BC Žalgiris vs. Olympiacos B.C. Prediction on January 2, 2025

Match info

This is the 2024–25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague prediction for Thursday, January 2, for the match between BC Žalgiris and Olympiacos B.C. The Greek team had won three straight games before traveling to Kaunas for this 19th round of the top European men’s basketball club championship. Meanwhile, the Lithuanians had already suffered two defeats in a row at the hands of clear underdogs. The odds provided by basketball bookmakers indicate that they aren’t the favorites in the home game at their Žalgirio Arena (8 p.m. local time), which seems reasonable.

Meeting statistics

The current form of BC Žalgiris

The last two EuroLeague games have been both losses for the Lithuanians. It’s interesting to note that they lost to ASVEL at home and Maccabi away, who are ranked 15th and 16th in the standings, respectively. Žalgiris only managed to score 78 points against the latter, which gives up almost 90 points every game on its home court. No one remembers the last time the Israelis gave up so little this season. The “Žaliai balti” (the “Green-Whites”) only put in 72 points against the French, which is even lower than against Maccabi. The team coached by Andrea Trinchieri is obviously going through an attacking crisis.

Žalgiris are, due to everything we said, clear outsiders in the match against the second-placed Olympiacos. The form of the Lithuanian powerhouse and their place in the standings—they are ninth—is why the moneyline bet on them is estimated at 2.23 on Casinia, while making the same bet on their rivals is estimated at 1.65.

The current form of Olympiacos B.C.

It must be acknowledged right away that the Piraeus side not only loses more games on the road than at home, where it’s nearly flawless, but they also give up a lot of points—an average of precisely 85 points each game. Olympiacos have only let up less than 80 points once in their last five away games.

However, these stats don’t address the question of why Žalgiris only scored 78 against the leaky Israeli defense and, at the same time, conceded 95 from Maccabi even though the Lithuanians’ defense is known to be vicious and impenetrable. Why did they score only 72 points against ASVEL in Kaunas, despite scoring almost 90 points away on numerous occasions before? Perhaps there’s a problem within the team...

In addition, “Kokkini” (the Reds) have won three straight home games against the Lithuanians, and in these three games, the visitors have never scored more than 78 points against the Piraeus squad. Do you need more reasons why Olympiacos are the favorites here?

Head-to-head

These two have met 35 times, and Olympiacos won 21 times, eight times in a row. Žalgiris prevailed 14 times, two of which after overtime (both were the only times these two drew in the regular time).

Match analytics

How the Lithuanians can beat Olympiacos, we just can’t imagine. The odds for Žalgiris’ total under is a generous offer. But we think you should opt for something else if wager on the match. Many factors lead to the conclusion that the Žalgiris players have had enough of Trinchieri’s tiresome basketball. We suggest betting on a comfortable winning margin for the Georgios Bartzokas wards.

Tip: Winning margin (incl. OT) – Olympiacos by 6+, with odds of 2.28 on Rabona.