Sasha Vezenkov finished with team highs in points (18), rebounds (9) and assists (5) as Olympiacos BC beat Panathinaikos BC, and his performance may have just wrapped up the EuroLeague MVP trophy for him.

Sasha Vezenkov responded to MVP debate with complete display in Greek derby

[Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) did a bit of everything on the court [against Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-holds-off-panathinaikos-to-claim-the-greek-derby-76-74/) on Friday night. 

Having finished with team highs in points (18), rebounds (9) and assists (5), the [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) forward's fingerprints were all over the Reds' 76-74 derby victory at the Peace and Friendship Stadium.

The performances of Vezenkov and [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) so far this season have sparked a debate about which player should clinch the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP award. Yet, Vezenkov’s statement outing against Nunn’s Panathinaikos may have just put an end to the discussion.

With five games to go in the regular season, Vezenkov has helped the league leader [become the first team to clinch a top-six spot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-is-the-first-team-to-reach-the-playoffs/). The 29-year-old forward averages 20.0 points, second only to Nunn's 20.1 PPG, as well as 6.3 rebounds and a league-best 24.5 PIR. In his previous MVP campaign in 2022-23, he was the top scorer of the competition with 17.2 points per game while ranking second in rebounds (6.8) and recording a league-high PIR of 21.2.

With this victory, Olympiacos claimed the head-to-head advantage over Panathinaikos by beating its fierce rival for the eighth game in a row. Some would argue that this victory was the perfect way to avenge Olympiacos’s loss the last time these two teams met, which came in the Greek Cup final in February. But Vezenkov is locked in on the Reds' main objective and has his eyes set on the EuroLeague championship.

“No, no, no,” Vezenkov stressed to EuroLeague TV when asked if this victory serves as revenge for the Greek Cup final defeat. “Because we want titles. We don’t want wins. It’s very important that we won against Panathinaikos, but our goal in this team is to go until the end. We have to be focused, be hungry, be together and go get it.”

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Big W and big celebration for <a href="https://twitter.com/olympiacosbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@olympiacosbc</a> 🔴⚪️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RivalrySeries?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RivalrySeries</a> <a href="https://t.co/8ddIMRyGHU">pic.twitter.com/8ddIMRyGHU</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1900659342543585667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Having scored in double digits in all 27 of his appearances this season, Vezenkov has demonstrated time and time again that he is one of the best all-around scorers on the continent. But on Friday, he also showed that he can be decisive in other aspects of the game by protecting the boards on defense and distributing the ball on the offensive end when needed.

His last MVP season was followed by a one-year spell in the NBA. On his return, Vezenkov is proving that his performance in the 2022-23 term was no one-off. And he’s doing so in style – by putting together another MVP-caliber campaign.

Game News

The Olympiacos forward recorded 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in the win over Panathinaikos

Olympiacos Piraeus v Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (2025-03-14T19:15:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona took a big step towards securing a postseason berth in the EuroLeague after rallying from a 10-point deficit to beat KK Partizan 87-80, as Kevin Punter returned from injury to haunt his former club.

Barcelona roars back to sink Partizan, 87-80

FC Barcelona took a big step towards securing a postseason berth in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague after rallying from a 10-point deficit to beat Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade 87-80, as Kevin Punter returned from injury to haunt his former club.

The result means Barcelona improved its record to 16-13 and moved up to sixth while Partizan dropped to 15-14 and slid down to 10tth place after a second successive defeat, with the Serbian outfit now facing a do-or-die battle in the last five rounds of the regular season to clinch a spot in the business end of the competition.  

Punter, who joined Barcelona from Partizan during the off-season, sank a game-high 25 points, including 17 in a rip-roaring first half when Barcelona fought back to lead 54-41 at the interval having won a monster second quarter 29-9.

Chimezie Metu came up big with 16 points and 6 boards while Tomas Satoransky added 11 points, 3 assists and as many steals for Barca, which turned the matchup on its head after Partizan had raced into an early 0-8 lead and then extended the advantage to 13-23 and 22-32 in a flawless first quarter for the visitors.  

At the other end, Sterling Brown and Isiaha Mike netted 16 points apiece for Partizan, but both men were stifled out in a rugged and physical second half when baskets were hard to come by. Carlik Jones scored 14 while Vanja Marinkovic and Brandon Davies amassed 11 points each for the visiting team, which committed 10 turnovers and some of them turned out to be very costly.

Game Videos

Brown and Mike fired on all cylinders as Partizan appeared to be in complete control in the first quarter, with shots raining in from all angles for the visitors. However, the tide turned in the second as the Serbian team clearly missed Iffe Lundberg in the backcourt, with the Danish guard pulling out due to illness several hours before the contest.

In contrast, Punter made his first appearance in a month for Barcelona after recovering from a shoulder injury and led the home team’s onslaught in the second quarter, hitting three-pointers almost at will with Metu following in his footsteps.

Barca kept firing on all cylinders early in the third and maintained its 13-point advantage, 65-52, before Partizan conjured a 0-9 run and threw the game wide open. The hosts regained their composure and led 73-67 ahead of the final 10 minutes, with Partizan missing a pair of open these in a single possession.

It was a titanic tussle in the fourth as Partizan closed the gap to two points, 77-75, on the back of aggressive half-court pressure and five unanswered points by Mike at the other end, but the visitors fizzed out when the chips were down and Barca effectively sealed the contest with a 6-0 run.

An easy steal followed by an easier dunk from Satoransky, courtesy of a comical Partizan turnover, drew a wry smile from visiting head coach Zeljko Obradovic, who could only watch helplessly as Barcelona ultimately coasted to a much-needed win. 

The Spanish giant stormed back from a first-quarter deficit to snatch a precious home win 

FC Barcelona v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-03-14T19:45:00.000Z)

For the fourth season in a row, Olympiacos BC fans will get to see their team compete in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

Olympiacos is the first team to reach the playoffs

For the fourth season in a row, [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) fans will get to see their team compete in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs.

The Reds [beat Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 76-74](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-holds-off-panathinaikos-to-claim-the-greek-derby-76-74/) in Round 29 on Friday night to move to a 22-7 record and remain at the top of the EuroLeague standings.

This is the 16th time that Olympiacos has made it to the current playoff format, which has been in place since the 2004-05 season.

### The cream of the crop

It took a new-look Olympiacos a little while to get going early in the season as it looked to reintegrate 2022-23 EuroLeague MVP [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/), back after a year in the NBA, and get fellow new signing [Evan Fournier](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/evan-fournier/013380/) up to speed with the team's offense. Georgios Bartzokas's men sat at 2-3 after five games, but few people doubted Olympiacos; it just needed to iron out some kinks.

The Reds then went on a six-game winning run to improve to 8-3, with the run beginning with notable victories over three powerhouses in Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Panathinaikos. Despite stumbling between Rounds 12 and 15, going 1-3, a run of seven straight wins allowed the Greek side to take command of first place with a 16-6 record.

Olympiacos is now in the midst of another period of six consecutive wins, having responded to a surprise home defeat to Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul by beating Paris Basketball and Barcelona on the road before downing Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade and Panathinaikos at home.

Coach Bartzokas's team currently ranks first in PIR (104.2) and assists (21.1 APG), while they are second in scoring (87.4 PPG). MVP candidate Vezenkov is also first in PIR (24.5) and second in points (20.0 PPG) among all players.

Olympiacos’s super duo | Sasha Vezenkov and Evan Fournier in sync

### How has Olympiacos historically fared in the playoffs?

Since the 2004-05 season, Olympiacos has gone 9-6 in the 15 playoff series it has played to date. It holds a 23-8 record in playoff games held at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, but in road games it has been a different story, having posted a 10-21 record on its travels.

In fact, Olympiacos made history last year by advancing to the Final Four for the third year in a row, something it had never done before. Its Final Four appearances are as follows: 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023, 2024. It will be hoping to keep writing history in 2025.

Now that Olympiacos has locked up a top-six finish, its next objective will be to finish in the top four and thus will guarantee home-court advantage in the playoffs, with Games 1, 2 and 5 taking place at the higher-seeded team's court.

More Olympiacos News

The Reds guaranteed a top-six finish by beating archrival Panathinaikos in Round 29

Shane Larkin and Rodrigue Beaubois combined for 48 points as Anadolu Efes beat FC Bayern Basketball 92-97 on the road in Round 29.


Shane Larkin leads Efes past Bayern, 92-97

Anadolu Efes Istanbul grabbed its third consecutive victory by topping FC Bayern Munich 92-97 at SAP Garden in Round 29 on Friday. Efes improved to 15-14 in the standings while Bayern dropped to 17-12 having lost just its third home game this season. 

Shane Larkin paced the winners with 25 points. Rodrigue Beaubois added 23 while Dan Oturu and Elijah Bryant each had 12 for Efes. Nick Weiler-Babb and Carsen Edwards led Bayern with 18 points apiece. Johannes Voigtmann added 16 while Elias Harris had 15 for the hosts.

Voigtmann got Bayern going with a three-pointer. Beaubois followed a jumper with a fast-break layup for a 3-4 Efes lead. Voigtmann banked in a floater before Weiler-Babb scored a layup and a jumper, good for a 9-4 Bayern lead. Weiler-Babb bettered Ercan Osmani's tip-in with a bomb from downtown. Beaubois struck twice from beyond the arc and Darius Thompson added a fast-break layup to make Efes regain a 12-14 lead. Bryant buried a jumper, then Rolands Smits capped a 0-12 run with a layup. Voigtmann stepped up with a layup before a red-hot Beaubois downed consecutive catch-and-shoot triples. Shabazz Napier bettered Poirier's dunk with a three-pointer to get Bayern within 17-26 after 10 minutes.

Larkin scored in penetration and Oturu added a layup in transition to boost Efes's lead to 17-30. Napier stepped up for the hosts, Weiler-Babb hit a jumper and Voigtmann's backdoor layup made the guests call a timeout at 23-33. Weiler-Babb nailed a stop-and-pop triple and Niels Giffey improved Oturu's alley-oop slam with a bomb from downtown. Edwards took over with a driving layup before Beaubois fired in his fifth triple and added a jumper to make Bayern stop the game at 31-40. Smits sank a floater and Larkin struck from downtown to cap a 0-10 Efes run. Voigtmann and Edwards stepped up for Bayern, but Larkin did better with back-to-back three-pointers. Giffey banked in a close shot for a 37-51 score at halftime.  

Weiler-Babb nailed a stepback triple right after the break. Vladimir Lucic also struck from downtown for a 43-51 Bayern deficit. Harris followed a basket-plus-foul with a dunk that made Efes call a timeout, 48-51, after a 13-0 run. Porier stepped up for the guests and Bryant followed a triple with a driving layup, giving Efes fresh air at 48-58. Edwards and Harris rescued Bayern, then Voigtmann brought his team within 57-60. Edwards buried a baseline jumper and Napier completed the hosts' comeback, 62-60. Smits fired in one from downtown, Edwards scored again before Oturu restored a 64-65 Efes edge. Edwards buried a three-pointer to give Bayern a 67-65 lead after 30 minutes.

Andreas Obst downed a three-pointer and Edwards added a jumper to boost Bayern's lead to 72-66. Dozier answered from beyond the arc and Beaubois's layup made it a one-point game, 72-71. Obst took over with back-to-back three-pointers but Oturu single-handedly kept Efes within 78-76. Larkin banked in a driving shot which Bryant followed with a fast-break layup for a 78-80 Efes lead. Harris scored down low and Weiler-Babb swished a three-pointer but Larkin kept Efes in charge, 83-84, with 4 minutes left. Voigtmann sank a triple that Bryant erased with a basket-plus-foul. Edwards took over with an acrobatic driving layup that Larkin improved with a wild three-point play. Harris dunked before Larkin's three-pointer gave Efes a 90-93 lead with 49.8 seconds left. Obst and Edwards each missed twice from downtown before Harris got Bayern within 92-93 with 14.7 seconds remaining. Larkin made free throws, Weiler-Babb missed from downtown and Dozier sealed Efes's win with a layup.

The 32-year-old and Rodrigue Beaubois combined for 48 points as their team racked up their 15th victory of the season

FC Bayern Munich v Anadolu Efes Istanbul (2025-03-14T19:30:00.000Z)

Olympiacos BC extended its winning streak against Panathinaikos BC to eight games by edging past its rival 76-74 at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Friday night.

Olympiacos holds off Panathinaikos to claim the Greek derby, 76-74

Olympiacos Piraeus extended its winning streak against Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens to eight games by edging past its rival 76-74 at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Friday night. The hosts led for most of the game and were up by as many as 17 points (58-39) with 3:38 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Panathinaikos showed character and bounced back in the fourth, making it a one-possession game in the closing stages, but didn’t manage to complete the comeback.

Having also won away at Panathinaikos earlier this season, the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague leader claimed the head-to-head advantage while also mathematically sealed a top-six spot, improving its record to 22-7. Meanwhile, the guests dropped to 18-11 in their pursuit of a top-four finish.

Sasha Vezenkov paced Olympiacos with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Nigel Williams-Goss scored 14 points before leaving the game in the third quarter with an injury. Kostas Papanikolaou netted 11 and Moustapha Fall added 10. For Panathinaikos, Konstantinos Mitoglou scored a team-high 18 points, Cedi Osman recorded 13, 9 of which were scored in the first quarter, Lorenzo Brown poured in 11 and Juancho Hernangomez had 10.

It was raining triples in the opening stages of the Greek derby, with Papanikolaou and Williams-Goss responding to a couple of Osman three-pointers by hitting one each before Vezenkov netted four straight points for a 10-6 lead. Williams-Goss added four points to his tally, extending Olympiacos’s early surge to 15-0 for an 18-6 cushion. Osman scored inside to end that run, but Fall netted at the other end for a 20-9 lead after 10 minutes.

Tibor Pleiss opened his account with a mid-range jumper, but Peters responded with one of his own and Papanikolaou drilled a triple that extended Olympiacos’s advantage to 25-11. Kostas Sloukas netted four straight points off the bench, but Shaquielle McKissic answered with a triple, 28-15. Vezenkov completed a four-point play, yet Panathinaikos responded with a 0-8 run fueled by Hernangomez, who brought the guests within 33-25. But Fall dunked before three points by Vezenkov gave Olympiacos a 38-27 cushion at halftime.

Mitoglou and Papanikolaou traded triples before Osman and Williams-Goss exchanged buckets inside, with Vezenkov scoring four straight points for a 47-32 lead. Sloukas responded with a three-point play, then buckets by Lorenzo Brown and Wenyen Gabriel cut the difference to 50-39. Luca Vildoza drained a corner triple before setting up Fall for a dunk that extend Olympiacos’s lead to 58-39. Yet, Brown nailed a three and a pair of transition buckets from Mitoglou and Kendrick Nunn brought Panathinaikos within 58-48. But Nikola Milutinov netted inside and Vildoza made 2 of 2 from the line to make it 62-50 heading into the closing quarter.

Saben Lee opened the fourth with four straight points – his first in an Olympiacos jersey – and Milutinov slam-dunked for a 68-54 cushion. Brown replied with four straight points and Nunn scored in transition to bring Panathinaikos within 70-59. Brown and Mitoglou drilled back-to-back triples before a couple of free throws from the latter slashed the deficit to 74-69. Fall slammed home a dunk, but Nunn nailed a triple and Mitoglou scored inside to make it 76-74 with 34 seconds left on the clock. Milutinov missed inside, but Sloukas couldn’t hit what would have been the game-winning triple as Olympiacos clinched the victory.

The Reds registered their eighth-straight victory against their rivals

KK Crvena zvezda will be without center Joel Bolomboy heading into the final stretch of the regular season after he suffered an ankle strain in his team's 80-82 defeat to Olimpia Milano on Thursday night.

Joel Bolomboy out 3-6 weeks with ankle sprain

[Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/) will be without center [Joel Bolomboy](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/joel-bolomboy/009035/) heading into the final stretch of the regular season after he suffered an ankle strain in his team's [80-82 defeat to EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-claws-out-huge-win-over-crvena-zvezda-80-82/) on Thursday night.

Bolomboy went down with an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter, with 1:27 minutes remaining, and had to be carried off the court by teammates Codi Miller-McIntyre and John Brown.

"Our club's center, Joel Bolomboy, has suffered a moderate-to-severe ankle sprain, with no signs of a fracture, which will require 3-6 weeks on the sidelines depending on the speed of his recovery," Crvena Zvezda announced on Friday.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="sr" dir="ltr">Центар Црвене звезде Меридианбет Џоел Боломбој доживео је у четвртак увече повреду стопала на утакмици са Арманијем због које је морао да напусти терен и након указане прве помоћи је послат на додатне прегледе.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/pZlnxXoqjD">https://t.co/pZlnxXoqjD</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/1900626905658778064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Now in his second season with Crvena Zvezda, Bolomboy has made 18 appearances in the EuroLeague during the 2024-25 campaign, averaging 10.2 points, a league-best 8.3 rebounds and just shy of 1 rebound per game (0.9 RPG). 

The Serbian side currently sits sixth in the EuroLeague standings, the final position that guarantees a place in the playoffs, with a 16-13 record. However, it is on a three-game losing skid ahead the final five games of the regular season.

More Crvena Zvezda News

The Crvena Zvezda big man may be done for the regular season

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Real Madrid (2025-03-28T19:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v Virtus Segafredo Bologna (2025-03-26T19:00:00.000Z)

Olympiacos Piraeus v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2025-03-20T18:00:00.000Z)

All the latest injury news surrounding all registered players in the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.

EuroLeague injury report: Round 29

Follow all the latest injury information for registered players in the 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season, as reported by the clubs, and get your [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home?_ga=2.101462721.1199459303.1696273873-903329349.1669636775) teams up to date!

### ALBA Berlin

ALBA has its full roster available for its game against Baskonia on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Jonas Mattisseck missed Round 28.
- Tim Schneider missed Round 28.
- [New signing Robert Baker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/alba-berlin-registers-robert-baker-before-deadline/) made his EuroLeague debut in Round 28.

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

Efes has its full roster available for its game at Bayern on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Ridvan Oncel last played in Round 14.
- Dogus Ozdemiroglu last played in Round 25.

### AS Monaco

Monaco has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Maccabi on Thursday.

- Nick Calathes last played in Round 26.
- Vitto Brown has last played in Round 22 but is back practicing again.

### Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Baskonia has not yet sent an injury report for its game at ALBA on Thursday.

- Kamar Baldwin missed Rounds 27 and 28 after suffering a foot injury while on international duty.
- Ousmane Ndiaye has been loaned out to Granada, [the club announced on February 27](https://x.com/Baskonia/status/1895050149593764178).

### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Luka Mitrovic and Mike Daum are ruled out for Crvena Zvezda's game against Milan on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Luka Mitrovic last played in Round 26 due to a knee problem.
- Branko Lazic last played in Round 15 but has recovered from injury.
- Mike Daum, who last played in Round 18, has undergone knee surgery, the club announced on January 9.

### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

Nikola Mirotic is a game-time decision while Freddie Gillespie and Josh Nebo are ruled out for Milan's game at Crvena Zvezda on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Nikola Mirotic left Milan's Round 28 game with a coccyx injury.
- Freddie Gillespie also left Milan's Round 28 game after a scary fall.
- Armoni Brooks missed Round 28 as a late scratch but returned to action in Italian League
- Ousmane Diop missed Rounds 27 and 28.
- [Josh Nebo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/josh-nebo-to-be-reevaluated-in-3-4-weeks/) suffered another injury in Round 17 and is expected to miss extended time, according to coach Ettore Messina.

### FC Barcelona

[Kevin Punter has been cleared to play](https://x.com/FCBbasket/status/1900621888755245554) while Juan Nunez, Jan Vesely and Nico Laprovittola remain out for Barcelona's game against Partizan on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Juan Nunez is out for the rest of the season [after undergoing knee surgery](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-juan-nunez-done-for-season-after-knee-surgery/).
- [Kevin Punter suffered a shoulder injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcas-punter-sidelined-by-shoulder-injury/) during the Spanish Cup and has [reportedly rejoined team practices](https://www.mundodeportivo.com/baloncesto/euroliga/20250312/1002424309/dudas-barca-sobre-kevin-punter.html).
- [Jan Vesely is expected to be sidelined for 8-10 weeks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-jan-vesely-out-8-10-weeks/) due to a knee injury, the club announced in early February.
- [Nico Laprovittola](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/nico-laprovittola-to-undergo-knee-surgery/) was ruled out for the season due to an ACL and meniscus injury.

### FC Bayern Munich

Bayern has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Efes on Friday.

- Oscar da Silva, who last played in Round 27, is out for 'the coming weeks', the club announced on March 6.
- Devin Booker last played in Round 24 as he has been out with a minor knee injury.

### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

Scottie Wilbekin is Fenerbahce's only absentee for its game against ASVEL on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Arturs Zagars did not play in Round 28.
- [Scottie Wilbekin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-confirms-the-worst-scottie-wilbekin-has-torn-his-acl/) tore his ACL in Round 1 and is out long term.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

ASVEL has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Fenerbahce on Thursday.

- Theo Maledon exited ASVEL's Round 28 game with a finger injury.
- [Charles Kahudi](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/charles-kahudi-out-for-four-weeks-with-groin-injury/) last played in Round 14.
- [Mbaye Ndiaye ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/mbaye-ndiaye-ldlc-asvel-out-for-several-months-with-knee-injury/)has ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his right knee and is likely out for the season.

### Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv

Jasiel Rivero and Jaylen Hoard are out, while John DiBartolomeo is a game time decision for Maccabi's game against Monaco on Thursday.

- Jasiel Rivero has suffered a broken ankle, [Maccabi announced on March 11](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-loses-jasiel-rivero-to-broken-ankle/).
- John DiBartolomeo is game time decision due to a back pain.
- Rokas Jokubaitis last played in Round 26, but he is not listed on the injury report.
- Rafi Menco last played in Round 26, but he is not listed on the injury report.
- Jaylen Hoard has been out with a hamstring injury since [the club announced it on January 29](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabis-jaylen-hoard-suffers-another-torn-hamstring/).

### Olympiacos Piraeus

Thomas Walkup, Keenan Evans and Moses Wright are ruled out for Olympiacos's game against Panathinaikos on Friday, the club has confirmed.

- Keenan Evans has been registered. He has not played this season after undergoing knee surgery last May.
- Thomas Walkup (back) last played in Round 20.
- [Moses Wright](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/moses-wright-out-for-the-season-with-health-issue/) is out for the season with a health issue.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Panathinaikos has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Olympiacos on Friday.

- [Omer Yurtseven](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/panathinaikos-loses-center-yurtseven/) suffered a leg injury on January 20, which will sideline him for six to eight weeks.
- [Mathias Lessort](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/all-euroleague-center-mathias-lessort-leaves-game-with-leg-injury/) suffered a broken fibula in Round 17 and will miss several months.
- Marius Grigonis (lower back surgery) has not played since Round 4.

### Paris Basketball

Paris has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Zalgiris on Thursday.

- Collin Malcolm last played in Round 26.
- Enzo Shahrvin last played in Round 23.

### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Isaac Bonga and Mitar Bosnjakovic are out for Partizan's game at Barcelona on Friday.

- Isaac Bonga last played in Round 26 after suffering a hand injury while playing for the German national team.
- Frank Ntilikina, who last played in Round 20, has returned to action in the domestic league.
- Mitar Bosnjakovic, who last played in Round 16, has suffered another injury.

### Real Madrid

Real Madrid has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Virtus on Thursday.

- [Gaby Deck](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/real-madrid-loses-gabriel-deck-to-torn-hamstring/) last played in Round 18 after tearing his hamstring.
- Xavier Rathan-Mayes did not play in Round 28.

### Virtus Segafredo Bologna

Will Clyburn remains out and will miss Virtus's game against Real Madrid on Thursday, the club has confirmed.

- Marco Belinelli did not play in Round 28.
- Rayjon Tucker did not play in Round 28.
- [Will Clyburn is out until mid-March](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/will-clyburn-virtus-bologna-out-at-least-10-weeks-with-foot-injury/) due to a foot injury.

### Zalgiris Kaunas

Zalgiris has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Paris on Thursday.

- [New signing Isaiah Wong](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-adds-scoring-punch-with-isaiah-wong/) made EuroLeague debut in Round 28.
- Lukas Lekavicius (groin) last played in Round 26.

Stay up to date with the latest information provided by the EuroLeague clubs

Injury report, Round 29: Punter cleared to play, Olympiacos remain without trio, Bonga still out

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2025-03-13T18:00:00.000Z)

Virtus Segafredo Bologna v Real Madrid (2025-03-13T19:45:00.000Z)

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv v AS Monaco (2025-03-13T19:05:00.000Z)

ALBA Berlin v Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (2025-03-13T19:00:00.000Z)

Zalgiris Kaunas v Paris Basketball (2025-03-13T18:00:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul v LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (2025-03-13T17:45:00.000Z)

## Friday, March 14

### [Olympiacos Piraeus 76-74 Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/olympiacos-piraeus-panathinaikos-aktor-athens/E2024/259/)

Olympiacos extended its winning streak against Panathinaikos to eight games by edging past its rival 76-74 at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Friday night. The hosts led for most of the game and were up by as many as 17 points (58-39) with 3:38 minutes remaining in the third quarter. Panathinaikos showed character and bounced back in the fourth, making it a one-possession game in the closing stages, but didn’t manage to complete the comeback.

Having also won away at Panathinaikos earlier this season, the EuroLeague leader claimed the head-to-head advantage while also mathematically sealed a top-six spot, improving its record to 22-7. Meanwhile, the guests dropped to 18-11 in their pursuit of a top-four finish.

Sasha Vezenkov paced Olympiacos with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Nigel Williams-Goss scored 14 points before leaving the game in the third quarter with an injury. Kostas Papanikolaou netted 11 and Moustapha Fall added 10. For Panathinaikos, Konstantinos Mitoglou scored a team-high 18 points, Cedi Osman recorded 13, 9 of which were scored in the first quarter, Lorenzo Brown poured in 11 and Juancho Hernangomez had 10.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The season SWEEP! <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympiacos_BC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olympiacos_BC</a> make it two wins in two against their big rivals. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RivalrySeries?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RivalrySeries</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EveryGameMatters?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EveryGameMatters</a> <a href="https://t.co/AmjEVwAhRH">pic.twitter.com/AmjEVwAhRH</a></p>&mdash; Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/1900654823738949893?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [FC Bayern Munich 92-97 Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fc-bayern-munich-anadolu-efes-istanbul/E2024/260/)

Efes grabbed its third consecutive victory by topping Bayern 92-97 at SAP Garden in Round 29 on Friday. Efes improved to 15-14 in the standings while Bayern dropped to 17-12 having lost just its third home game this season. Shane Larkin paced the winners with 25 points. Rodrigue Beaubois added 23 while Dan Oturu and Elijah Bryant each had 12 for Efes. Nick Weiler-Babb and Carsen Edwards led Bayern with 18 points apiece. Johannes Voigtmann added 16 while Elias Harris had 15 for the hosts.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">👊 Almanya’da galibiz, sıradaki durak Sırbistan!<br>FC Bayern Münih 92 - 97 Anadolu Efes | Maç Sonucu<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BenimYerimBuras%C4%B1?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BenimYerimBurası</a> <a href="https://t.co/rjPKSRdxjZ">pic.twitter.com/rjPKSRdxjZ</a></p>&mdash; Anadolu Efes SK (@AnadoluEfesSK) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnadoluEfesSK/status/1900660906054299707?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [FC Barcelona 87-80 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fc-barcelona-partizan-mozzart-bet-belgrade/E2024/261/)

\--

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">WINNNNNNNN <a href="https://t.co/vWM8fTOeN6">pic.twitter.com/vWM8fTOeN6</a></p>&mdash; Barça Basket (@FCBbasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBbasket/status/1900664288898859425?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

## Thursday, March 13

### [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul 92-82 LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul-ldlc-asvel-villeurbanne/E2024/253/)

Fenerbahce has become the second team to book a spot in the EuroLeague postseason after beating ASVEL 92-82 in Round 29. Saras Jasikevicius’s men improved to 20-9 having won their fifth straight game at Ulker Sport and Event Hall, while Pierric Poupet’s ASVEL suffered a sixth straight defeat to fall to 11-17. Wade Baldwin led Fenerbahce in scoring with 15 points, in addition to posting a team-high 6 assists. Bonzie Colson and Errick McCollum both chipped in with 10 points apiece. Impressively, nine of the 11 Fenerbahce players that stepped onto the floor netted at least 8 points. For ASVEL, Joffrey Lauvergne poured in a game-high 20 points and grabbed a game-best 9 rebounds. Nando De Colo recorded a 13-point, 11-assist double-double, with Andre Roberson adding 11 points and Neal Sako contributing 10 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Maç Bizim! 💛💙<br><br>Tebrikler Fenerbahçe Beko! 👏<br><br>Maç Sonucu | Fenerbahçe Beko 🆚 LDLC Asvel: 92-82<br><br>Skor dağılımımız: Baldwin 15, Colson 10, McCollum 10, Sertaç 9, Melli 9, Guduric 9, Bango 8, Hall 8, Hayes-Davis 8, Biberovic 6. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YellowLegacy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YellowLegacy</a> <a href="https://t.co/2irp6MOW32">pic.twitter.com/2irp6MOW32</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/1900270276010471768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade 80-82 EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade-ea7-emporio-armani-milan/E2024/258/)

Milan took a big step towards clinching a postseason berth after improving to 16-13 with an industrious win at Crvena Zvezda, which slipped to a third loss in a row. Nikola Mirotic paced Milan with a game-high 19 points to go with 7 boards and Zach LeDay chipped in with 15 points for the Italian side, which clawed out the victory in a physical contest devoid of much spectacular action. Nemanja Nedovic and Nikola Kalinic led Zvezda with 12 points apiece, but the Serbian side lacked a clutch player able to swing the contest its way in a tense finish as it slipped to 16-13.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BIG WIN!!! LET’S GO GUYS🤍❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/insieme?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#insieme</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForzaOlimpia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForzaOlimpia</a> <a href="https://t.co/3ozQHQOZo4">pic.twitter.com/3ozQHQOZo4</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1900280851994132647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Zalgiris Kaunas 83-81 Paris Basketball](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/zalgiris-kaunas-paris-basketball/E2024/254/)

Zalgiris erased a 20-point second-quarter deficit with a dominant second half to defeat Paris at Zalgirio Arena. The Lithuanian champs were down 16 at halftime before opening the third quarter with 10 straight points and finally taking their first lead through Bryant Dunston with the first basket of the fourth quarter. TJ Shorts tied it for Paris late, but there was enough time left for Sylvain Francisco to win it with a jumper with 2.5 seconds remaining. The victory lifted Zalgiris's record to 14-15 on the season, which Paris slipped to 16-13. Francisco finished with 15 points and 8 assists. Shorts scored a game-high 21 for Paris.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a comeback! 🥶 Zalgiris erases a 20-point deficit and celebrates a home win. 💚 <a href="https://t.co/aVlNiYwYms">pic.twitter.com/aVlNiYwYms</a></p>&mdash; BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) <a href="https://twitter.com/bczalgiris/status/1900276901727658467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [ALBA Berlin 97-90 Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/alba-berlin-baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/E2024/255/)

The wait is finally over for ALBA as it won its first home game in four months by beating Baskonia in the first contest under new head coach Pedro Calles. ALBA mounted a 13-4 stretch spanning the two final quarters to snap an eight-game home losing streak. Matt Thomas drained 5 three-pointers for 21 points and Gabriele Procida and Martin Hermannsson both scored 13 points for the winners. Nikos Rogkavopoulos netter 17 points to pace five players in double figures for Baskonia, which fell to 12-17.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="de" dir="ltr">FIRST OF MANY! 🔥☝️<br><br>Starkes Headcoach-Debüt für Pedro Calles. Unser Team kämpft bis zur letzten Sekunde und holt sich den <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EuroLeague</a>-Heimsieg gegen <a href="https://twitter.com/Baskonia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Baskonia</a>. War das geil!!! 😤<br><br>📸 Tilo Wiedensohler <a href="https://t.co/qQq2VGWiw6">pic.twitter.com/qQq2VGWiw6</a></p>&mdash; ALBA BERLIN (@albaberlin) <a href="https://twitter.com/albaberlin/status/1900291147404038334?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv 91-88 AS Monaco](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/maccabi-playtika-tel-aviv-as-monaco/E2024/257/)

Maccabi extended its winning streak to three games by defeating Monaco at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall. In an entertaining back-and-forth clash featuring several lead changes, the hosts closed the game with a 7-0 run to record three wins in a row for the first time this season. Maccabi may have missed out on the postseason, but this victory improves its record to 9-20. Meanwhile, Monaco is still pushing for a top-four spot despite dropping to 17-12. Roman Sorkin and Rokas Jokubaitis paced Maccabi with 18 points each. For Monaco, Mike James led all scorers with 25 points.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="iw" dir="rtl">זה הלב שלנו! <br><br>לסיקור וסטטיסטיקה &gt; <a href="https://t.co/dmopDng2eQ">https://t.co/dmopDng2eQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/Akdy8h6fow">pic.twitter.com/Akdy8h6fow</a></p>&mdash; Maccabi Tel Aviv BC 🇮🇱​ (@MaccabiTLVBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaccabiTLVBC/status/1900294140778123360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### [Virtus Segafredo Bologna 67-80 Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/game-center/2024-25/virtus-segafredo-bologna-real-madrid/E2024/256/)

Real Madrid won on the road for the first time in over a month as it defeated Virtus 67-80 in Round 29. With this result, *Los Blancos*’ postseason hopes were boosted as they improved to a 15-14 record, while the hosts fell to 7-22. Dzanan Musa and Walter Tavares led the way with 13 points apiece for Real Madrid, with Mario Hezonja and Usman Garuba both scoring 10 points each, too. Virtus’s leading scorer was Matt Morgan with 11 points, followed by Rayjon Tucker with 10.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">🏁 FP: <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusSegafredo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirtusSegafredo</a> 67 - 80 <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMBaloncesto</a><br>➡️ <a href="https://twitter.com/UnicajaBanco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UnicajaBanco</a> <a href="https://t.co/YpBYDqGn2C">pic.twitter.com/YpBYDqGn2C</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1900299506052178100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fenerbahce confirmed a top-10 finish by winning on Thursday, and Olympiacos sealed a top-six spot by triumphing in the Greek derby

Game Center: Oly holds off PAO to reach playoffs; Efes, Barcelona both victorious

Olimpia Milano secured a crucial win in its bid to make the EuroLeague postseason as it beat KK Crvena zvezda 80-82 on the road, while the Serbian team has now lost three games in a row.

Milan tails are up as Crvena Zvezda’s slide continues

[EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/) boosted its hops of earning an automatic playoff berth at the end of the regular season in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with [a gritty 80-82 win at Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/milan-claws-out-huge-win-over-crvena-zvezda-80-82/), a result that improved the Italian team’s record to 16-13.

It was also a welcome reprieve for Milan after [last week’s 76-100 home debacle to Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-crushes-milan-76-100/), highlighting the team’s resilience and the ability to bounce back in the face of adversity.

In January, Milan pulled off a similar stunt when it [beat reigning champs Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens 87-75](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zach-leday-shines-as-milan-roars-back-to-beat-panathinaikos-87-75/) on its home court after [a 100-66 road rout at the hands of Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/coach-banchi-celebrates-first-win-as-efes-thrashes-milan-110-66/), prompting a 4-2 streak which kept the Italian outfit on course for a place in the postsason.

Against Zvezda, Milan prevailed in a fervent atmosphere generated by 20,000 home fans inside Belgrade Arena, with [Shavon Shields](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/shavon-shields/007831/) doing the damage late in the game when he netted with a tough drive to the basket through traffic.

Coach [Ettore Messina](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/messina-ettore/?season=E2024) summed up his team’s effort at the postgame press conference with a succinct description of a matchup which resembled an arm wrestling contest, as it produced a titanic tussle devoid of too many spectacular plays.

“We had three very good quarters, as we found open shots against a very aggressive defense, then in the last quarter both teams were very nervous because of how important the game was, especially at this moment,” the Italian tactician said.

“It came down to one play where we managed to create space for Shavon to attack and go to the rim. We also had three stops at the other end and that was key. We bounced back from a very tough loss and we’re still in the mix.”

Asked to assess the EuroLeague’s quality and level of entertainment, Messina made some interesting analogies as he also acknowledged that the competition keeps evolving and reaching new heights.  

“Games are enjoyable to watch for the fans because there is so much drama in every game and they resemble American college basketball by their intensity,” he said.  

"The game has become very physical and it’s become increasingly difficult for players to create open shots. The game has also become very difficult to officiate, in my opinion, and the size of these athletes makes the court look smaller.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">INSIEME!🤍❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForzaOlimpia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForzaOlimpia</a> <a href="https://t.co/AlTQOxCojv">pic.twitter.com/AlTQOxCojv</a></p>&mdash; Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) <a href="https://twitter.com/OlimpiaMI1936/status/1900287338863014138?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

### Troubling times for Crvena Zvezda

Zvezda’s skid stretched to three games with yet another tough loss, its second successive on home court as the Serbian team [fell to Zalgiris Kaunas 80-86](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zalgiris-springs-upset-to-beat-crvena-zvezda-80-86/) before [last week’s 100-82 drubbing at FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayern-blows-away-crvena-zvezda-100-82-to-stay-in-postseason-picture/). Ravaged by injuries and illness, Zvezda appears to be running on empty in the home stretch of the regular season and the poor run has seriously dented its chances of clinching a top-six finish, while even a play-in spot now looks far from certain.

The raucous Zvezda fans, who occasionally chanted "Dubai, Dubai" to express confidence they had in the team reaching the 2025 EuroLeague Final Four, were brought down to earth by Milan’s ironclad defense, complemented by a reality check from coach [Ioannis Sfairopoulos](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/sfairopoulos-ioannis/?season=E2024).

Asked to comment on the situation at the postgame press conference, the Greek tactician responded with an angry outburst aimed at fans whose hopes of glory had rocketed after a good run saw Zvezda push up into the top five on a 16-10 record.

“Fans are shouting ‘Dubai’ but this is a team without a EuroLeague playoff win in its entire history. We must know who we are and go step by step in building something good. We need time, patience and support to achieve this, we have a dream to go to Dubai but it’s unrealistic. Maybe I should try to be a Formula 1 driver starting tomorrow,” Sfairopoulos told a stunned media pack.

“We have five more games and we have to fight in each and every one of them until the end,” he added, with Zvezda up next against runaway EuroLeague leader Olympiacos Piraeus, which has won 12 of its last 13 games prior to this Friday’s eternal Greek derby with Panathinaikos.

“We are still building our identity as a top-level EuroLeague team and we’re up against some quality opposition here. We’ve had injuries after the international break and it’s not easy to keep producing our best performances with so many problems. Having said that, we also conceded some easy points in the last three games and we can’t afford to do that at this level.”

If current form – or lack of it – is anything to go by, Zvezda faces a tall order to live up to its fans’ expectations but the Serbian outfit has shown the kind of fighting spirit this season standing in stark contrast to last term’s campaign, when Zvezda featured as also-rans and finished on an 11-23 record, miles away from the postseason picture.

The Italian team rekindled its playoff hopes while Zvezda seems to be losing momentum