The European champion will test the Istanbul club's ambitions. Olympiacos vs Fenerbahce EuroLeague basketball prediction
BC Olympiakos Piraeus
Fenerbahce Istanbul
Olympiacos and Fenerbahce will meet on Friday, October 23, in the seventh round of the EuroLeague regular season. The game will be played at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus, with tip-off scheduled for 20:15 Central European Time. I am backing the total points market in this matchup.
H2H and statistical facts
- Olympiacos have won their last two EuroLeague games in overtime.
- The teams have already met this season in the EuroLeague Super Cup semifinal — a 92-90 victory for the Greeks.
- Olympiacos have won six games in a row.
- Fenerbahce have not beaten Olympiacos in their last four meetings.
Olympiacos
Olympiacos have made a confident start to the new EuroLeague season, recording five wins and one loss after the first six rounds. The Greek club opened its campaign with a convincing 106-89 victory over Baskonia, then edged Zalgiris 93-91. Their only setback came away to Virtus, where they lost 94-96.
After the defeat to the Italians, Olympiacos stepped up and put together a run of several victories. The Greeks thrashed Anadolu Efes 89-66, defeated Valencia 102-97 on the road, and then overcame Barcelona 105-100 in a high-scoring contest. The win over the Catalans was particularly significant: the team showed that it can maintain its efficiency even in a tense finish against a strong opponent.
Olympiacos have also underlined their ambitions domestically by winning the Greek Super Cup. They beat AEK 93-80 in the semifinal before overcoming PAOK 101-96 in the final. Their start to the national league has also been successful, with the team winning all three of its games.
The hosts' main strengths are their squad depth, experience at the highest level of European basketball, and ability to perform in decisive minutes. However, the meeting with Fenerbahce will require particular focus on perimeter defense and control of the rebounds. If Olympiacos allow their opponents to score regularly in transition and from beyond the arc, the game could turn into an open shootout.
Fenerbahce
Fenerbahce have also made an impressive start to their European campaign, winning five of their six games. The Istanbul side defeated Bayern Munich 100-76 and Dubai 76-66, but then lost 74-92 to Panathinaikos in Athens. That defeat showed that the team can struggle on the road against opponents capable of imposing a high tempo and aggressive offensive play.
In the following rounds, Fenerbahce quickly regained their confidence. The Turkish club thrashed Zalgiris 99-80 before beating Partizan 74-65. The victory over the Belgrade side was built on a more reliable defensive performance: Fenerbahce restricted their opponents' scoring and did not allow them to seize the initiative at key moments.
The team have also shown in the Turkish league that they can get results in difficult games. After losing 83-98 to Bahcesehir, Fenerbahce edged Korfez Basket 85-84 and then comfortably defeated Cayirova 100-85. However, Jasikevicius' side lost their previous game.
In the upcoming matchup, Fenerbahce must not allow Olympiacos to build momentum on offense. The Istanbul side will need to defend carefully, compete on the glass, and avoid turnovers that could give the hosts easy points. The visitors have enough quality to challenge for victory in Piraeus, but they will need to withstand the pressure from the stands and remain focused until the final buzzer.
What to bet on?
Olympiacos come into the game on the back of a run of impressive victories, including wins over Valencia and Barcelona, and will count on the support of their home fans. Fenerbahce are also in good shape, while their emphatic victory over Zalgiris and success against Partizan confirm that the Turkish club can be effective at both ends of the court. A closely fought battle between two highly ambitious teams is expected. My pick is over 170 total points.
