Lithuanians against the reigning champions: prediction for the Zalgiris - Olympiacos game
BC Zalgiris Kaunas
BC Olympiakos Piraeus
Zalgiris and Olympiacos will meet on Tuesday, September 29, in the second round of the EuroLeague regular season. The game will be played in Kaunas, with tip-off at 19:00 Central European Time. I am backing the total points market in this matchup.
H2H and statistical facts
- Zalgiris have won 16 games in a row.
- Olympiacos are on a three-game winning streak.
- The Greeks have trailed after the first half only once in their last nine games.
- Zalgiris have beaten Olympiacos just once in their last ten head-to-head meetings.
Zalgiris
Zalgiris opened their European campaign with a hugely important road victory. In Belgrade, the Lithuanian side defeated Crvena Zvezda 83-77, managing to raise their level after a tightly contested first half. The Kaunas team handled the closing stages confidently and never allowed the hosts to turn the game around.
The statistics also point to a strong performance at both ends of the floor. Zalgiris shot 44.4% from the field and 40% from three-point range, while also winning the battle on the glass — 46 rebounds to their opponents’ 39. However, the Lithuanians committed 16 turnovers, so taking care of the ball will be especially important against a more experienced Olympiacos side.
The team have also made a perfect start domestically. In the opening round of the Lithuanian championship, Zalgiris beat Gargzdai 98-77 on the road, then comfortably defeated Neptunas 93-69 a few days later. In their most recent game, the team left Siauliai with no chance, winning 101-82.
As a result, Zalgiris enter their home clash with Olympiacos on a run of four consecutive official victories this season. The team have started the campaign confidently, are showing impressive scoring form and have already gained valuable experience against a strong EuroLeague opponent.
Olympiacos
Olympiacos began their EuroLeague title defense in emphatic fashion. In the opening round, the reigning European champions traveled to Vitoria and crushed Baskonia 106-89. The Greek side already led by ten points at halftime, 56-46, before extending the margin to 21 in the third quarter.
Olympiacos immediately demonstrated serious offensive efficiency. The team shot 56.3% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range, scored 106 points and dished out 20 assists. The Greek club also won the rebounding battle 42-34, a particularly important factor ahead of a meeting with Zalgiris, who are equally strong on the glass.
Olympiacos have also had a packed start to the domestic season. Before traveling to Kaunas, the team competed in the Greek Super Cup and won both games. First, Olympiacos defeated AEK 93-80, then beat PAOK 101-96 in the final to claim the trophy for the fifth consecutive time.
At the same time, the European champions have had virtually no time to recover from the final. The game against PAOK took place on September 27, while the EuroLeague trip to Kaunas follows on the 29th. Squad turnover adds another layer of difficulty: over the summer, Olympiacos parted ways with several key players, including Filip Petrusev. However, the club kept its core and also strengthened the roster with Jean Montero.
What to bet on?
Both teams are in excellent form, but the schedule looks more demanding for Olympiacos: in just a few days, the team played two Super Cup games before heading out for a EuroLeague road matchup. Still, the reigning champions’ quality and offensive firepower were already on full display in the opening round. I expect a close, high-scoring game and believe the over 165 points is an attractive betting option.
