The Greeks faces a serious test after the setback in Bologna: prediction for Olympiacos vs Anadolu Efes
BC Olympiakos Piraeus
Anadolu Efes SK
Olympiacos and Anadolu Efes will meet on Friday, October 9, in the fourth round of the EuroLeague regular season. The game will take place in Piraeus, with tip-off scheduled for 20:15 CET. I am backing a winner in this matchup.
H2H and statistical facts
- Olympiacos have not lost at home for more than six months.
- Anadolu have lost both of their away games in the current EuroLeague season.
- Olympiacos have beaten Anadolu after halftime in nine of their last ten meetings.
- The last ten head-to-head meetings between these teams are evenly split at 5-5.
Olympiacos
Olympiacos enter the fourth round of the EuroLeague with a positive 2-1 record. The team opened the competition with a convincing 106-89 win over Baskonia, before edging Zalgiris 93-91 in a tense finish in Kaunas. However, in the third round, Georgios Bartzokas's side lost 96-94 away to Virtus. The defeat was particularly painful, as the Greek club had every chance to win the game but failed to put its opponent away down the stretch.
Olympiacos's offensive firepower remains a major strength. The team have scored more than 90 points in two of their three EuroLeague games, and in their opener against Baskonia showed just how dangerous they can be in transition. At the same time, the loss to Virtus exposed defensive issues: conceding 96 points is far too much for a team targeting the highest positions in the standings.
Olympiacos also opened their domestic campaign with a win. In the first round of the Greek league, the team beat Iraklis 78-68 on the road. Before that, the Piraeus side won the Greek Super Cup, first defeating AEK 93-80 and then beating PAOK 101-96 in the final.
Particular attention will have to be paid to Sasha Vezenkov and Olympiacos's entire frontcourt. The Greek club can create pressure through rebounding and its inside game, while home-court advantage in Piraeus traditionally provides an additional boost.
Anadolu Efes
Anadolu Efes, meanwhile, have made an inconsistent start to their European campaign and sit at 1-2 after three rounds. The Turkish team lost 89-82 to Barcelona in their opener, then surprisingly cruised past Real Madrid 94-84, before falling 77-72 to Crvena zvezda in the third round. Efes have already shown that they can beat one of the tournament's leading favorites, but the team still lacks consistency.
Efes's main problem ahead of the game in Piraeus is the serious injury suffered by Mike James. The American point guard ruptured his Achilles tendon against Crvena zvezda and is expected to miss between seven and nine months, according to preliminary estimates. Before the injury, James had quickly become one of the team's leaders, averaging 17 points and 4.5 assists per EuroLeague game.
Efes have also already played two league games in Turkey. In the opening round, the team beat Besiktas 95-81 before overcoming Bordeaux 85-79. This start underlines the main feature of the current Efes roster: the team possesses tremendous individual talent, even if it does not yet look fully balanced.
The game in Piraeus will be Efes's first serious test since losing James. The Turkish club will have to compensate for the absence of one of its primary playmakers through team basketball and greater efficiency from its other leaders. The win over Real Madrid showed that the team's potential is enormous, but the defeat to Crvena zvezda and the loss of James indicate that Efes are currently in a more vulnerable position.
What to bet on?
Olympiacos look preferable thanks to home-court advantage, their more consistent start and the absence of Mike James for their opponents. Efes, however, have enough quality to keep the game competitive for most of the night. We expect a hard-fought contest, but the advantage should belong to the hosts down the stretch. My pick is Olympiacos to win with a -6-point handicap.
