Olympiacos received some good news as star center Moustapha Fall is expected to travel to Valencia for EuroLeague Round 26. The Reds are set to have Fall available after 3 weeks in the upcoming game against Valencia Basket.
The big man will provide a huge boost to Olympiacos frontline after suffering a right knee injury and staying away from the team for 3 weeks. The “Reds” played with a short frontline rotation with newcomer Moses Wright and Luke Sikma sharing the minutes in the center position.
While Fall could return on Thursday vs. Valencia, Olympiacos’ coaching staff will likely elect to help the big man get back in form with a limit in minutes at least in the upcoming game.
Fall has been a crucial part of Olympiacos’ success the last two seasons. During the 2023/24 EuroLeague campaign, he has appeared in 20 games averaging 7.7 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists, 1.2 blocks and a PIR of 14.7.
It’s almost certain that the Greek giants will look to have players back as soon as possible with crucial games in the EuroLeague and Greek Cup coming the following weeks. Olympiacos is coming from 2 consecutive wins in the EuroLeague improving to 14-11.
The “Reds” have won 3 of their last 4 despite the injury woes in key players. Nigel Williams-Goss, who has been in and out of the rotation, will also be available to play Thursday against Valencia.
Can Olympiacos make a final run for a top-6 seed in the EuroLeague?
Olympiacos experienced many ups and downs in the season so far, but the team looks ready to make a run for a top-5 seed. The upcoming vs. Valencia as the Spaniards are one game behind the Greek team in the EuroLeague standings. Olympiacos is sitting at 14-11 and is 7th, one game behind Fenerbahce, while Valencia are at 13-12 two games behind the sixth seed that secures a place in the playoffs.
This season, EuroLeague introduced a play-in tournament and the teams between 7th and 10th place will be fighting for the last two tickets in the postseason after the end of the regular season. Many teams are in the mix to secure a playoff berth this year with the margin between the 4th and the 11th placed team remaining close.
Olympiacos will have a tough schedule to face in the final 9 games of the season as the “Reds” are set to play 6 of their next 9 games away from home starting this week. After Valencia, Olympiacos is set to play against Zalgiris in Kaunas, while the fou home games remaining in the schedule are three derbies against Virtus Bologna (R28), Panathinaikos (R29) and Fenebahce (R34) and an easier one against Villeurbanne (R31).
