EL: Zvezda fade late as Panathinaikos seize the moment

Crvena zvezda Meridianbet suffered a heartbreaking 82:74 road defeat against Panathinaikos Athens in today’s EuroLeague clash, despite delivering an excellent performance for most of the game.

The red-and-whites looked in full control throughout the opening 30 minutes. Playing with confidence and composure, Zvezda dictated the tempo and held the lead for the majority of that stretch, even building a promising double-digit advantage. Late in the third quarter, the Belgrade side reached their peak with a 12-point cushion, appearing well on track to secure a valuable road win.

However, the closing moments of the third period hinted that the game was far from over. Panathinaikos managed to cut the deficit to seven points before the final quarter, gaining crucial momentum heading into the decisive stretch.

That momentum carried over into the fourth quarter, where the Greek side completely turned the tide. Panathinaikos dominated the final period 27:12, tightening their defense while finding offensive rhythm at the perfect time. On the other end, Zvezda struggled to maintain their earlier flow, as their offense stalled under pressure.

In the end, Panathinaikos completed the comeback and claimed a thrilling 82:74 victory.

Following this defeat, Crvena zvezda Meridianbet now hold an 18-14 record in the EuroLeague standings.

2025/26 EuroLeague Regular Season, Round 32, Friday, March 20:

PANATHINAIKOS AKTOR ATHENS – Crvena zvezda Meridianbet 82:74 (20:27, 21:21, 14:14, 27:12)
Hayes-Davis 20, Nunn 19 | Butler 15, Bolomboy 12, Moneke 12.