ATHENS. Olympiacos Piraeus and Real Madrid will compete for the EuroLeague title this Sunday in a final marked by two very different paths to the decisive game, but also by a factor that could condition everything: the devastating interior situation for the white team following Usman Garuba's injury, which leaves Sergio Scariolo without his three main physical references in the paint.
Real Madrid reached the final after defeating Valencia Basket 90-105 in a semifinal that was much more demanding than the final score suggests. The whites needed an enormous offensive performance from Mario Hezonja and the leadership of Facundo Campazzo and Gabriel Deck to break through the orange team's resistance, but the big news from the game was Garuba's serious injury.
The Spanish center left the court unable to put weight on his left foot, and initial reports point to a possible significant Achilles tendon injury. His absence adds to the already known absences of Walter Tavares and Alex Len, leaving Real Madrid without natural centers to compete in a final of this magnitude against one of the most physical teams in the entire competition.
And that's precisely where one of the major tactical focal points of the final emerges.
Olympiacos has been one of the most dominant teams in the EuroLeague all season in rebounding and interior play. Georgios Bartzokas' team averages 37.3 rebounds per game and features one of the tournament's most solid defenses, allowing just 82.4 points per game. Additionally, they have Nikola Milutinov, Donta Hall, and Tyrique Jones as primary physical threats near the basket.
Milutinov arrives after completely dominating the semifinal against Fenerbahce, grabbing 13 rebounds and being a constant presence on both sides of the court. With Madrid lacking size and interior intimidation, Olympiacos could look to punish that enormous physical difference from the opening tip.
Because if anything the Greek team's semifinal made clear, it was their defensive level. Olympiacos crushed Fenerbahce 79-61 in a game where they controlled the pace from the opening tip-off. The Greek team started with a devastating 12-0 run and never allowed the Turkish champions to truly get into the game.
The perimeter defense led by Thomas Walkup, Tyson Ward, and Tyler Dorsey made the difference once again, while Sasha Vezenkov confirmed he's arriving at a spectacular moment. The Bulgarian MVP averages 19.2 points and 22.5 efficiency rating this season, being the great offensive reference for an Olympiacos team that leads the EuroLeague in points, assists, and efficiency rating.
In offense, Bartzokas' team stands out for their ball movement and offensive efficiency. Olympiacos leads the competition in assists (21.5) and two-point percentage (59.5%), in addition to being the best team in the entire EuroLeague in average efficiency rating (110.1 PIR).
Real Madrid, however, has demonstrated throughout the season an enormous competitive capacity even in extreme situations. The whites reach the final after playing one of the most physically challenging seasons in recent years, but they continue finding solutions through the talent of Campazzo, Hezonja, and Deck.
Mario Hezonja will probably be the great offensive reference for Madrid in this final. The Croatian comes off destroying Valencia Basket in the semifinals and will be fundamental to keeping Madrid competitive from the perimeter. Trey Lyles can also gain even more importance in a structure where the white team will likely have to open up the floor much more and play with smaller lineups for many minutes.
That's where another key to the final appears: the three-pointer.
Real Madrid shoots better from outside throughout the season (37.7% compared to Olympiacos' 35.9%) and will likely need a very inspired game from the perimeter to compensate for the interior physical disadvantage. Campazzo, Abalde, Hezonja, Feliz, or Lyles will have to assume much offensive responsibility if the whites want to prevent the game from becoming a battle of attrition near the basket.
Pace control will also be important. Olympiacos feels comfortable playing long possessions, moving the ball, and punishing defensive mistakes with patience. Real Madrid, on the other hand, will likely try to speed up the game, push the pace after defensive rebounds, and avoid static possessions where they could suffer more from the absence of size.
On an emotional level, the setting also seems favorable to the Greek team. Olympiacos will play practically at home, with a clearly favorable atmosphere in Athens and with the feeling of having reached the final in a very solid moment both physically and collectively.
But if anything Real Madrid has historically demonstrated in the EuroLeague, it's their capacity to survive in impossible scenarios. The white team will play the 22nd European Cup final in their history and appears in the tournament's final game once again despite a season marked by injuries and physical difficulties.
On paper, Olympiacos seems to arrive with more balance, more interior depth, and better collective form. But a final between Olympiacos and Real Madrid rarely responds solely to statistical logic.