Real Madrid lost the 2025-2026 EuroLeague final to Olympiacos 92-85 in Athens. Injuries in the squad and a massive rebounding disparity (42 to 26) weighed down the white team. Trey Lyles scored 24 points in the first half but disappeared after the break, while Olympiacos secured their fourth title with Evan Fournier (20 points) and Alec Peters (16) leading the way.
The Rebound Defeat: A Problem of System and Execution 🏀
The stat of 42 rebounds for Olympiacos versus 26 for Real Madrid is no coincidence. Without a dominant center in the paint, the white team relied on outside shots and couldn't generate second-chance opportunities. The perimeter defense also failed: Fournier and Peters received passes in comfortable positions. The difference in offensive rebounds (14 to 5) allowed Olympiacos to maintain long possessions and control the game's tempo. Without tactical adjustments in the paint, the defeat was predictable.
Lyles: 24 Points in the First Half, 0 in the Second 😅
Trey Lyles came out like a rocket in the first half, but someone must have changed his batteries at halftime. In the second half, his presence on the court was similar to a carton of milk forgotten in the fridge: it took up space but contributed nothing. Meanwhile, Fournier and Peters celebrated with the Greek crowd. Madrid went home with a lesson learned: in basketball, one half of glory means nothing if you disappear in the other.