EUROLEAGUE - Olympiacos, Real Madrid look to stay unbeaten

MUNICH (Euroleague) - Olympiacos are the two-time defending champions of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague and unbeaten seven games into the 2013-14 campaign.

What the side led by coach Georgios Bartzokas will not be heading into Thursday's game at Bayern Munich is at full strength.

The Euroleague this week meted out punishment for last week's ugly scenes at the Peace and Friendship Stadium during the club's clash with Galatasaray, with center Mirza Begic and power forward Georgios Printezis each slapped with bans that will keep them out of action for the remainder of the regular season.

Because the Reds have already qualified for the Top 16, and the fact that Olympiacos will still have a squad that is still loaded with quality, they have every chance of winning for the eighth consecutive game in the competition.

Svetislav Pesic, the coach of Bayern Munich, expects the Greeks to be formidable at the Audi Dome.

"Olympiacos Piraeus is one of the best teams in Europe of all time," he said.

"Since the Olympic games in 1972, there has not a better team to play in our historic arena.

"The results, the roster and the individual quality of the players are clearly favoring Piraeus (Olympiacos), however no team is unbeatable.

"We have the home court advantage and the arena will be sold out.

"This is one of the games every basketball player lives for.

"We won't think about winning or losing. If we aren't hesitant and attack constantly, there is a chance to beat Piraeus."

Olympiacos will still have Greece international Vassilis Spanoulis on the court.

Last year's MVP in the Euroleague and of the Final Four, the 31-year-old guard is averaging 14.4 points and 4.7 assists per game.

Bayern are in the driver's seat for the fourth and last qualifying spot for the Top 16 from Group C.

They are 3-4 and in fourth place.

Real Madrid are the only other team that has yet to lose in the Euroleague.

Pablo Laso's team, which has already punched its ticket to the Top 16, will put its 7-0 record on the line in Milan, Italy, in a Group B game against against EA7 Emporio Armani.

The Spanish giants will not have the services of Greece center Ioannis Bourousis, who has been diagnosed with a fractured cheekbone.

"Bourousis is very important for us because of his quality, experience and game knowledge," said Real guard Tremmell Darden.

"It will be complicated to cover for him but as a team, we have to help each other on court and do whatever is in our hands until he can come back so that his absence is not noticed."

EA7 have suffered a big loss as well with Jamaica center Samardo Samuels ruled out until 2014 with a broken hand.

They are third Group B.

FIBA