Olimpia’s record in the EuroLeague opening nights is 8-8. The Lyon game will represent the ninth opening game on the road for Olimpia. In the previous eight the record is 3-5. It is 5-3 at home where there is a 5-game winning streak still open that includes last season’s debut vs CSKA Moscow. Olimpia’s won its last two openers. Two years ago, it won in Munich after one overtime.
VS ASVEL – The All-time series against Asvel is made up by 11 games, five of them belonging to the EuroLeague modern era. Olimpia faces Asvel for the first time during the 1966-67 season for the then-EuroLeague winning both games, 86-66 in France (23 points were scored by Gabriele Vianello, 21 by Austin Robbins) and 103-85 in Milan (Steve Chubin had 26, Robbins 21). In the 1995/96 Korac Cup, Olimpia eliminated Asvel in the semifinals prevailing 81-72 on the road and 73-69 at home. Finally, in the 1997/98 Eurocup, in the quarterfinals stage, Olimpia won on the 67-58 (24 points were scored by Thurl Bailey) and so it survived a 70-62 home loss (17 by Flavio Portaluppi). Ironically, in each one of these three competitions Olimpia got to the championship game or series only to lose. In the EuroLeague, these two teams faces each other five times with Olimpia up on the head to head count 3-2. The first four games were all won by the home team, the last one was won by Olimpia in France. Overall, Olimpia is leading Asvel 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the EuroLeague. It is 4-1 at home and 4-2 on the road.
MORE ON ASVEL – During the last season, Olimpia defeated Asvel both times and both games finished with the slightest margin, just one point. In Milan, Asvel led most of the night, but Olimpia came back from 16 points behind and got in front for good with a three-pointer made with 27 seconds left by Devon Hall (the defense then resisted against David Lighty and Charles Kahudi final attempts). In France, Olimpia prevailed 81-80 after a weird closing minute that included a flagrant foul called on Devon Hall. Malcolm Delaney scored 25 points, Tommy Baldasso added 14 points overcoming the David Lighty’s 28-point losing effort.
