Panathinaikos Athens broke a streak of difficulties by defeating Žalgiris Kaunas in the 31st round of the EuroLeague. The key factor for success was the return to the lineup of French center Mathias Lessort.

Key Return of Lessort

French center Mathias Lessort returned to play, providing the team with essential balance and dynamism under the basket.

Ergin Ataman's Tactics

Coach Ataman emphasized that Lessort's presence restored balance to the team's play, which was decisive for the outcome.

Support from Cedi Osman

The Turkish player played a key role in driving fast breaks, supporting the Athenians' defensive mindset.

Standings Situation

Panathinaikos's victory coincided with the loss of their main rival, Olympiacos Piraeus, in the same round.

Panathinaikos Athens defeated Žalgiris Kaunas in the 31st round of the EuroLeague, allowing the Greek team to return to a winning path after earlier difficulties. The key event of the evening on the court was the return to the lineup of the French center, Mathias Lessort, whose presence significantly influenced the team's performance at both ends of the court. Coach Ergin Ataman noted that reintegrating the player into the rotation restored the team's necessary stability in play. Panathinaikos BC is one of the most decorated basketball clubs in Europe, a multiple-time EuroLeague champion, belonging to the multi-sport Athens club. The competition in the 31st round of the 2025/2026 season falls during the decisive phase of the fight for playoff seeding. Žalgiris Kaunas, the most decorated Lithuanian club, remains a constant participant in the elite continental competition as a licensed EuroLeague team.

Coach of the Athens club, Ergin Ataman, pointed to the role of the returning leader in building an advantage on the court and regaining control over the game's tempo. Besides Lessort, Turkish forward Cedi Osman made a significant contribution to the final success, standing out primarily with his effectiveness in fast breaks. The dynamism in the transition from defense to offense and the passion in the defensive actions of the entire team proved to be the elements that tipped the scales of victory in favor of the hosts. . „Ο Λεσόρ μας έδωσε ισορροπία” (Lessort gave us balance) — Ergin Ataman via in.gr

After the match, Mathias Lessort directed thanks to the Panathinaikos fans, emphasizing that the fans were with him the whole time. The emotional dimension of the player's return was complemented by his son's social media post, which in a short message announced his father's return to competition. The result of this match, combined with the loss of the local rival — Olympiacos Piraeus — in the same round of games, led to significant changes in the EuroLeague standings, strengthening Panathinaikos's position ahead of upcoming challenges. 31 (kolejka) — EuroLeague round in which Panathinaikos defeated Žalgiris . „Προσοχή, ο μπαμπάς μου επέστρεψε” (Attention, my dad is back) — Mathias Lessort's son via NewsIT

Mentioned People

  • Mathias Lessort — French professional basketball player for Panathinaikos in the Greek league and the EuroLeague, playing as a center.
  • Ergin Ataman — Turkish professional basketball coach, currently leading Panathinaikos and the Turkish national team.
  • Cedi Osman — Turkish professional basketball player for Panathinaikos, formerly an NBA player for the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs.