By Eurohoops Team/ in**@eu*******.net
A streak of consecutive appearances in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four is destined to end in Palau Blaugrana on Wednesday. FC Barcelona welcomes Olympiacos in a do-or-die Game 5.
Recovering from an injury in his right ankle and an early exit in Game 4, Giannoulis Larentzakis was cleared for action. Similar to Barca, all players are available for head coach Giorgos Bartzokas.
“We are playing Game 5 for a third year in a row. We would like to finish earlier every year because these games are mentally demanding. However, the reason to become coaches and players is to participate in such important and big games,” said the Greek tactician.
Hoping to stop home teams from dominating Game 5 of the Playoffs, the Reds seek a third straight berth in the Final Four and a Semifinals meeting with Real Madrid, after losing to Los Blancos in the championship game of the 2022-23 season.
From a league-high 15-2 throughout the 2023-24 Regular Season, the Catalonia outfit dropped Game 1. Recovering the advantage in Greece led to a 2-2 split and created a home fixture to decide the best-of-five series.
“Playing at home gives you more energy, it helps, but you also have to do many things right on the court, especially in such a game, to win,” noted play-caller Roger Grimau.
One win from a fourth consecutive appearance in the Final Four, potentially eliminating Olympiacos would set up El Clasico in Berlin’s Uber Arena on May 24.
