Olympiacos arrives at the Palau after an epic comeback

Round 6 of the EuroLeague promises excitement in several Spanish cities. Just 48 hours after one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent years, Olympiacos is back on national soil. The Greek team visits Palau Blaugrana on Friday at 20:30 to face a Barça that arrives with mixed feelings after overcoming Maccabi with a three-pointer from Justin Robinson with 1.6 seconds left. This is the most attractive match of a round that closes the first double week of the season.

Barça-Olympiacos: a duel of doubts at the Palau

Both teams arrive with significant questions. The Barça struggled more than expected on Tuesday against their rivals and needs to prove that the victory against Maccabi was a turning point. Olympiacos, for its part, took 25 minutes to wake up at the Roig Arena during their historic comeback, a fact that reveals some inconsistency in their game start.

With Jean Montero scoring 26 points against Valencia and Evan Fournier as offensive leaders, the Greeks now have a record of 4-1 and the psychological boost of a night they will hardly forget. The most recent precedent at Palau favors Olympiacos: in 2024, they won the fifth game of the playoffs there (59-63) and eliminated the blue and garnet team. This historic playoffs victory lends credibility to their ability to compete in the Catalan stronghold, although the blue and garnet will not be easy rivals at home.

Perasovic debuts in Bologna with Baskonia

Friday will also be special for Velimir Perasovic, who will debut as coach of Kosner Baskonia just one day after his arrival in Vitoria. His first challenge will be none other than on the court of Virtus led by Àlex Mumbrú at 20:30. Baskonia arrives with a record of 1-4 after a very tough week that included a defeat against Dubai, the dismissal of Paolo Galbiati, and the departures of Markus Howard and Alex Len, moves that generate uncertainty in the team's structure.

Across the court will be a Virtus in good form that won on Wednesday in Paris at the last second and has a record of 3-2. This matchup represents an important test for both teams: the Italians look to consolidate their good moment, while Perasovic needs to find stability from day one. The pressure of debuting in a tough match is considerable, but it also presents the opportunity to make an immediate impact on a team that needs urgent reactions.

Valencia and Real Madrid seek responses on Thursday

Thursday will be intense for the Spanish teams. Valencia Basket needs to turn the page in record time. They host Maccabi Tel Aviv at Roig Arena at 20:30, with the defeat against Olympiacos still very fresh. Xavi Albert's team maintains a record of 4-1 and stays at the top of the standings, but they must demonstrate that the collapse in the second half on Tuesday was an isolated incident and not a concerning trend. The ability to react will be key to maintaining their aspirations.

Maccabi arrives with a record of 1-4 after losing at Palau due to Robinson's three-pointer. For the Israelis, this match represents an opportunity to secure a victory that keeps them away from the lower positions in the standings. Valencia cannot afford a second consecutive setback if they wish to maintain their status among the competition's favorites.

The Real Madrid plays at home against ASVEL at 21:00, also on Thursday. Pedro Martínez's team comes off a win in Milan thanks to a great second quarter and has the opportunity to even their current record of 2-3. A victory would allow them to reach a 3-3 record, a point of balance that the Madrilenians are seeking after a erratic start. ASVEL arrives with the same record (2-3) after losing by two points to Crvena Zvezda in their last match, so both teams need to win to improve their prospects.

The undefeated in play

The only undefeated team in the competition, Zeljko Obradovic's Panathinaikos, hosts Hapoel Tel Aviv on Friday at 20:15. The Greeks will seek to defend their perfect record against a Hapoel team that arrives after a clear victory over Besiktas and has five players scoring 15 points or more, indicating a dangerous offensive distribution. Maintaining their undefeated status will be the main objective for the Athenians, although Hapoel will not be a complacent opponent.

Other matchups and overall outlook

The rest of the round features other interesting matchups. Fenerbahçe faces Partizan, Crvena Zvezda hosts Paris at the Belgrade Arena, Zalgiris plays against Anadolu Efes in Kaunas, Besiktas faces Bayern, and Armani Milano hosts Dubai on Thursday. These matches complete a round 6 that promises excitement in all venues.

The EuroLeague in its first double week of the season makes it clear that the Spanish teams have significant responsibilities. Valencia must respond, Real Madrid needs to find consistency, and Barça must show that they can compete against the best. Meanwhile, Baskonia faces an urgent reconstruction under Perasovic's guidance, who will need to generate immediate changes in a team that has had a tumultuous week. Round 6 will be decisive in understanding the true aspirations of each project this season.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Olympiacos llega al Palau tras épica remontada