EuroLeague: Zalgiris vs Fenerbahce 06/05/2026

Zalgiris, backed by home-court support and an expected response from key players, could offer much stronger resistance and extend the series against Fenerbahce.

Betting on the match outcome

Game 3 of the EuroLeague quarterfinal series is on the schedule, with reigning champion Fenerbahce arriving in Kaunas after two home wins, holding a big advantage and a chance to take a decisive step toward the Final Four.

Zalgiris returned from Istanbul with virtually no real resistance shown. The Lithuanian side failed to match the physicality and defensive intensity of their opponent and, over the course of 80 minutes, were competitive only in short stretches. The rest of the series was fully controlled by the team coached by Sarunas Jasikevicius.

A major issue for the hosts has been the form of their best player, Sylvain Francisco, who was completely neutralized in the first two games. Fenerbahce’s aggressive and disciplined defense took away his drives and paint creation, forcing him into difficult three-point attempts, which resulted in poor shooting percentages (3/15).

One of the key factors so far has also been coaching. Jasikevicius quickly managed to raise the level of his team, which had not been particularly impressive toward the end of the regular season. On the other side, Zalgiris head coach Tomas Masiulis finds himself in this kind of situation for the first time, but he is expected to mentally lift his team ahead of what could be the most important game of the season.

However, the return to Kaunas could bring a completely different picture. The EuroLeague is well known as a competition where home-court advantage plays a huge role, and Zalgiris has rarely lost in front of its fans this season. Role players also traditionally perform better at home, and it is hard to expect Francisco to have a third consecutive poor game.

With a frenetic atmosphere from the stands and a more aggressive defensive approach, Zalgiris has a realistic chance to put up much stronger resistance and extend the series by at least one more game.