In the EuroLeague Round 31 match, AS Monaco, playing under an interim head coach, defeated the favored Olympiacos Piraeus by one point thanks to a decisive shot by Matthew Strazel.
Monaco's victory
The hosts won 81-80 thanks to points by Matthew Strazel in the final moments of the game.
Bartzokas's mistake
Olympiacos coach Georgios Bartzokas took responsibility for the loss, pointing to the team's improper mentality.
Standings situation
Olympiacos with a 20-11 record remains at the top, while Monaco (17-14) fights for a better position ahead of the playoffs.
AS Monaco defeated Olympiacos Piraeus 81-80 in the EuroLeague Round 31 match held on March 12, 2026, in Monaco. The hosts' victory was sealed in the final moments of the game by Matthew Strazel, whose shot decided the final score. Despite the loss, the team from Piraeus maintained a higher position in the standings with a record of 20 wins and 11 losses, while the team from the Principality currently has a record of 17-14. In the same round of games, another Greek team, Panathinaikos Athens, also won its match. The rivalry between Olympiacos and AS Monaco has gained particular significance in European basketball in recent years. In the 2022/2023 season, the two teams met in the Final Four semifinals of the EuroLeague, where the Greek team came out on top. A year earlier, in 2022, these teams fought a thrilling five-game battle in the quarterfinals of the competition, which was also decided in favor of Olympiacos. Monaco's current victory is revenge for a loss in the first round of the current season.
The Monaco team entered this prestigious clash in a difficult roster situation, playing under an interim head coach, Manuchar Markoishvili. The hosts' leading scorer was Mike James, who recorded 14 points. He was supported by Jaron Blossomgame and Daniel Theis, who scored 13 points each. The victory over the favored opponent was considered a major achievement by French media, considering the squad's weaknesses and the opponent's status as a team fighting for a top seed ahead of the playoffs. EuroLeague Round 31 Match: AS Monaco 81:80 Olympiakos Pireus
For the visitors, the most effective was Tyler Dorsey, scorer of 19 points, with Alec Peters adding 17. Serbian center Nikola Milutinov was close to recording a double-double, finishing the contest with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Greek team's coach did not hide his disappointment with his players' performance, taking responsibility for the result upon himself. He pointed to mistakes in the team's mental preparation for this specific away game. „Είναι δικό μου λάθος, δεν είχαμε τη σωστή νοοτροπία” (It's my mistake, we didn't have the right mentality) — Georgios Bartzokas via NewsIT
The Olympiacos loss in Monaco was described by Greek media as an unexpected result stemming from underestimating the opponent. 31 (round) — the stage of the EuroLeague competition in which the match took place The situation in the standings after this round became even more tense, especially in the context of the fight for direct qualification to the quarterfinals without having to play in the play-in tournament. Top of the standings after Round 31 (selected teams): 1. Olympiakos Pireus — 20-11; 2. AS Monaco — 17-14
Mentioned People
- Matthew Strazel — French professional basketball player for AS Monaco, French national team player.
- Georgios Bartzokas — Greek former basketball player and current basketball coach for club Olympiacos.
- Manuchar Markoishvili — Former Georgian basketball player and coach, currently interim head coach of AS Monaco.
- Mike James — American basketball player playing for AS Monaco.
- Jaron Blossomgame — American basketball player playing for AS Monaco.
- Daniel Theis — German basketball player playing for AS Monaco.
- Tyler Dorsey — Greek-American basketball player playing for Olympiacos, Greek national team player.
- Alec Peters — American basketball player playing for Olympiacos.
- Nikola Milutinov — Serbian professional basketball player playing for Olympiacos, Serbian national team player.