The hosts want to extend their winning streak. Olympiacos vs Olimpia Milano EuroLeague prediction
BC Olympiakos Piraeus
Olimpia Milano
On Friday, October 30, Olympiacos will host Olimpia Milano in the ninth round of the EuroLeague regular season. The game will take place at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus, with tip-off scheduled for 20:15 Central European Time. I am backing a bet on the winner of this game.
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H2H and statistical facts
- Milan have lost three games in a row.
- In the EuroLeague, the Italians have suffered six consecutive defeats.
- Olympiacos have lost just one home game this season.
- Milan have lost their last four games in Piraeus.
Olympiacos
Olympiacos head into this home game after an important 81:73 away win over Besiktas. Before that, Georgios Bartzokas' team lost to Fenerbahce 61:64, although they had previously produced two high-scoring performances in Spain, beating Barcelona 105:100 and Valencia 102:97. These results show that the Piraeus side are capable of winning even on challenging courts.
Olympiacos also look confident in the Greek league. In their latest games, the team crushed Promitheas 85:45 and defeated Vikos 79:68. The difference in class is particularly evident on defense: against Promitheas, the Piraeus side allowed just 45 points. That level of defensive intensity could become a major advantage against Milan, who have struggled for consistency lately.
One of Olympiacos' key players remains Sasha Vezenkov, whose scoring ability and knack for finding open spaces make him a vital part of the offense. In the backcourt, special attention should be paid to Tyler Dorsey, who can score both off drives and from the perimeter. According to this season's statistics, Dorsey ranks among the team's most notable players in terms of individual efficiency.
The Greeks' main advantage is the combination of roster depth, home-court advantage and the ability to raise their level in decisive moments. At the same time, the defeat to Fenerbahce showed that Olympiacos do not always manage to maintain a high tempo throughout the entire game. Against Olimpia, they must avoid turnovers and prevent their opponents from getting easy points in transition.
Olimpia Milano
Milan head to Piraeus after an 80:75 defeat to Panathinaikos. Before that, the team lost to Barcelona 81:89 and Dubai 97:101. Olimpia scored enough points in those games to challenge for victory, but lacked defensive reliability and execution in key moments. Their EuroLeague losing streak has seriously complicated the Italian club's situation.
The situation in the Italian league is also far from straightforward. In their most recent domestic game, Olimpia lost to Virtus 94:98 in overtime, although they had previously comfortably beaten Napoli 98:82. The victory over Napoli showcased the team's attacking potential, but the result against Virtus once again highlighted Milan's difficulties in protecting leads and stopping opponents down the stretch.
Among the players who will be crucial in attack are Devon Hall and Marko Guduric. Hall can create opportunities both for himself and his teammates, while Guduric gives the team additional options with his outside shooting and ability to create off the dribble.
Olimpia's key task will be to improve their defense and control the glass. Conceding almost 90 points per game against an opponent like Olympiacos would be a dangerous strategy. The Italians need to slow the pace, as otherwise it will be extremely difficult for them to challenge for the win.
What to bet on?
Olympiacos look like the favorites thanks to their more consistent results, home-court advantage and quality offensive play. However, the Greeks have some personnel issues: Evan Fournier and Tyler Dorsey missed the previous games, while Fournier's availability for the clash with Milan was still in doubt. In addition, center Nikola Milutinov missed the game against Besiktas because of a toe injury. This could shorten the hosts' rotation and give the visitors a chance to compete for the result. Nevertheless, Olympiacos look the more convincing side at the moment, especially given their recent EuroLeague victories. My prediction is an Olympiacos win with a -7-point handicap.
