PARIS—Olympiacos Piraeus demonstrated their EuroLeague prowess this week with a hard-fought 87-77 victory over Virtus Segafredo Bologna at the Peace and Friendship Stadium. The win was significant for the Greek team after they faced consecutive losses to Paris and Crvena Zvezda. This matchup was equally challenging for Virtus, who were without their star player, Toko Shengelia, due to health issues.
From the tip-off, Olympiacos asserted their dominance, racing out to an 11-3 lead, and extending it to 25-7 early on, showcasing their offensive firepower. The home crowd, packed with over 20,000 fans, erupted as Sasha Vezenkov scored 14 points within the first quarter, hinting at the stellar performance he was about to deliver. By the end of the first quarter, the score stood at 29-17, favoring Olympiacos.
But Virtus wouldn’t back down. Coach Dusko Ivanovic’s team regrouped during the second quarter, showing remarkable resilience. Led by Marco Belinelli, who scored 14 points, Bologna managed to cut down the deficit significantly. An impressive run culminated with the boys from Bologna taking the lead at halftime, 46-43, after outscoring Olympiacos 29-14. This resurgence drew praise from analysts who noted the shift from Olympiacos's initial dominance.
The third quarter was pivotal as Olympiacos regained their footing. The Greek side, guided by the contributions of Evan Fournier, intensified their defensive efforts and stifled Virtus’s offensive rhythm. Fournier racked up 20 points, contributing significantly both on the scoreboard and through playmaking, leading to Olympiacos re-establishing their double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter at 64-56.
The fourth quarter saw Olympiacos maintaining their lead as the game progressed. Despite Virtus’s struggle to cut the margin, they managed to stay within reach at points—trailing 71-64 after Matt Morgan's strong showing. Morgan added 15 points, along with Belinelli’s game-high 20 points, but it soon became clear the deficit was too great to overcome.
With strong rebounding efforts, where Olympiacos secured 42 rebounds against Virtus's 26, and hitting 45% of their three-point shots—demonstrated particularly by Peters and Vezenkov—the home team sealed their victory as the clock wound down. The final score clinched Olympiacos’s place among the EuroLeague’s elite contenders, moving to 10-6 and solidifying their rank among teams such as Zalgiris, Bayern Munich, and Fenerbahce.
Coach Bartzokas reflected on the performance of his team: "We need to build on this momentum. Our depth was apparent, and we were able to secure points from various players, which is key as we progress through the tournament." Meanwhile, Ivanovic lamented his team’s inconsistent play, noting, "We did not execute well against their defense during the second half, which cost us dearly. The absence of Shengelia is felt, but this is where we must learn and adapt." This match highlighted areas needing improvement for Virtus, who now finds themselves at the bottom of the EuroLeague standings with just three wins against 13 losses.
The next challenge for Virtus lies just around the corner, as they prepare to host Barcelona on Friday. Backed by lessons learned at the Pireo, they are determined to overturn their fortunes and bounce back stronger. With the EuroLeague season heading toward its halfway mark, both teams are now focusing on positioning themselves for the playoffs.
