Panathinaikos is the Euroleague Champion for the 7th Time, Subdues Real Madrid 95-80

Panathinaikos are the top basketball team in Europe after beating favorites Real Madrid 95-80 and clinching their 7th Euroleague title on Sunday night in Berlin.

After a rocky start and a brave comeback in the second period, the Greek giants started the second half five points behind their rivals, then took off and kept going until the end, keeping the lead for the best part of the second half.

Despite having a team of four players with no Final Four experience, the Greek team managed to defeat the seasoned Real stars, who had won the trophy the previous year.

The two best teams of the year gave their fans an incredible first period. Real had 10/17 two-pointers, 8/16 three-pointers, and 10/11 shots, with 11 assists for three turnovers and Moussa at 13 points.

Panathinaikos had 10/17 two-pointers, 6/11 three-pointers, 11/15 shots, and six assists for six errors. The Greens held on at -11 still in contention for the trophy. Slukas was the first scorer for Panathinaikos with 11 points.

In the second period, Panathinaikos managed to turn the tide and led with 24-16, ending the first half only five points behind Real Madrid, going to the locker room with Real leading 54-49.

Panathinaikos turns the game around in the second half

The second half started with Panathinaikos on fire. Panathinaikos not only equalized the score but by the end of the third period he was three points ahead of last year’s champion (64-61).

Panathinaikos managed to get what they wanted: to keep the game at a low tempo and hold the ball as much as possible. The score of the third period was 15-7 with both teams looking tired.

The fourth period began with Panathinaikos looking determined to win the tournament. Early on they moved five points ahead of the Spanish team (66-61). From then on, the difference in points kept growing in favor of the Greek team.

In the fourth period, it was a battle between two greats, the leaders Kostas Sloukas and Sergio Llull, but by that time it was obvious that the Greek player would be the one to hold the trophy after the last buzzer.

Greek Prime Minister congratulates Panathinaikos

Last year Real Madrid faced the other great Greek basketball team, Olympiacos, in the final, leaving with the Euroleague Champion trophy with a 79-78 win. This time it was Olympiacos’ arch-rival to take revenge for Greece.

In the game for third place in the Euroleague 2023-2024, Olympiacos beat Fenerbahce 87-84.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis wrote on X after the great win for Greece:

“Another huge success for Greek sports! After an amazing performance in the final, Panathinaikos returns to the top of Europe as Euroleague champion!

Congratulations!”