Andy West previews Round 4 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season
At a glance: This season's second double-round week is here
Game Preview
8 Mins read
The latest double-round week will see an incoming coach attempt to end the league’s only unbeaten record, plus a rematch of a semifinal from last season. Here’s your guide to Round 4 of the EuroLeague campaign.
Tuesday, October 14
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv vs. FC Barcelona (19:00 CEST)
Maccabi (1-2) and Barcelona (2-1) will attempt to build more momentum when they meet in Belgrade. After breaking a club-scoring record by blazing 108 points against Valencia last week, Barca will hope last week’s star Kevin Punter and league-leading scorer Will Clyburn can keep on firing to extend a six-game winning run over Maccabi. But the home team significantly boosted its morale with a derby victory over Hapoel last time out, and possesses a potent scorer of its own in the form of Lonnie Walker (16 and 20 points in the last two games). Barca will look to use the experience of Tomas Satoransky to control the influence of Maccabi playmaker Tamir Blatt, who averages 6.3 assists per game.
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Dubai Basketball (19:45 CEST)
A pair of teams aiming to snap a two-game losing run go head-to-head as Fenerbahce (1-2) welcomes Dubai (1-2). The reigning champs desperately struggled for offensive execution in last week's home loss to Zvezda, scoring just 20 field goals. That task could be aided by the long-awaited return of shooting star Scottie Wilbekin, who suited up last week for the first time in a year without stepping onto the court. Saras Jasikevicius's team will also look to dominate defensively to deepen the long-range misery of a Dubai team which has converted a league-low 29.4% of its three-point attempts so far, and Davis Bertans in particular is seeking a return to top after making just 3 of his 12 long-range tries in the last two games.
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:00 CEST)
New Zvezda (1-2) coach Sasa Obradovic faces the immediate challenge of ending surprise league leader Zalgiris's (3-0) perfect start to the season. The home team will look for inspiration from the tireless Chima Moneke, whose double-double of 20 points and 12 rebounds powered last week's morale-boosting win at Fenerbahce, while recent signing Donatas Motiejunas will attempt to control the paint against his hometown club. Zalgiris's chief offensive weapon is Sylvain Francisco, who has scored 18 and 19 points in the last two games and converted 60% from three-point range so far this season. Another long-range threat comes from forward Dustin Sleva, whose trio of triples was a prominent feature of last week's commanding win at Bayern.
Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (20:15 CEST)
A heavyweight matchup will see Olympiacos (2-1) seek its third straight victory as it welcomes Efes (1-2). A personal milestone will be reached by Kostas Papanikolaou as he becomes only the fifth player to make 400 EuroLeague appearances. The Reds will hope that Saben Lee and Tyler Dorsey continue to offer backcourt leadership against an Efes team powered by Shane Larkin and Nick Weiler-Babb as they aim to bounce back from consecutive losses. Ercan Osmani has been a consistent force for Efes, scoring in double digits in every game, but he now faces the enormous challenge of competing with the relentless Sasha Vezenkov, who sent another reminder of his talents by blasting 25 points to inspire a comfortable home win over Dubai last time out.
FC Bayern Munich vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:30 CEST)
Returning to winning ways is the task as Bayern (1-2) welcomes Milan (1-2). Former Bayern big man Devin Booker will look to damage his old club after delivering his best Milan performance to date in last week’s loss to Monaco, combining 15 points and 8 rebounds. Booker’s physical presence could give his team valuable extra possessions against a Bayern side which has only averaged 17.7 defensive rebounds per game, the lowest tally in the league. The German team also needs to rediscover its usual long-range potency after only making 6 triples in last week’s heavy home loss to Zalgiris, while Milan will also hope that Shavon Shields and Armoni Brooks can rediscover their range after converting a combined 2 triples on 12 attempts during last week’s loss to Monaco.
Wednesday, October 15
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne (20:15 CEST)
Panathinaikos (2-1) is gunning for its third win of the season as it welcomes an ASVEL team (1-2) targeting a first road triumph. Reigning league MVP Kendrick Nunn again demonstrated his importance to Panathinaikos by netting a dramatic game-winner at Baskonia last week, and the Greens will now look for an improved inside game after making just 51.8% of two-point attempts this season – fourth-worst in the league. ASVEL has struggled even more in that respect, making just 49.6% of two-pointers (19th in the league), so this game could be decided by effectiveness inside the paint. Glynn Watson needs to find greater accuracy for the French team after making just 33.3% of his field-goal attempts so far this season.
Virtus Segafredo Bologna vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CEST)
Monaco (2-1) is targeting a third straight victory as it travels to face a Virtus team (1-2) aiming to snap a two-game losing slide. The Roca Team boasts one of the league’s most efficient offenses, committing fewer turnovers than any other team (8.7 per game), while Virtus is next-worst in that category with an average of 16.7 ball losses. Elie Okobo has been a key part of that success for Monaco, dishing 16 assists without a turnover so far this season, while big man Daniel Theis boasts a similarly impressive stat with 17 of his 18 two-point efforts converted. Virtus is relying on an explosion from Carsen Edwards, who is seeking a return to form after making just 1 of his 7 three-point attempts in last week’s loss at Paris.
Valencia Basket vs. Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv (20:30 CEST)
A rematch of last season's EuroCup semifinal series will see Valencia (2-1) seek revenge against Hapoel (2-1). The Israeli team triumphed in that showdown thanks to a stellar 32-points performance from Anthony Blakeney, who has continued his form into the new season by averaging 17.7 points per game. Valencia needs to fix its defense after allowing 108 points in last week’s loss against Barcelona, while also maintaining the free-flowing style which has helped Darius Thompson average 15.7 points per game. The Spanish team has been boosted by Brancou Badio’s return from injury, while Hapoel will attempt to return to winning ways with former Valencia guard Chris Jones, who needs to take better care of the basketball after so far recording more turnovers (2.7 per game) than assists (2.0 per night).
Real Madrid vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:45 CEST)
Resurgent Real (2-1) will aim for a third straight win with a visit from a Partizan team (2-1) chasing exactly the same reward. The Serbian team will run its offense through the Brown duo: leading scorer Sterling (16.7 points per game) and top distributor Carlik (5.0 assists per night). Real’s home win over ASVEL last week was chiefly facilitated by summer signing Chuma Okeke, who made 17 points without missing a shot. Real has won seven games straight against Partizan but needs to improve its three-point shooting after making just 30% from deep so far – next to worst in the league – and will take hope from the fact that Partizan has the league’s worst perimeter defense, allowing opponents to convert 46.2% of three-point attempts.
Paris Basketball vs. Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (20:45 CEST)
Baskonia (0-3) will attempt to change its status as the league's only winless team with a tough trip to face confident Paris (2-1). The French team's offensive leader is clearly Nadir Hifi, who ranks second in the league with 21.3 points per night with at least 4 triples in every game. But Daulton Hommes – who missed nearly all of last season through injury – showed he poses another weapon from deep by converting 60% of his triples so far. Baskonia will feel frustrated after last week’s last-second loss to Panathinaikos, but can rely on backcourt orchestration from Trent Forrest who ranks second in the league with 7.3 assists per night. In the paint, the Spanish team will rely on Tadas Sedekerskis to continue his average of 7.3 rebounds.