The last four games of the calendar year will be played on Tuesday night
At a glance: Closing out 2025 before the Greek derby ignites 2026
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We reach the midway point of the EuroLeague Regular Season as Round 19 – spread over four days – is headlined by the passion of the Greek derby. Here’s your rundown of all the games as we jump from 2025 into 2026.
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:05 CET)
Hapoel’s (13-5) first game back in Tel Aviv will see the league leader welcome dangerous Zalgiris (10-8). With Vasilije Micic injured, Hapoel needs fit-again Yam Madar to take more of the playmaking responsibility as he faces Nigel Williams-Goss, who is taking an increasingly important role for Zalgiris after averaging 5.8 assists in the last four games. A pair of in-form big men will battle in the paint as Dan Oturu (16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in last week’s win over Bayern) goes up against Moses Wright, who's averaged 19.5 points and 6 rebounds in the last two games. Hapoel ranks second in two-point shooting efficiency (59.5%), so Zalgiris will need more of its dominating defense, which has allowed just 82.1 points per night (second best in the league).
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Paris Basketball (20:15 CET)
The French derby will see ASVEL (5-13) and Paris (6-12) attempt to end 2025 on a high by continuing their upward trajectories. The home team will hope that center Bastien Vautier can maintain the breakout form that saw him named Round 18’s MVP, but Paris also has a big man coming off his best game of the season after Momo Faye played a key role in overcoming Zvezda last time out – a game that saw Paris finally snap a six-game losing sequence. A key backcourt battle of EuroLeague rookies will see ASVEL sniper Glynn Watson (13.6 points per game) attempt to outshine visiting Justin Robinson (15.8 ppg). These are the league’s least accurate two-point shooting teams (51.7% vs 50.4%), so finding efficiency inside the paint could be decisive.
Valencia Basket vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CET)
Valencia (12-6) is aiming to maintain at least a share of second place by overcoming a Partizan team (6-12) desperately needing improvement. The Serbian team has shipped 109 and 112 points in its last two games, so new Coach Joan Penarroya will focus on defensive improvement to slow down a Valencia team that ranks fourth in the league in scoring (89.6 points per game) and has won seven straight at home. Specifically, Valencia leads the league in three-pointers converted (12.4 per game), so Partizan simply must tighten up a league-worst defense in that category. The hosts will rely on creativity from Jean Montero, who paired 16 points and 4 assists in last week’s win over Baskonia, while Partizan needs newcomer Cam Payne to keep on firing after netting 15 points on his debut.
FC Barcelona vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CET)
Tuesday’s final game delivers a big battle between title candidates as Barcelona (12-6) welcomes Monaco (11-7). Barca is looking to extend a four-game winning streak at home, but that won’t be easy against a Monaco team that has reached triple figures in the last two games, led by sharpshooting Elie Okobo (18 and 22 points in those games). Another big threat to the hosts is former star Nikola Mirotic, who will look for dominance inside the paint against fit-again Jan Vesely. This is a rematch of last season’s playoffs series, which went to the final shot before Monaco prevailed 3-2, and red-hot Kevin Punter (at least 20 points in four games straight) will be extra motivated for revenge after missing the decisive shot on the final buzzer in Game 5.
Friday, January 2, 2026
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (18:00 CET)
Two teams targeting a return to winning ways meet in Istanbul as Efes (6-12) hosts Zvezda (10-8). The Serbian team has not won on the road since October, and must tighten up defensively after allowing 102 points in defeat at Paris last week. Efes also suffered defensively in a Round 18 defeat at ASVEL, but playmaker Nick Weiler-Babb gained confidence with his best game of the season (20 points and 8 assists). He faces a tough defensive task against Jared Butler, who poured in 31 points last time out, while another key piece for Zvezda, Chima Moneke, got back to his best by recording a double-double (17 points, 10 rebounds). To counter him, Efes needs a big night from Ercan Osmani, who has struggled to replicate his strong early-season form in recent weeks.
Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:00 CET)
Something has to give as Baskonia (6-12) seeks a seventh straight home win against Fenerbahce (11-6), which has won three straight on the road. The Spanish team has a new weapon in the paint after Eugene Omuruyi announced his EuroLeague arrival with 17 points in last week’s loss at Valencia, which saw sharpshooters Marcus Howard and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot fall below their usual standards by combining to shoot for 3-of-14 from long range. Keeping them quiet will be a priority for Fener’s league-best defense, while the scoring responsibility at the other end will again lie with Wade Baldwin, who has recorded six consecutive double-digit scoring nights. These two teams boast the league’s best interior defenses (50.3% vs 48.8% of two-pointers allowed), and Fenerbahce will rely on the hustle of Khem Birch to make life difficult for the hosts.
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:15 CET)
All the drama and intensity of the Greek derby will be on display as Panathinaikos (12-6) welcomes Olympiacos (10-7). The Greens will hope to recover from a recent flu outbreak as it attempts to end a nine-game EuroLeague losing sequence against its eternal rival, which warmed up for the short trip to Athens by overcoming Virtus behind another powerhouse performance from Nikola Milutinov (13 points, 9 rebounds). He faces a must-watch battle in the paint with Kenneth Faried and Richaun Holmes. Another key matchup will see visiting defensive ace Thomas Walkup attempt to contain reigning MVP Kendrick Nunn (21.9 points over the last seven games), while the Greens will also look for a lift from fit-again Cedi Osman, who drained 5-of-6 triples to inspire a tough victory at Zalgiris last week.
Virtus Bologna vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:30 CET)
The round’s third domestic derby will see Italian bragging rights on the line as Virtus (8-10) welcomes Milan (9-9). The hosts will look to recover their usual home form after losing two straight in Bologna, and need leading scorer Carsen Edwards to recover from an injury sustained in last week’s loss to Olympiacos. Milan is looking to bounce back from a flat Round 18 performance in Dubai, and should have former Virtus playmaker Nico Mannion back in action after a nose problem. The visitors are the league’s most accurate team from long range (39.3%), so hopes that the likes of Zach LeDay (12.1 points per game on 42.2% from deep) can shine against a Virtus that ranks fourth in two-point conversion (57.1%) and will look for physical dominance through the energy of do-it-all Saliou Niang.
Real Madrid vs. Dubai Basketball (20:45 CET)
In-form Dubai (9-9) will look to keep on climbing towards the top 10 as it visits a Real team (10-8) clinging onto those places. A remarkable performance from Facu Campazzo (28 points, 10 assists) wasn’t enough to prevent defeat for Los Blancos at Monaco last week, and the hosts needs to regain control of the paint after allowing 17 offensive rebounds in that game – a key matchup will see Mfiondu Kabengele go toe to toe with Walter Tavares. Dubai has won four of the last six, and will confront Campazzo with the red-hot McKinley Wright, who's averaged 19 points and 9.8 assists in the last five games. The visitors will hope to call upon Aleksa Avramovic and Boogie Ellis after injury, while Real will wait to see if Trey Lyles can overcome a neck problem.
FC Bayern Munich vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (21:00 CET)
New Bayern (5-13) coach Svetislav Pesic is hoping to gain his first win by ending reborn Maccabi’s (8-10) five-game winning streak. The home team could be without backcourt star Spencer Dinwiddie for personal reasons, which could give Lonnie Walker more opportunity to extend his stellar form after averaging 20 points during the winning run. Bayern’s nine-game losing sequence is largely explained by an impotent offense, which trails the league in scoring (77.5 points per game), while Maccabi is firing on all cylinders after blazing 112 points past Partizan last week. That included 17 points from in-form forward Roman Sorkin, who will attempt to set the tempo for his team by outperforming Bayern leader Vladimir Lucic.
