Derby of the eternal enemies (basketball)

Derby of the eternal adversaries (Greek: Ντέρμπι των αιωνίων αντιπάλων), also called Mother of all battles (Greek: Μητέρα των μαχών), is the name of the basketball local derby in Athens between Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. The Greek powerhouses have clashed in three Euroleague semifinals (1994, 1995, 2009) and have won a combined nine Euroleague titles since 1996, thus being among the most successful clubs in European basketball history. Their rivalry inside and outside the Greek borders is considered one of the most thrilling in the basketball world.^[1][2][3]

History

Culture rivalry

The rivalry between the two top Greek clubs can be traced back to some social, cultural and regional differences. Panathinaikos comes from the center of Athens and was considered the classic representative of the old Athenian society and culture. On the other hand, Olympiacos comes from Piraeus and used to represent the middle class of merchants in the port of Piraeus and the world of the working class. However, this kind of clash was much more pronounced in the past, as the class differences between the fanbases have faded out and the social gap that once separated the two sides has closed over the years. Nowadays, both clubs boast fanbases that represent all the social classes.

Basketball rivalry

Panathinaikos is the most successful basketball club in Greece, with Olympiacos being runners-up. The eternal enemies are the most traditional basketball powers as they have been fighting in the top level of the Greek basketball scene longer than any other team.

Their rivalry is highly credited, especially in the 1990s-2000s, when they met each other in several regular season and playoff series, and in some Euroleague matches which marked their history.

Statistics

Head-to-head

View of the Nikos Galis Olympic Indoor Hall during the 2008 Greek Basketball Championship final between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos.

Outside view of Peace and Friendship Stadium

Records

• Record A1 Ethniki win
  • Panathinaikos: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 86–55 (+31), Olympic Indoor Hall (13 February 2005)
    • home: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 86–55 (+31), Olympic Indoor Hall (13 February 2005)
    • away: Olympiacos - Panathinaikos 75–95 (+20), Papastrateio Indoor Hall (1 November 1986)
  • Olympiacos: Olympiacos - Panathinaikos 73–38 (+35) Peace and Friendship Stadium (19 May 1996)
    • home: Olympiacos - Panathinaikos 73–38 (+35), Peace and Friendship Stadium (19 May 1996)
    • away: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 70–82 (+12), Apostolos Nikolaidis Indoor Hall (31 January 1987)
• Record Cup win
  • Panathinaikos: Olympiacos - Panathinaikos 51–81 (+30), Peace and Friendship Stadium (13 October 2005)
    • home: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 85–72 (+13), Olympic Indoor Hall, (21 February 1996)
    • away: Olympiacos - Panathinaikos 51–81 (+30), Peace and Friendship Stadium (13 October 2005)
  • Olympiacos: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 68–110 (+42), Panathinaiko Stadium (1 June 1977)
    • home: Olympiacos - Panathinaikos 83–75 (+8), Peace and Friendship Stadium (5 April 2002)
    • away: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 68–110 (+42), Panathinaiko Stadium (1 June 1977)
• Record Euroleague win
  • Panathinaikos: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 89–78 (+11), Olympic Indoor Hall (28 March 2002)
    • home: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 89–78 (+11), Olympic Indoor Hall (28 March 2002)
    • away: None
  • Olympiacos: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 49–69 (+20), Olympic Indoor Hall (27 March 1997)
    • home: Olympiacos - Panathinaikos 92–75 (+17), Peace and Friendship Stadium (28 February 2002)
    • away: Panathinaikos - Olympiacos 49–69 (+20), Olympic Indoor Hall (27 March 1997)
• Longest sequence of A1 Ethniki wins
  • Panathinaikos: 5, 2005–06 to 2006–07
    • home: 13, 2006-2007 to 2009-10
    • away: 3, 1982–83 to 1984–85
  • Olympiacos: 5, 2014 to 2015
    • home: 12, 1994–95 to 1998–99
    • away: 2, 1986–87 to 1988–89, 1990–91 to 1992–93, 2014 to 2015
• Longest sequence of Cup wins
  • Panathinaikos: 6, 6 October 2003 – 22 February 2009
    • home: 4, 1996 – present
    • away: 5, 6 October 2003 – present
    • neutral: 3, 1978-79 to 1985-86
  • Olympiacos: 3, 14 July 1965 – 9 July 1969 and 3 May 1953 – 7 August 1960
    • home: 2, 1975 – 25 September 1994
    • away: 0
    • neutral: 2, 2009-10 to 2010-11

Matches list

Panhellenic Championship (1928−1963)

Alpha and A1 Ethniki (since 1963–64)

¹ Panathinaikos didn't show up in the match, so Olympiacos were awarded a 2–0 win.
² Match suspended with 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter due to crowd violence (score: 52-62). Panathinaikos were awarded the win with the score standing.
³ Match suspended with 1:03 remaining in the final quarter due to crowd violence (score: 69–76). Panathinaikos were awarded a 0–20 win.
⁴ Match suspended with 1:27 remaining in the final quarter due to crowd violence (score: 72–76). Panathinaikos were awarded a 0–20 win.

Greek Cup

• Series won: Panathinaikos 17, Olympiacos 7.

Euroleague

• Series won: Panathinaikos 2, Olympiacos 4.

Head-to-head ranking

• Total: Panathinaikos 38 times higher, Olympiacos 10 times higher.

Players in both clubs

Dino Radja

Vassilis Spanoulis

Coaches in both clubs

• Kostas Mourouzis
• Kostas Anastasatos
• Michalis Kyritsis
• Lefteris Subotić

Played for one club and coached the rival club

• Fedon Matheou (Panathinaikos as player, Olympiacos as coach)
• Panagiotis Giannakis (Panathinaikos as player, Olympiacos as coach)

See also

• Derby of the eternal enemies
• El Clásico

References

External links

• Official HEBA Site
• Official Hellenic Basketball Federation Site
• Sport.gr in Greek