Athens test for the Catalans. EuroLeague prediction: Panathinaikos vs Barcelona
Panathinaikos BC
FC Barcelona
Panathinaikos and Barcelona will meet on Friday, November 13, in Round 11 of the EuroLeague regular season. The game will be played in Athens, with tip-off at 20:15 Central European Time. I’m backing the game to go over the total.
Head-to-head and stats
- Panathinaikos have won four straight home games.
- Barcelona are on a seven-game winning streak.
- Barcelona have won 12 of their previous 15 games against Panathinaikos.
- The Greeks have beaten the Catalans at home just twice in the past eight years.
Panathinaikos: league leaders and dominant in the paint
Panathinaikos have made an impressive start to the season and sit top of the EuroLeague standings after 10 rounds. They have won eight games and lost just twice, averaging 87.6 points scored and 78.7 allowed. The Greek side have combined a high-powered offense with solid defense. Rebounding remains a particular strength: Panathinaikos pull down an average of 36.7 boards per game and regularly create extra scoring chances.
Panathinaikos opened their EuroLeague campaign with a 91–72 win over Paris, then beat ASVEL 102–79, Maccabi Tel Aviv 90–67 and Partizan 72–55. After a 91–81 loss to Hapoel, they got back on track with an 85–79 victory over Baskonia and an 80–75 win against Milan. In their last game before facing Barcelona, the Greeks outscored Real Madrid in a shootout, winning 115–112 in overtime. That result was an important reminder of the team’s ability to handle pressure down the stretch.
Panathinaikos are also battling near the top of their domestic league, although their recent results have not been flawless. On November 1, they lost 101–91 to Aris, but bounced back with a 83–74 road win over AEK.
Kendrick Nunn remains Panathinaikos’ leading scorer, averaging 20.3 points per EuroLeague game. Mathias Lessort contributes 12.6 points and 7.6 rebounds, and is also one of the team’s most efficient players by performance index rating. Sylvain Francisco is averaging 13.8 points and 4.7 assists, providing quality playmaking.
Barcelona: high-scoring offense and strong form ahead of Athens trip
Barcelona sit seventh in the EuroLeague standings with seven wins and three losses. The Catalans average 91 points per game, one of the best marks in the competition, but also allow 88.7. Barcelona rank among the EuroLeague’s offensive leaders, but their defense has yet to deliver the same consistent edge as Panathinaikos’.
Barcelona have been in excellent form in their recent EuroLeague games. They beat Valencia 98–94, Bayern 88–84, Milan 89–81 and Hapoel Tel Aviv 93–90. Their only defeat in that stretch came against Olympiacos, in a 105–100 loss. The Catalans have therefore won four of their last five games in the competition and head to Athens on a four-game winning streak.
Barcelona remain competitive in the Spanish league, too. On November 2, the Catalans beat Unicaja 92–89, then overcame Breogán 99–91 a week later, on November 8. Ahead of their matchup with Panathinaikos, Barcelona will need to sharpen their focus and stop the hosts from building an advantage through rebounds and second-chance points, as the Greeks have had a clear edge over Barcelona’s recent opponents in that department.
Kevin Punter is Barcelona’s leading scorer, averaging 15.9 points per game. Justin Robinson adds 13.7 points and 4.1 assists, providing another threat as a playmaker. Umoja Gibson also plays an important role, contributing 10.5 points and 2.9 assists per game. Under the basket, the Catalans will rely on Josh Nebo, who averages 7.6 rebounds.
What’s the best bet?
Expect a tight, fast-paced game with plenty of scoring. Barcelona can make life difficult for the hosts thanks to Punter and Robinson, but Panathinaikos look the more balanced team and have been strong at home. I expect a high-scoring contest, and over 166 points looks like a solid bet.
