Zalgiris-Olympia, a historic rivalry: history

In Kaunas challenge number 25 between Zalgiris and Olimpia

The rivalry between Zalgiris Kaunas and Olimpia Milano has deep roots, spanning decades in the European basketball landscape. In total, the two teams have met 24 times, with Zalgiris holding a slight advantage, having won 13 of those meetings. Their first contention occurred in the 1985/86 season, when Zalgiris, led by legend Arvydas Sabonis, managed to snatch an 80-79 victory in Kaunas. However, Milan took revenge in the return match, dominating with a clear 95-66.

In the following season, during which Olimpia won the first of two consecutive Champions Cup titles, it got the better of Zalgiris in both season meetings, with a 75-71 win in Milan and an impressive 100-85 victory in Kaunas, the latter game played in the absence of Sabonis, who was injured.

Despite these setbacks, Zalgiris did not remain empty-handed, winning the 1998 Saporta Cup final with a solid 82-67 win. Since then, the comparisons have been intense, with Olimpia racking up four consecutive wins before suffering three defeats in the last two seasons.

Overall, in Kaunas, Olimpia has triumphed four times, most recently in the 2021/22 season, marking another exciting chapter in this historic European rivalry.