Olympiacos vs Fenerbahce: The First Big Test of the Season in Crete

The 2026-25 EuroLeague season has not officially started, but Olympiacos has already faced a tough test on Crete soil. The friendly match against Fenerbahce as part of the IBT Euroleague tournament was the first time head coach Giorgos Bartzokas assembled a nearly complete squad. Just two days prior, all new signings had gathered, including Jean Montero – the young star formerly with Real Madrid and Granada. This is not just an ordinary preseason game; it is the first measuring stick for the ambitions of the Piraeus club, ranked 2nd in the EuroLeague summer power rankings behind only Panathinaikos. The context is even more special as Olympiacos and Fenerbahce will meet again just days later in the Abu Dhabi Super Cup – a newly established tournament by the EuroLeague to expand into the Gulf market. Facing each other twice in less than a week creates an early dramatic rivalry, allowing both teams to test tactics and assess direct opponents. However, Olympiacos entered the match with significant losses: captain Kostas Papanikolaou is absent due to an injury from national team duty, while Giannoulis Larentzakis decided not to travel and is heading to AEK. Data and tactical analysis show that despite being a friendly, this match provides crucial signals about the integration of new players. Jean Montero, with his famous quote 'Olympiacos is a challenge and I like challenges,' has a big opportunity to prove his worth after an inconsistent stint in Spain. Bartzokas's system demands defensive discipline and offensive cohesion – something Montero has not consistently shown at the EuroLeague level. Papanikolaou's absence further exposes the wing gap: at age 34, even a minor injury can linger and affect the entire season. Meanwhile, Larentzakis's departure frees up salary cap and opens opportunities for younger faces, but also removes an experienced backup option. A contrarian view: do not overvalue the result of this friendly. The compressed schedule (Crete then Abu Dhabi) and the fact that the full squad only gathered two days prior mean the professional quality cannot yet reflect true strength. Even Tzirovic's criticism of Miller-McIntyre (and praise for Francisco) may indicate internal debates about point guard roles – a potential issue if Montero is not ready. What matters more is how Bartzokas manages risk: keep veteran pillars from overloading while allowing newcomers to adapt to the system. In conclusion, Olympiacos is in a favored but risky position. Greek basketball's dominance (Olympiacos and Panathinaikos ranked 1-2) is the big story of the season, but expectation pressure can suffocate teams lacking depth. The match against Fenerbahce in Abu Dhabi on September 18 will be the first real milestone. If Montero shines and Papanikolaou returns in time, Olympiacos can go far. If not, the long race begins with more questions than answers.