Olympiacos Piraeus Defeats Panathinaikos in EuroLeague Derby to Extend Rivalry Winning Streak

Olympiacos Piraeus maintained their significant psychological edge over Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens, securing an 86-80 victory at the Peace and Friendship Stadium on Friday, March 6. This hard-fought win marks the eleventh consecutive triumph for the Piraeus-based club over their historic rivals, propelling them to a 19-10 record in the 2025-26 EuroLeague regular season. The atmosphere remained electric as the Piraeus side solidified their dominance on the European stage. Conversely, Panathinaikos drops to 16-14 in the standings as they struggle to find consistency against their local foes.

What made the victory particularly impressive was Olympiacos’s ability to prevail despite the injury absences of key stars Thomas Walkup, Sasha Vezenkov, and Monte Morris. Faced with these challenges, head coach Georgios Bartzokas relied on his roster’s collective strength; every player who entered the game scored, with eight members of the squad tallying at least eight points. Tyler Dorsey led the scoring with 13 points, including three critical shots from beyond the arc. Nikola Milutinov dominated the paint with 12 points and four rebounds, while Frank Ntilikina and Cory Joseph provided stifling perimeter defense alongside 10 points each. Joseph also contributed four assists and two rebounds during his time on the floor.

The hosts set the tone early with intense defensive pressure, limiting Panathinaikos to just 13 points in the opening quarter and 16 in the second. However, the visitors clawed back after the interval, outscoring Olympiacos 27-18 in the third period to turn the derby into a high-stakes thriller. Ultimately, ball security dictated the outcome. Panathinaikos committed 17 turnovers—six more than their seasonal average—allowing Olympiacos to capitalize with 21 points off mistakes. Shaquielle McKissic and Ntilikina recorded multiple steals to disrupt the visitors’ flow. While Kendrick Nunn paced Panathinaikos with 20 points, his individual effort was hindered by his team’s inability to protect the ball during critical possessions.

The tension peaked late in the fourth quarter when Nunn narrowed the gap to 67-63. Dorsey responded immediately with back-to-back three-pointers, reclaiming momentum and pushing the lead back to seven. Despite 14 points each from Cedi Osman and Juancho Hernangomez, Panathinaikos could not close the distance. Olympiacos maintained composure to finalize the victory. Solidifying their status as top-seed contenders, Olympiacos now prepares for a trip to face AS Monaco. Panathinaikos will look to recover at home against Zalgiris Kaunas.

Created by the "nba Apuestas" editorial team.