By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The 21st of May 2023 will mark the fourth time in total, in which Olympiacos will face Real Madrid in a EuroLeague Final.
It all started in 1995 and almost 30 years ago, the score between the two European powerhouses in titles is 2-1 in favor of Real Madrid and 1-1 in the modern EuroLeague era.
It has to be noted that both wins of Real Madrid over Olympiacos have been registered so far only on Spanish soil.
Real Madrid – Olympiacos 73-61 (Zaragoza, 1995)
The EuroLeague was officially called at the time “European Champions Cup”, EuroLeague basketball as an organization didn’t exist at that point and the final between Real Madrid and Olympiacos included some very familiar names to basketball fans all over the world.
After beating Panathinaikos in the semifinal (58-53), Olympiacos led at the time by current Phoenix Suns commentator Eddie Johnson and Ukrainian legend Alexander Volkov faced Zeljko Obradovic‘s Real Madrid in the final, which got 23 points by Arvydas Sabonis and 16 by current EuroLeague commentator Joe Arlauckas.
Sabas was of course named MVP and legend has it that Olympiacos had the chance to sign him before Real Madrid, but Greek coach Giannis Ioannidis didn’t complete the deal due to fear of the injury woes on Sabonis’ knees. Sabonis ended up leaving Europe in the summer of 1995 despite being past his prime for the NBA and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Real Madrid – Olympiacos 88-100 (London, 2013)
With Olympiacos being the defending champions after an improbable win in 2012 over heavily favored CSKA Moscow and new coach Giorgos Bartzokas on the bench as the heir of the great, late Duda Ivkovic, the Reds would end up facing the Whites in the final.
It was a roller coaster of a game with Real Madrid leading by 17 after the first period. Pero Antic and Acie Law kept Olympiacos alive in the first half and Vassilis Spanoulis scored all his 22 points in the second half, getting his third Final Four MVP award on the way.
A 23-years old Kostas Sloukas added 11 points for the winning side, and a 22-years old Kostas Papanikolaou added five.
On the other side, Rudy Fernandez had 21 points for Real Madrid, Sergio Rodriguez added 17 and Sergio Llull had 14.