Euroleague final: Olympiacos – Real Madrid with the trophy in the background

Olympiacos and Real Madrid will meet tonight (05/21, 20:00, live broadcast from Newsit.gr) in the Euroleague Final of the 2022-23 season in the “red and white” Kaunas.

Almost 8,000 Olympiacos fans are expected to be in the Zalgirio Arena to watch Giorgos Partzokas’ side win the fourth title in their history. Piraeus fans will “dominate” the stands, as they will be more than twice as numerous as Real Madrid fans, with the stadium more reminiscent of SEF.

However, Olympiacos is still the favorite to win the title in the Euroleague, as it has been the best team in the competition all season.

A historic tournament for Olympiacos 2022-2023

Olympiacos had the best run in its history in the Euroleague, and with a record number of victories it won first place in the regular season, leaving behind the other three teams in the Final Four. In third place, after losing home and away to Piraeus.

Giorgos Partzokas’ team triumphed 89-87 in Madrid, in October 2022, while it “cleaned up” the SEF game last January, and achieved the second victory, with a score of 73-60.

The final standings in the Euroleague

1. Olympiacos 24-10
2. Barcelona 23-11
3. Real Madrid 23-11
4. Monaco 21-13

Olympiacos then eliminated Fenerbahçe in the playoffs, and Real Madrid eliminated Partizan, despite losing 2-0 after the first matches at home. In Final 4, the Beirautes beat Monaco with a 76-62 loss, while the Madridists had a 78-66 derby match with Barcelona. This is how they reached the Euroleague final, where they will fight for the Euroleague Cup.

Thirteen European titles on the Kaunas floor

Real Madrid and Olympiacos together have won 13 European Championships and are among the teams with the most titles in the sport’s history. The ‘Red and White’ will compete for the ninth time in the final of a major European competition, having beaten the top spot on three occasions, in 1998, 2012 and 2013.

Accordingly, Real Madrid has won the institution several times, with 13 appearances in the Final Four (1967, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023) and 10 titles (1964). *, 1965 *, 1967, 1968, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1995, 2015, 2018 * without F4).

The fourth “duel” Olympiacos – Real Madrid in the final

Olympiacos won the Euroleague Cup against Real Madrid, with a legendary performance in 2013, when, with the “orgy” of Vasilis Spanoulis, they achieved a huge upset and won 100-88, the third title in their history.

However, “The Queen” got revenge two years later, with a 78-59 win in the final in 2015 in her hometown. Real Madrid players also won the first meeting of the two teams in a European final, in 1995 at a distance in Zaragoza. In the then Champions Cup, Real Madrid, led by Arvindas Sabonis and Zeljko Obradovic, celebrated a 73-61 victory over Olympiacos, Cigala, Fasola, Tomic, Nakic and Volkov.