A win in Bologna for Olympiacos
Olympiacos claimed a valuable victory against Bologna, defeating the Italian side 94–97. The 'red & whites' improved their record to 10–7 and closed out 2025 in ideal fashion, as they now prepare for the finale of the first round of the EuroLeague against Panathinaikos.
For three quarters, Olympiacos delivered one of their best performances of the season. However, in the final 10 minutes they committed one mistake after another, allowing Virtus to get back into the game. Tyler Dorsey was Olympiacos’ leading scorer with 23 points, while the contributions of Nikola Milutinov (13 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) and Sasha Vezenkov (16 points, 5 rebounds) were crucial. More than 500 Olympiacos' fans celebrated the important win in person, with club President Giorgos Angelopoulos also present at the arena.
Fournier continued with the same offensive momentum in the second quarter, and scoring 3 triples, along with Alec Peters going a perfect 3/3 from inside the paint, Olympiacos seemed to take the game where they wanted it. Tyler Dorsey was outstanding offensively, and with two of his free throws Olympiacos took a 10-point lead (32–42 at 15’).
Virtus responded at that point with Edwards, as the American scored 5 quick points to cut the deficit to 39–44, but once again Peters had the answers. The American forward, with 11 points and 5 rebounds, was the most valuable player for Giorgos Bartzokas’ team in the first half, which ended with Olympiacos up by 9 (41–50).
In the second half, Olympiacos entered the game with great focus and scored on their first possessions thanks to excellent ball movement. Former Olympiacos guard Luca Vildoza kept the Italian team close, while with the pace dropping in the third quarter, every point scored was valuable.
In that setting, Sasha Vezenkov and Evan Fournier thrived, in their own unique way, while Nikola Milutinov scored 6 consecutive points to give Olympiacos a 16-point lead (53–69 at 27’). The Frenchman hit three 3-pointers in the third quarter and reached six in total one minute before the start of the final quarter, showing that he has fully returned to high-level performances. The third quarter ended with Olympiacos up by 17 (60–77), with the team also showing a very solid defensive presence.
In the fourth quarter, Olympiacos lost their concentration and Virtus quickly showed why they are one of the strongest home teams in the competition. Matt Morgan scored 12 points in three minutes, and the Italian side came back from the “hell” of a 20-point deficit, cutting it to five (75–80 at 33’).
Olympiacos initially seemed to find the necessary solutions and, with Dorsey and Vezenkov, pushed the lead back to double digits, but Bologna was not done yet. With Vildoza as the absolute protagonist, the Italians closed in to one possession (88–90), and the game turned into a thriller.
In the crucial final minutes, Fournier, Dorsey, and Milutinov made the right decisions, and Olympiacos avoided a nightmare comeback, now turning their focus to the OAKA and Panathinaikos.
The quarters: 23–21, 41–50, 60–77, 94–97.
