Olympiacos makes a Barça-Madrid double

Olympiacos makes a Barça-Madrid double

The Catalan team fell clearly on their visit to Piraeus as the whites did two days ago

Barça gave in with a bang (95-74) this Thursday in its visit to Olympiacos on the seventh day of the Euroleague, worn out by a week of double European ration that went well for the Greek team, which two days ago also beat Real Madrid in Piraeus.

Joan Peñarroya’s men are going through an irregular moment in the season, unable to string together two wins since their agonizing victory against Red Star. Barça, which gave up the lead while Olympiacos climbs the table, pays for the wear and tear and over-effort of a team that needs to get to know itself quickly, this time against another that is a clear contender for the title.

Olympiacos dispatched the Catalans with authority with serious dominance of the rebound (40-24) and taking advantage of those second opportunities against a rival that threw in the towel with 20 points down at the beginning of the last quarter. Evan Fournier (19 points) ended up being the top scorer, but Nikola Milutinov (12 and 8 rebounds), Sasha Vezenkov (18) and Shaquielle McKissic wreaked havoc.

Barça’s good entry into the Pavilion of Peace and Friendship did not even last the entire first quarter. From 13-17, the culé team found itself down 24-17 at the start of the second quarter, and no longer got close to the Greeks. Without defense or strength in the legs, not even the triple of other days with Darío Brizuela or Abrines, the Peñarroya team was in tow of an Olympiacos with a wardrobe, as demonstrated by the strong entrance of McKissic.

Kevin Punter (18 points), Chimezie Metu and the pride of Willy Hernangómez and Jabari Parker were some burning nails that Barça clung to (44-36). At the restart, the Barça team tried to defend, but once again Olympiacos went over the top, increasing their advantage to the point of unattainability, forceful as against Madrid, once again Georgios Bartzokas’ team looking good

TECHNICAL SHEET.

–RESULT: OLYMPIACOS, 95 – BARÇA, 74. (44-36, at halftime).

–TEAMS.

OLYMPIACOS: Walkup (8), Fournier (19), Papanikolaou (3), Vezenkov (18) and Milutinov (12) –quinteto inicial–; McKissic (10), William-Goss (2), Vildoza (-), Fall (2), Wright (4), Dorsey (12), Peters (5).

BARÇA: Núñez (3), Punter (18), Abrines (-), Parker (9) and Fall (-) –starting quintet–; Sarr (2), Anderson (5), Vesely (6), Brizuela (4), Metu (12), Satoransky (4), Hernangómez (11).

–PARTIALS: 21-17, 23-19, 21-14, 30-24.

–ARBITROS: Radovic, Pastusiak y Petek. Sin eliminated.

–PABELLÓN: Peace and Friendship Stadium.