Here are five important dates marked in red on the Olympiacos Piraeus calendar for 2021-22.
2021-22 Games to Watch: Olympiacos Piraeus
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Olympiacos Piraeus had a golden age in the 2010s when it won two of its three Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles (2012, 2013) and reached championship games in 2015 and 2017. The Reds, however, have not been to the playoffs in the 2020s. As the club looks for a quick turnaround, here are five important dates marked in red on the Reds' 2021-22 EuroLeague calendar.
ROUND 2: Pure history
Some of the best - and worst - moments in Olympiacos history are linked to Real Madrid. Olympiacos has played in eight EuroLeague championship games and three of them were against Los Blancos. Olympiacos prevailed in 2013, rallying from a 17-point deficit to defeat Real 100-88 behind 22 points from Final Four MVP Vassilis Spanoulis. Real beat Olympiacos in the 1995 and 2015 championship games. These teams will face each other this season for the 45th and 46th times; Real has won its last four games against Olympiacos.
ROUND 4: A traditionally tough matchup
In recent years, things have not been easy for Olympiacos when Zalgiris Kaunas stood in its way. Zalgiris eliminated Olympiacos in the 2018 playoffs despite not having the home-court advantage. In 2019, Zalgiris won again at Peace of Friendship Stadium late in the regular season and that victory eventually helped the Lithuanian champs make the playoffs. Last season, Olympiacos lost against Zalgiris twice. The good news for Olympiacos, however, is that Thomas Walkup switched teams and will be wearing Red this time.
ROUND 18: A modern classic
Olympiacos and CSKA have faced each other 42 times, but their rivalry took off in earnest on May 13, 2012, when the Reds rallied from a 19-point deficit in the final 13 minutes to lift the EuroLeague trophy. Olympiacos went on to beat CSKA in the semifinals in 2013, 2015 and 2017. All those legendary moments for Olympiacos fans should be the talk of the town when CSKA visits Piraeus because it is always special for the Reds’ faithful when the Russian powerhouse checks in at Peace and Friendship Stadium.
ROUND 30: Greece's biggest game
Olympiacos and Panathinaikos OPAP Athens have not faced each other many times in European competitions - only 19 previous clashes. In the last two seasons, however, the Greek derby could only be seen in the EuroLeague, which makes each showdown between the teams even more important. Last season, Panathinaikos stole a 77-88 road win at Peace and Friendship Stadium and that will be in the back of everyone's mind when they meet again in that arena. This is a unique rivalry between true rivals that only gets better with fans back in the stands.
ROUND 33: A great rivalry
Olympiacos has enjoyed great battles against FC Barcelona over the years. The fifth showdown between the teams was the 1997 EuroLeague championship game. Olympiacos topped Barcelona 73-58 behind 26 points from Final Four MVP David Rivers. It took Barcelona 13 years to take revenge, but eventually, it did, downing Olympiacos 86-68 to win the 2010 EuroLeague crown. Olympiacos knocked off Barcelona in the 2012 semifinals and the 2015 playoffs. Last season, the teams traded road victories. Olympiacos's last home win against Barcelona came in 2016.