Panathinaikos-Zalgiris Kaunas set for later tip-off: no overlap with football

Panathinaikos fans can breathe a sigh of relief: there is no longer a need to choose between the hardwood and the pitch. According to reports from Gazzetta, the EuroLeague Round 31 matchup against Zalgiris Kaunas is set for a schedule change.

The decision arises from the need to avoid a “conflict” in both TV broadcasting and stadium attendance with the club’s football section. On Thursday, March 12, Panathinaikos FC will face Real Betis in the first leg of the Europa League Round of 16, with kick-off scheduled for 18:45 CET.

Originally, the tip-off at the OAKA Arena would have overlapped almost entirely with the football team’s European clash. To allow the “Green” supporters to follow both games, EuroLeague is prepared to push the Zalgiris game back to 21:00 CET.

This is not a first for the Athenian club. A similar solution was already adopted last week during the game against Paris Basketball, which was moved to avoid clashing with the match against Viktoria Plzen.

Official confirmation is expected shortly, but the path forward seems clear.