively in the playoffs despite having a fully healthy lineup only late in that series, which the Reds won by scoring 92 points in Game 4 and holding Barca to 59 in Game 5 away. In other words, this Olympiacos team can win both ways, too. Meanwhile, Real lost an important glue guy when Gabriel Deck was injured after the playoffs. All respect to the champs, but I think that if Olympiacos can rebound, especially on offense, thereby pumping the breaks a bit on Real point guard Facundo Campazzo, they can win this game. And I think they will. My pick: Olympiacos.

Real gets a step closer to title defense

by Igor Petrinovic

It's the EuroLeague's best offense against the best defense, but I do not think this game will turn into a battle of those two strengths. Olympiacos will be energetic, it will be focused and it will be playing behind an army of its fans. The Reds will also have a bit of revenge on their agenda in this rematch of last year's championship game. But I think, just like last year, Real Madrid will come out on top. Real's defense is very underrated, and this team filled with EuroLeague winners is not afraid of any scenario, even if it involves getting into a low-scoring affair against the Reds. So, I pick the defending champs to keep their title defense going. My pick: Real Madrid