Milano defeats Bologna in EuroLeague derby: Olimpia keeps play-in dreams alive

The Italian EuroLeague derby delivered drama and intensity as Olimpia Milano faced off against Virtus Bologna in a crucial matchup for both teams’ European aspirations. Milano’s dominant performance keeps their play-in tournament dreams very much alive.

Milano takes early control

Olimpia started the stronger of the two sides, quickly establishing a double-digit advantage in the opening stages. However, Virtus Bologna refused to fold, fighting back to within two possessions and keeping the contest competitive. At halftime, the scoreboard showed Milano ahead 57-49, setting up an intriguing second half.

The third quarter proved pivotal as Milano began to assert their dominance. After the break, Olimpia immediately seized control with a 7-0 run that seemed to put the game firmly in their grasp. Bologna attempted to respond with an unusual tactical approach, deploying a twin-tower lineup featuring Momo Diouf and Aliou Diarra to provide physicality in the paint and strengthen their defense.

D-BOOK D-DUNK pic.twitter.com/WQnTvXOzdT

— Olimpia Milano (@OlimpiaMI1936) March 26, 2026

Ellis leads Milano’s decisive surge

The tactical experiment from Virtus proved short-lived and ineffective. Quinn Ellis stepped up his performance significantly, leading Milano’s offensive charge and helping his team extend their advantage to 79-66 at the end of the third quarter. This marked the beginning of Bologna’s collapse.

The fourth quarter saw Milano completely take control of the contest. An 8-0 run pushed their lead to a commanding 21 points, effectively ending any hopes of a Bologna comeback. The remainder of the final quarter became a formality, with both teams simply waiting for the final buzzer.

Zach LeDay provided crucial support alongside Ellis, as Milano’s balanced attack proved too much for their Italian rivals to handle. The victory represents a significant boost for Olimpia’s European campaign, keeping their play-in tournament aspirations alive in what has been a challenging EuroLeague season.

For Virtus Bologna, the defeat continues their struggles in European competition, with their tactical adjustments failing to contain Milano’s offensive firepower when it mattered most.