Cologne, Belgrade, Kaunas and... Berlin? Almost without realizing it, Barça has stood at the gates of history thanks to its enormous victory in the Pavilion of Peace and Friendship, in the third game of its series against Olympiacos. Grimau's team has in its hands the qualification for the final four in Berlin at the end of May, from which it is now separated by only one victory. It would be the fourth consecutive season in which they would reach the Euroleague's quintessential event, an unprecedented milestone in the club's history.
Until now, apart from the current streak, Barça had played three consecutive final fours twice more: the 1989-1991 three-year period and the 2012-2014 period. And, as is the case now, neither of their two titles (2003 and 2010) came during those winning streaks, because reaching the final four is always a triumph.
The Barça team has two opportunities to take that last step that allows them to break barriers. They must win one more match of the two remaining in the series, the first this afternoon in Athens (6:45 p.m.) and, in case of defeat, the fifth and final match next week at the Palau.
“Olympiacos is on the ropes, they have no other way out than to win to stay alive, and they are going to give everything. We have to match that intensity as we have done in the last two games. The series is going to be won by the most physical team,” Ricky Rubio highlighted this Wednesday after morning training. Barça trained on one of the adjacent courts of the Athenian pavilion since the main one was occupied by Olympiacos itself, with both of them meeting at the venue at the same time. In the afternoon there was a video session and a lot of rest for the Barça players ahead of the fourth game.
“We are ready for a great fight, it will be even more difficult than Tuesday. We need good mental preparation because we know what awaits us,” warned Rokas Jokubaitis. “I trust that we will demonstrate the same character,” added the Lithuanian.
