By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos has received a formidable boost ahead of Round 35 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague Regular Season, and their clash against LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne, as veteran center Moustapha Fall has been medically cleared to return to the squad. The 34-year-old Paris native joins the team for the trip to Lyon following a grueling nine-month recovery from a patellar tendon rupture suffered in June.
While head coach Giorgos Bartzokas has not guaranteed minutes for the 2.18m Frenchman, Fall’s presence provides critical depth at the five position. His return is particularly vital as Olympiacos is currently without Tyrique Jones, who remains sidelined alongside Frank Ntilikina and Keenan Evans. Veteran guard Cory Joseph is out with an illness. Additionally, Giannoulis Larentzakis and Omiros Netzipoglou did not make the trip as healthy scratches.
Since joining the club in June 2021, the Crocodile has been a cornerstone of the team’s defensive identity and offensive fluidity. His resume in Piraeus is decorated with three Greek League titles and three Greek Cups, complemented by individual honors such as the 2023 Greek League Finals MVP and the 2024 Greek Cup MVP. He also holds a place in the history books as the ninth player to record a triple-double in the top-tier division of Greece.
The Reds currently sit in a tie for second place with Real Madrid, holding a 22-12 record. With only four regular-season games remaining, the Greek giants are focused on securing home-court advantage for the Playoffs, currently sitting 1.5 games clear of the play-in boundary.
In contrast, ASVEL enters Friday’s meeting at the LDLC Arena at the bottom of the standings with an 8-26 record. The hosts have been eliminated from postseason contention and will miss Glynn Watson Jr. due to a shoulder injury.
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