Olympiakos sees an advantage, the EuroLeague on a knife edge

And the last are the first to preach the gospel. Bottom Zalgiris defeated champions Barcelona (5th loss this year) and the EuroLeague enters the home straight with bated breath. Olympiacos seems to have a big advantage for 4th place at least (it’s alive for 3rd place too) as Efes lost their second series of games away as they witnessed the fall of the all-important Monaco. In the remaining five or six games (seven in some cases), everything is scored in detail.

There will be a big fight to complete the octave with 14-15 wins being the goal. If we consider that the four champions plus Efes are not in danger due to the program, six teams will claim the three spots for the playoffs. Let’s take a closer look.

First the score

1. Barcelona 18-5
2. Real Madrid 17-6
3. Armani Milan 16-7
4. Olympiacos 15-8
5. Anantulous Efes 12-10
6. Bayern 12-10
7. Maccabi Tel Aviv 11-11
8. Red Star 11-12
9. Monaco 11-13
10. Fenerbahce 9-13
11. Alba Berlin 9-12
12. Basconia 9-15
13. Villeurbanne 7-16
14. Salgiris 7-16
15. Panathinaikos 6-16

Barça still have the advantage with an extra win for Real and beating the Madrilenians 2-0 for the first time, but they are not 100% sure they will win first place and the advantage over everyone in the finals. .

Barcelona won’t finish first if they get two losses behind the ‘queen’. It’s not easy because, but not entirely improbable.

• The program of the Catalans: Red Star (18/3), Fener (25/3), Maccabi (8/4, home), Alba Berlin (22/3), Olympiacos (1/4, away)

However, Real, who beat Armani again in extra time, became the favorites for second place as they have one win ahead of the Italians, essentially two, as they are better in case of a draw against the Italians, which will have to overtake the Madrilenians get two extra wins. In a theoretical treble with Real, Milan and Olympiakos, the “Queen” has an advantage as it has a better margin (by one point) than the “Red-Whites”. The three teams can equalize the 19 or 20 wins in the remaining five games until the end of the regular season, with Real 2 or 3, Milan 3 or 4 and Olympiakos 4 or 5 wins.

In such triple tieReal are second, Olympiakos third and Armani fourth.

• Real’s program includes home games against Villeurbanne (17/3), Bayern (7/4) and Efes (22/3), Maccabi (24/3) and Panathinaikos (31/3).

Olympiacos has a slight advantage

The situation between Armani and Olympiakos didn’t change as both lost. Milan still have a win advantage, Olympiacos are better in a draw, so if they win one more than the Italian team they will overtake them in the standings. Recall that the Olympiacos has to play also with Panathinaikos (17/3), Barcelona (1/4, home), Zalgiris (15/3), Monaco (23/3) and Villeurbanne (25/3, away). the Armani program includes Bayern (18/3) -Monaco (31/3) in Milan and Maccabi (22/3), Efes (24/3), Villeurbanne (7/4) away.

Efes suffered a second consecutive away defeat. After Vitoria, they lost (by a wide margin) to Monaco, remaining on 12 wins (and 10 losses). He may have a game more than Milan and Olympiacos but is three wins away from the ‘Red-Whites’ and four from the Italians.

That means, in order to pull the gap on Olympiacos, who still reigns supreme in fourth place, they need to win three more than the “Red-Whites” to measure the best point difference between the games. The chances are clearly in favor of the Greek team, which logically is not in danger with 3 wins

There is also a case of triple draws (out of 18 wins), with Efes 6/6, Olympiakos three wins and Armani Milan two wins. Then the “red and white” take advantage of the 2:0 against Armani and have another lead (3rd Olympiakos, 4th Efes, 5th Milan)

• The program of Efes: Real (22/3), Milan (24/3), Bayern (29/3), Alba (1/4, At home), Zalgiris (17/3), Er.Asteras (7/4, away).

The big qualifier

However, Efes’ two defeats don’t make her as confident for 5th place as she had imagined ahead of the Vitoria and Monaco games. He couldn’t break away from Bayern, while both Maccabi and Monaco, who have 11 wins and… a favorable programme, are hoping to finish in the top eight, possibly in a very good position.

Three others (Er. Asteras, Alba and Fener) are still hoping to qualify in the end. Limit 14 wins or maybe 15? We will see!

THE Bavaria has 12-10, has benefited from the defeats of Efes as they stay level with the Turkish team, yet they face a very difficult program with only one game at home and five away! It has to make consecutive defections to follow Efes (4 games at home, regardless of going through a period of deformation). Essentially she will be fighting for her qualifications and aiming for 2-3 wins that will get her 15-13 and give her the ticket.

• The Bayern program: Red Star (1/4, At home), Fener (15/3), Armani Milan (18/3), Panathinaikos (22/3), Efes (29/3) and Real Madrid (7/4, away)

Maccabi lost but is still in the qualifying round. The Israelis have 11-11 on their schedule, can pick up three or four wins in the remaining six games to go where qualification counts. Anything above that gives them something better than 8th place.

• The Maccabi program: Armani Milan (22/3), Real Madrid (24/3), Villeurbanne (31/3), Fener (13/4, At home), Panathinaikos (29/3), Barcelona (8/4 away)

However, Asteras’ two big home wins (with Real and Maccabi) made the Serbs think about a double disadvantage qualification. They have five games left (one less than Bayern-Maccabi) and only one home game left (against Efes). They have to hunt big ducks, which is not easy for them. Your upper limit is the 14 wins …

• The Red Star program: Effects (7/4, At home), Barcelona (18/3), Alba (25/3), Bayern (1/4), Zalgiris (3/4, away)

Monaco have lost four victories since the results with the Russian teams were annulled, yet they still seem determined to clinch the play-off ticket as far as possible. The impressive dominance over Efes shows its dynamism. She might only have four games left, but if she gets the three she has at home, she’ll hit 14 wins and make it through to qualifiers!

• The Monaco program: Olympiakos (23/3), Baskonia (25/3), Alba (8/4) At home) Armani of Milan (31/3, away)

Let’s go to the teams that have 9 wins. It’s far away, but not out of the fight yet. Especially Alba, who still has seven games to play! Three away and four away. If he plays like Olympiacos, he can reach 14 wins. Difficult, but not impossible for the most likeable German team.

• The Alba program: Barcelona (22/3), Red Star (25/3), Panathinaikos (6/4, home) Baskonia (18/3) Fener (29/3), Efes (1/4), Monaco (8/4)

Fener is also aiming for five wins (in six games), which is 9-13, and is crying out for the vote of Efes, who was in favor of not forgiving the Russian results (and that’s how Fener lost three wins). If she wins all three home games, she will have two more wins in the other three away in Istanbul.

• Fener’s program: Bayern (15/3) Alba (29/3), Panathinaikos (8/4, At home), Basconia (22/3), Barcelona (25/3), Maccabi (13/4, away)

Basconia also has nine wins, but in 24 games, so only four games left. Even if he gets everything, he doesn’t catch the train.