Adam Williams presents his prediction for the EuroLeague match.
The Catalans have managed just one win in their last five outings, sparking rumours about Joan Peñarroya's potential departure. The Spanish coach has faced severe criticism — can he turn things around against a strong Panathinaikos side?
Panathinaikos
Following a defeat to AS Monaco (88:91), the Greek team rebounded by thrashing Maroussi in the domestic championship (100:74), proving that loss to be an anomaly. Panathinaikos excel offensively, averaging around 86 points per game. Particularly noteworthy is the pairing of Marius Grigonis and Mathias Lessort, who collectively average 32.6 points. Additionally, Panathinaikos impress with their active defence, averaging 7.4 steals per game.
Barcelona
The main issue for the Catalans is the absence of a primary playmaker. Newcomer Raul Neto suffered an immediate injury, and Kevin Punter has struggled to fill this role, which has hampered his scoring effectiveness. Moreover, Barcelona's defence has been vulnerable — conceding 97 points to Real Madrid, 100 to Bayern Munich, 103 to Paris Basketball, and even Valencia managed 99 points in the domestic league.
Panathinaikos vs Barcelona Prediction
The Catalans' defensive issues are unlikely to be resolved quickly, giving Panathinaikos plenty of opportunities to put points on the board. We believe that an individual total in favour of the hosts is the most reliable bet.
