Olympiacos Heads to Munich for Crucial Clash with Bayern
Olympiacos is on the road in Munich, ready to face Bayern in what promises to be a high-stakes EuroLeague Round 6 matchup. The Greek side will be without their captain, Kostas Papanikolaou, who suffered a bicep injury during practice and did not travel with the team. Despite this setback, Olympiacos arrives confident and prepared, eager to secure a victory on German soil.
Coach Giorgos Bartzokas highlighted the changes in the roster since their previous game against Maccabi. "We have three additions compared to that game," he noted, adding that while these additions could make a significant difference, the team cannot underestimate Bayern. Bartzokas also pointed out that Bayern is not the same squad as last season. They now feature bigger players on the perimeter and employ defensive switching strategies that could challenge Olympiacos if the team isn’t fully focused from tip-off.
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Thomas Walkup, Olympiacos’ guard, expressed optimism ahead of the match. He shared that he feels physically strong after a week of preparation and is ready to contribute fully. When asked if he senses any early-season fatigue, Walkup dismissed the idea, emphasizing that the team is still growing and improving day by day. Any slowing down at this point, he noted, could be detrimental.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, enters the game coming off a disappointing loss to Fenerbahce and sits with a 2-3 record. Their roster has undergone significant changes over the summer, losing key players Carsen Edwards and Nick Weiler-Babb. The team has struggled to find replacements, with Andreas Obst taking on a primary scoring role, though it’s not his natural position. Inconsistencies from other key players, including Vladimir Lucic and Wenyen Gabriel, have compounded Bayern’s challenges. Injuries to Stefan Jovic and others add further uncertainty to their lineup.
On the other hand, Olympiacos has demonstrated resilience, most notably with a dramatic comeback against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Round 5, turning a double-digit deficit into a one-point win. The team benefits from having dominant players like Sasha Vezenkov and Nikola Milutinov, who can control the game in crucial moments. The return of Evan Fournier and Shaq McKissic is also expected to strengthen Olympiacos’ rotation, addressing prior backcourt challenges.
Historically, Olympiacos has dominated this matchup, winning eight of the last nine encounters against Bayern. With the current squad nearing full strength, the Greek champions are viewed as the favorites to secure a hard-fought road victory. The game tips off at 20:30 CET, promising a thrilling contest as Olympiacos aims to continue their strong EuroLeague campaign.
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