The Svetislav Pesic effect at FC Bayern Munich has officially tipped off, with the German team ending a nine-game losing run by blasting Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv, 95-71, on Friday night.

David McCormack dominates as the Pesic era gets underway in Munich

The Svetislav Pesic effect at [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/mun/) has officially tipped off, with the German team ending a nine-game losing run by blasting [Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/maccabi-rapyd-tel-aviv/tel/), 95-71, on Friday night.

And although the efficient offensive performance will have delighted Bayern fans, as far as new coach Pesic is concerned it’s clear that the blueprint for further future success has been laid down: defense, defense and more defense.

Maccabi headed into the game as the third-highest scoring team in the EuroLeague, averaging 90.3 points per game, also ranked as the third-best ball circulators (20.2 assists per game), third-best offensive rebounding unit (12.7 per night), and one of the least turnover-prone (11.5 per game).

FC Bayern Munich-Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv | Round 19 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

But the Israeli team could not even approach its usual numbers on this occasion, restricted by Bayern’s intense defense to just 71 points while dishing only 15 assists, claiming just 8 offensive boards and committing 17 turnovers.

Those numbers are enough to explain how Bayern took control, especially during the second and third quarters when Maccabi was held to just 31 points, and Pesic – who was taking charge of just his second game – left no margin for doubt about what he will demand from his players in the weeks ahead.

“It was a very important game for us, an important win,” the veteran coach told EuroLeague TV.

“For everybody – the fans, the players, the club – it’s always important to win. But for me it’s \[more important\] how we win. And tonight everything we tried on defense to stop transition points from one of the best teams in the EuroLeague we played excellent.

“Excellence defense on the ball, excellent rotation, sometimes switching defense, boxing out, rebounds…a complete game. Now it’s important to repeat this game.”

On an individual level, it looks like the biggest beneficiary of the recent coaching change will be center [David McCormack](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/david-mccormack/013386/).

The former ALBA Berlin player was a peripheral presence under previous coach Gordie Herbert, sometimes omitted entirely from the 12-man roster, but he is enjoying a fresh lease of life under Pesic. 

After scoring a season-high 12 points in the new coach’s debut against Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv last week, McCormack followed up with an action-packed display to spearhead the victory over Maccabi, delivering 18 points on 7-of-9 two-point shooting, 7 rebounds and 3 assists for a personal-best PIR of 27.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">FINAL SCORE: First game in 2026, first W in 2026! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FCBB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FCBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeBallTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeBallTogether</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BAYMTA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BAYMTA</a> <a href="https://t.co/OeRGedmUty">pic.twitter.com/OeRGedmUty</a></p>&mdash; FC Bayern Basketball (@FCBBasketball) <a href="https://twitter.com/FCBBasketball/status/2007211389971222865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Clearly excited both by the victory and his enhanced role, McCormack enthused: “It was a fun game, honestly. My confidence has definitely grown, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates – great chemistry on the floor.

“It was a major win for us, to change the momentum and change our mindset. It was the perfect start to 2026 and I’m hoping to keep it that way.”

The intensity of Bayern’s defensive performance left visiting coach Oded Kattash with no complaints about the outcome, as he acknowledged: “The better team won. They were more aggressive than us. We lost our spark offensively, but it’s a good lesson for the future.”

Following this big win, Bayern has every reason to feel optimistic as it prepares for a run of four home games out of the next five – starting with Wednesday’s visit of Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.

After suffering a seven-game losing stretch on the road in November and December, an extended period of home comfort will be even more welcome for the German team. And if those nights result in more performances like Friday’s, perhaps Bayern’s chances of pushing towards the playoffs might still be alive.

Game News

Bayern snapped a nine-game losing streak with a commanding home victory over Maccabi

FC Bayern Munich v Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (2026-01-02T20:00:00.000Z)

Another Greek derby, another Olympiacos Piraeus victory against Panathinaikos BC. The matchup offered a head-to-head showcase of two of the league’s elite players: Kendrick Nunn for Panathinaikos and Sasha Vezenkov for Olympiacos. Both delivered MVP-level performances, but Vezenkov received more support from his teammates – and that proved decisive.

Greek derby: Two MVP performances, one winner

Another Greek derby, another [Olympiacos Piraeus](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/olympiacos-piraeus/oly/) victory.

Unlike domestic competition, Olympiacos has dominated [Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) in the EuroLeague, and that trend continued Friday night. Olympiacos held on for an 82-87 road win at Telekom Center Athens, extending its EuroLeague winning streak over the Greens to 10 games. Panathinaikos’s last victory against Olympiacos in the competition came nearly five years ago, on February 5, 2021 (77-88).

The matchup offered a head-to-head showcase of two of the league’s elite players: [Kendrick Nunn](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/kendrick-nunn/012774/) for Panathinaikos and [Sasha Vezenkov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/sasha-vezenkov/003469/) for Olympiacos. Both delivered MVP-level performances, but Vezenkov received more support from his teammates – and that proved decisive.

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens-Olympiacos Piraeus | Round 19 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

Nunn’s night did not begin smoothly. He went scoreless in the first quarter, missing all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. Everything changed after that.

He buried back-to-back three-pointers early in the second quarter, then punctuated his surge with a one-handed put-back dunk. By halftime, Nunn had already scored 14 points. He continued to attack at all three levels, mixing midrange jumpers, deep shooting and aggressive drives to the rim while consistently drawing fouls.

After the opening quarter, Nunn made 12 of his next 13 shots and went a perfect 7-for-7 at the free-throw line. He finished with 32 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and a PIR of 40 in a losing effort.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Serious HANGTIME I <a href="https://twitter.com/nunnbetter_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nunnbetter_</a> 🥶<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RivalrySeries?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RivalrySeries</a> I <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MotorolaMagicMoment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MotorolaMagicMoment</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Moto?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Moto</a> <a href="https://t.co/gjD1zF75fT">pic.twitter.com/gjD1zF75fT</a></p>&mdash; EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/2007179850356814066?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Vezenkov, by contrast, was steady throughout. His first basket – a three-pointer – capped an early Olympiacos surge and helped establish control. He scored in all four quarters and saved some of his best work for late, adding eight of his 24 points in the fourth quarter.

Vezenkov also secured Olympiacos’s final two rebounds to help close the game. He finished with 24 points on 4-of-7 shooting inside the arc, 4-of-8 from deep and 4-of-4 at the line, along with 9 rebounds and a PIR of 25, drawing just one foul.

Crucially for Olympiacos, others followed Vezenkov’s lead.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Throw it down Sasha 🫣<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RivalrySeries?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RivalrySeries</a> <a href="https://t.co/tEm2XgboAV">pic.twitter.com/tEm2XgboAV</a></p>&mdash; EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/2007188886859194526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

[Tyler Dorsey](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tyler-dorsey/009849/) delivered 21 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 fouls drawn for a PIR of 23. [Nikola Milutinov](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) came one missed free throw short of a perfect statistical night, posting 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting from the field, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and no turnovers or fouls committed for a PIR of 27. [Donta Hall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/donta-hall/011196/) added 8 points and 7 rebounds.

Olympiacos consistently found its centers and paired that interior presence with Vezenkov’s efficiency and Dorsey’s shot-making, allowing the Reds to lead for most of the night.

“We knew it was a big game,” Dorsey said. “There’s no extra motivation needed – the atmosphere and the feel of the game take care of that. I’m proud of our team. We’ve won three in a row now and we have more road games coming. This one felt good.

“It’s a long game. We had one bad lapse in the second quarter, and without that, we could’ve made it easier. But we made big plays at the end and got it done.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/VtmJ2mI8dY">https://t.co/VtmJ2mI8dY</a></p>&mdash; EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/EuroLeague/status/2007203162256748938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Olympiacos claimed the result, but the MVP debate remains wide open. What looks certain is that when voting time arrives for coaches, media, team captains and fans, both Nunn and Vezenkov will be firmly in the conversation – especially if they continue performing as they did in their first game of 2026.

“We have a good team, and I don’t think anyone doubts that,” Olympiacos coach Georgios Bartzokas said. “We stayed with the plan, although we were a bit nervous at the end and turned the ball over a few times. We also missed some free throws we usually make.

“But it’s a big win. I’m grateful to our players and I really believe in them. It’s not just about winning or losing – it’s about stability, spirit and unselfishness. Every game is difficult, but we have the philosophy to keep going.”

After a stretch of inconsistency, Olympiacos has now won three straight and will face the only team it has yet to play this EuroLeague season, visiting defending champion Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul on Tuesday, January 6.

Sasha Vezenkov of Olympiacos and Kendrick Nunn of Panathinaikos showed why they are firmly in the 2025–26 EuroLeague MVP conversation

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens v Olympiacos Piraeus (2026-01-02T19:15:00.000Z)

Virtus Bologna celebrated a memorable 97-85 home win over EA7 Emporio Armani Milan in an enthralling Derby d'Italia after Matt Morgan and Derrick Alston combined for 42 points and the hosts roared back from a 15-point deficit.

Matt Morgan, Derrick Alston shine as Virtus overpowers Milan in Derby d’Italia

[Virtus Bologna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/virtus-segafredo-bologna/vir/) celebrated a memorable 97-85 home win over [EA7 Emporio Armani Milan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/ea7-emporio-armani-milan/mil/) in an enthralling Derby d'Italia after [Matt Morgan](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/matthew-morgan/012585/) and [Derrick Alston](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/derrick-alston-jr--/014005/) combined for 42 points and the hosts roared back from a 15-point deficit.

Trailing 23-38 in the second quarter, Virtus went on a 16-1 run after 38-year-old veteran [Daniel Hackett](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/daniel-hackett/001844/) came off the bench and got the home team firing on all cylinders with a burst of energy which also galvanized the passionate Bologna crowd.

Virtus, which missed its injured pack leader [Carsen Edwards](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/carsen-edwards/011987/), enjoyed an impressive night from downtown as Morgan, the game’s top scorer on 22 points, sank 5-of-8 beyond the three-point arc and Alston (20) netted 4-of-5, with the hosts draining 12-of-24 while their relentless hustle held Milan to 6-of-25 at the other end.

Virtus Bologna-EA7 Emporio Armani Milan | Round 19 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

That made all the difference as Virtus kept its EuroLeague home record intact against Milan, notching a fourth successive win over its perennial Italian rival in a fast-paced game. Alston revealed that he had put in a lot of hard work to improve his long-range shooting, as he scored multiple threes for the eighth successive game.  

“We put a lot of work over the summer to be more consistent from three-point range as being efficient has always been a big thing,” he said. “I am thankful to my coaches who are shooting with me every day after practice as consistency is the name of the game and I’m just trying to keep that up.” 

With Virtus also missing big man [Alen Smailagic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/alen-smailagic/011051/) through injury, Alston acknowledged the whole team went the extra mile to compensate for the absence of several key players.

“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the heart in the dog. Everybody had belief that we could win this game and it was always the next man mentality. The energy was so great from everybody tonight; the team, the crowd. It’s a great environment to play in.”

Morgan dished out 7 assists, too, while [Saliou Niang](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/saliou-niang/012687/) constituted a wall in the paint at both ends as he racked up 11 points and 8 boards. [Karim Jallow](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/karim-jallow/005422/) chipped in with 12 points and 5 rebounds, [Luca Vildoza](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/luca-vildoza/007947/) netted 10 points, and the inspirational Hackett added 8, making some crunch shots from deep.  

“We fought too hard to lose this game,” Morgan said in his postgame comments. “We were down a few people and we fought way too hard to take that lead and keep it. In the last four minutes we produced a great end to the game. We knew what we had to do, we came out and handled the business to protect the home court. Our fans gave us a huge boost of energy and we needed it, so on to the next one.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="in" dir="ltr">ITALIAN DERBY ☑️⚪️⚫️ <a href="https://t.co/sDJVFpO3Au">pic.twitter.com/sDJVFpO3Au</a></p>&mdash; Virtus Bologna (@VirtusBo) <a href="https://twitter.com/VirtusBo/status/2007206832079872401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With the rivals level 47-47 at halftime, Virtus found two extra gears in the third quarter and romped into a 77-66 lead ahead of the final 10 minutes. Milan had any hopes of a comeback vanquished by Virtus as the home outfit carved out an insurmountable 89-74 advantage in the home stretch, leaving head coach Dusko Ivanovic purring with delight after the final buzzer.

“The players did an excellent job with so much energy,” the Montenegrin tactician said. “It was a difficult game but the players showed patience and focus on offense, having also displayed good chemistry and a good mentality. You can win or lose a game, but we played as a team and that’s very good. “

Ivanovic’s Milan counterpart Pepe Poeta was realistic after tasting defeat in his first derby, acknowledging that his team’s porous defense let in too many points. 

“We only played how we’re supposed to play for 15 minutes,” he said. “The rest of the game we played poor defense and we have to know that you cannot allow the opponents to score \[almost\] 100 points, especially when we are on the road. There’s no way you can win if you concede that many, that’s what it’s all about.” 

The duo made light of top scorer Carsen Edwards’s absence

Virtus Bologna v EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (2026-01-02T19:30:00.000Z)

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul rallied for a 93-108 road win over Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz on Friday night, with Wade Baldwin starring for the visitors.

Fenerbahce fightback win over Baskonia shows champion’s character

“Great character win for our guys,” said Saras Jasikevicius after [Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/fenerbahce-beko-istanbul/ulk/) rallied for a 93-108 road win over [Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/baskonia-vitoria-gasteiz/bas/) on Friday night. “I hope we continue having character, which is probably the most important thing in life, not just in basketball.”

With its home crowd in full voice, Baskonia dictated the tempo early and led for much of the opening period. A strong stretch from [Talen Horton-Tucker](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/talen-horton-tucker/014124/), however, kept Fenerbahce within striking distance, and the teams went into halftime tied at 53-53.

Fenerbahce suffered a setback early in the second half when Horton-Tucker was ejected. He was later joined on the bench by [Mikael Jantunen](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/mikael-jantunen/012613/) and [Khem Birch](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/khem-birch/007182/), both of whom fouled out. Baskonia capitalized and briefly opened a double-digit lead.

The visitors responded quickly, closing the third quarter on a 13-0 run to take a narrow advantage into the final period. Carrying that momentum forward, Fenerbahce pulled away in the fourth behind timely shooting and closed out a comfortable victory.

Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | Round 19 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

As Jasikevicius noted, fight and spirit played a major role in Fenerbahce claiming the win. Despite multiple players being lost to fouls and ejections, the visitors seized control when it mattered most. Veteran forward [Nicolo Melli](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nicolo-melli/002849/) echoed his coach’s assessment of the team’s character.

“We were down 10 when Talen got kicked out, and he’s a big player for us,” Melli said. “We stuck together and found a way back into the game. We’re usually known for our defense, but today we won with our offense, and that shows our character.”

The result moves Fenerbahce’s record to 12-6 and strengthens its postseason hopes, while Baskonia slips to 6-13. Head coach Paolo Galbiati acknowledged the quality of the opposition.

“I told you before that Baldwin and Horton-Tucker were in great shape, and they played amazing,” Galbiati said at halftime.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="tr" dir="ltr">Yeni yıla İspanya’da harika bir galibiyetle başlayan Fenerbahçe Beko’nun, EuroLeague sahnesindeki bir sonraki rakibi Olympiacos!<br><br>Olympiacos maçı biletleri ve ağırlama paketlerinin satışı devam ediyor! ⏳<br><br>Haydi, 6 Ocak Salı akşamı 20.45&#39;te evimiz Ülker Spor ve Etkinlik… <a href="https://t.co/wVobl3Ky5h">pic.twitter.com/wVobl3Ky5h</a></p>&mdash; Fenerbahçe Beko (@FBBasketbol) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBBasketbol/status/2007204527389479186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Horton-Tucker’s night was cut short, but [Wade Baldwin](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/wade-baldwin-iv/009863/) once again delivered. The American guard starred for the road team, finishing with 24 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds for a PIR of 29.

It was not Baldwin’s first visit to Buesa Arena. The 29-year-old spent one season with Baskonia and had returned three times previously with other teams. Friday’s victory marked a personal milestone.

“This was my first time ever winning in this building outside of playing here,” Baldwin said. “Every time you come here, it’s a dogfight. These guys make every shot it seems, so it’s good to start the new year with a win.”

Baldwin had plenty of help. Melli knocked down four three-pointers on his way to 17 points, while [Tarik Biberovic](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/tarik-biberovic/006961/) and [Bonzie Colson](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/bonzie-colson/009783/) each added 16. Horton-Tucker finished with 12 points despite his abbreviated outing. On the other side, [Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/timothe-luwawu-cabarrot/012080/) scored 20 in a losing effort for Baskonia.

Galvanized by the mental and physical toughness it showed in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Fenerbahce will look to extend its winning streak to four when it returns home to face Olympiacos Piraeus on Tuesday. Galbiati’s team will try to halt its three-game slide when it hosts FC Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

Down bodies and down double digits, the Turkish side's resilience was on show in Vitoria-Gasteiz

Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz v Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (2026-01-02T19:00:00.000Z)

Crvena Zvezda ended a run of nine straight Anadolu Efes wins in this head-to-head matchup with an 87-85 win, led in no small part due to the play of ex-Efes forward Jordan Nwora.

Jordan Nwora returns with a bang as Zvezda snaps historic losing streak at Efes

[Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/crvena-zvezda-meridianbet-belgrade/red/) closed out 2025 on a sour note, conceding more than 100 points in a bruising road loss at Paris Basketball. It was its sixth defeat in eight away games, with Zvezda’s previous road win dating back to Round 8 at Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv.

Sasa Obradovic’s team badly needed a response in Turkiye, especially given its history against [Anadolu Efes Istanbul](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/anadolu-efes-istanbul/ist/). Zvezda had never won in Istanbul, and Efes entered the game riding a nine-game winning streak in the head-to-head series.

That streak, however, came to an emphatic end with a 65-87 road win – thanks in large part to a player who made the move from Istanbul to Belgrade last summer.

[Jordan Nwora](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jordan-nwora/013363/), who joined Efes in 2014, endured an up-and-down 2024–25 campaign before departing for Zvezda. Now 27, the forward has rediscovered his form in Serbia.

Anadolu Efes Istanbul-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | Round 19 Highlights | 2025-26 EuroLeague

He entered Friday’s matchup averaging a team-high 17.0 points per game, having scored in double figures in all but one of his 13 appearances this season. With plenty to prove against his former club, Nwora checked in midway through the first quarter with Efes up 6-3 after holding Zvezda to a single field goal.

Nwora immediately shifted the momentum. A three-point play was followed by his first triple of the night, igniting an 11-0 Zvezda run that flipped the game. The visitors took control and never relinquished it. Nwora scored nine points in the first quarter and added five more before halftime.

He finished with a game-high 24 points in just over 26 minutes, shooting 9-of-12 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc. He also contributed 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

“\[Playing against my former team gave me\] a lot of motivation,” Nwora told EuroLeague TV. “Last year had a lot of ups and downs. I’m just happy I was able to come back here and really show how I can play. I didn’t get that chance as much last year.”

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ru" dir="ltr">Браво, Звездо! 🔴⚪️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kkcz?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kkcz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeAreTheTeam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeAreTheTeam</a> <a href="https://t.co/9odU1m6ViI">pic.twitter.com/9odU1m6ViI</a></p>&mdash; KK Crvena zvezda Meridianbet (@kkcrvenazvezda) <a href="https://twitter.com/kkcrvenazvezda/status/2007168249549729999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Zvezda piled up 28 assists, but as both Nwora and [Chima Moneke](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) emphasized, the win was built on defense. The visitors held Efes to just 15 points in the first half, creating a commanding cushion early. Zvezda also recorded 8 steals and forced 19 turnovers.

“Defense tonight is what I’ve been talking about,” Moneke said. “When I said we’re going to the Final Four, this is the team I expected to see. It’s easy to jump off the bandwagon when a team is struggling or going through a learning phase like we did in December. But it takes courage to keep believing. That’s our mentality. We know we’ll figure it out, and tonight was a big step.”

Zvezda opened 2026 in style, snapping the curse with this road win at Efes.

With tough matchups against Valencia Basket and Zalgiris Kaunas looming in the upcoming double-round week, the timing could hardly have been better. As Obradovic put it afterward, when Zvezda plays defense, “we are trouble for anybody.”

The forward nailed a career-high five 3-pointers to score 24 points against his former team

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (2026-01-02T17:00:00.000Z)

Stay up to date with the latest information provided by the EuroLeague clubs ahead of Round 19 of the 2025-26 season.

Injury report: Round 19

## Friday, January 2, 2026

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (18:00 CET)

##### Anadolu Efes Istanbul

- PJ Dozier has been out since Round 10 with a hamstring injury, but he returned to action in the Turkish League this past weekend.
- Jordan Loyd, who did not play in Round 18, is available for this week's game.
- [Shane Larkin will be out until early February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/shane-larkin-undergoes-groin-surgery-out-for-two-months/) after undergoing groin surgery, the club announced on December 3.
- [Georgios Papagiannis is expected to miss eight months](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/efes-ercan-osmani-out-three-weeks-georgios-papagiannis-to-miss-eight-months/) following ACL surgery, the club confirmed on October 18.
- Center Vincent Poirier is listed as questionable for this week's game.
- Forward Burakcan Yildizli is not available for this week's game.

##### Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade

Crvena Zvezda has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Efes on Friday.

- Yago dos Santos, out since Round 13 due to a leg injury, returned to action in Round 18.
- Ognjen Dobric sustained an injury in Round 14. He has not played since.
- Tyson Carter has been [diagnosed with pulmonary embolism](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/zvezdas-tyson-carter-facing-extended-absence-with-pulmonary-embolism/) and faces a lengthy absence. He has been discharged from hospital and will continue his treatment at home.
- Jasiel Rivero hurt his foot in Round 1 and is expected to be sidelined for several months.
- Isaiah Canaan [suffered an ACL injury](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/crvena-zvezda-loses-isaiah-canaan-to-acl-injury/) and is out long term.
- Joel Bolomboy is out long term.

### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:00 CET)

##### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz

Baskonia has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Fenerbahce on Friday.

- Tadas Sedekerskis underwent ankle surgery, [Baskonia announced on its website](https://www.baskonia.com/es/noticias/parte-medico-tadas-sedekerskis-5) on December 11. He last played in Round 11.

##### Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul

- Mikael Jantunen has not played since Round 13, but is not on the team's injury report for Round 19.
- Arturs Zagars suffered a hamstring injury over the weekend, [the club confirmed on December 28](https://x.com/FBBasketbol/status/2005231973967511693).
- Onuralp Bitim suffered an ankle injury, [the club announced on December 2](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/fenerbahce-loses-onuralp-bitim-to-ankle-injury/). He remains sidelined.
- Scottie Wilbekin is receiving treatment for knee swelling, [the club confirmed on November 10](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/scottie-wilbekin-receiving-treatment-for-knee-swelling/), and remains sidelined this week.

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:15 CET)

##### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens

Panathinaikos has reported that the participation of Jerian Grant and Alexandros Samodurov is questionable for the game against Olympiacos on Friday.

- Richaun Holmes, who had been out since Round 7, returned to action in Round 18.
- Mathias Lessort, still recovering from an injury, is yet to play this season.

##### Olympiacos Piraeus

Olympiacos has confirmed that Tyson Ward, Shaquielle McKissic, Keenan Evans and Moustapha Fall will miss this week's game.

- Tyson Ward last played in Round 13 due to an injury.
- Shaquielle McKissic last played in Round 11.
- Keenan Evans [ruptured his Achilles tendon in Round 10](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/keenan-evans-suffers-achilles-rupture-in-euroleague-return/).
- [Moustapha Fall](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/olympiacos-center-moustapha-fall-suffers-knee-injury/) could miss the entire season after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in his left knee during the Greek League finals in June.

### Virtus Bologna vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:30 CET)

##### Virtus Bologna

- Carsen Edwards sustained "a sprained right ankle with ligament involvement" in Virtus's Round 18 loss to Olympiacos, [according to Virtus's website](https://www.virtus.it/news/aggiornamento-sulle-condizioni-di-carsen-edwards/), and will miss the game against Milan.
- Aliou Diarra is listed as unavailable for this week's game on Virtus's injury report. 
- Karim Jallow who did not play in Round 18, is fit for this week's game.
- Alen Smailagic remains out with a "muscle strain," [according to Virtus's website](https://www.virtus.it/news/lba-unipol-2025-2026-13-giornata-le-info-e-le-dichiarazioni-pre-partita/).

##### EA7 Emporio Armani Milan

- Leandro Bolmaro, who last played in Round 15, remains sidelined this week.
- Diego Flaccadori will not play in Round 19.
- Ousmane Diop, who had arthroscopic knee surgery, [the club announced on December 4](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/news/ousmane-diop-has-arthroscopic-knee-surgery/), remains sidelined this week.
- Stefano Tonut, who last played in Round 12, remains out this week.
- Nate Sestina suffered a triceps injury in Round 10 and has not played since. He remains out this week.

### Real Madrid vs. Dubai Basketball (20:45 CET)

##### Real Madrid

Real Madrid has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Dubai on Friday.

- Trey Lyles was a late scratch in Round 18 due to neck soreness.
- Sergio Llull was not on the game-day roster in Round 18.
- Andres Feliz was also not on the game-day roster in Round 18.

##### Dubai Basketball

Dubai has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Real Madrid on Friday.

- Aleksa Avramovic returned to action in Round 16 but was ruled out for Round 17. He didn't play in Round 18, either.
- Boogie Ellis last played in Round 13 due to a right hamstring injury.
- Dzanan Musa has been out since Round 2 with a knee injury.
- Nate Mason, who hasn't played this season, has undergone a discectomy after sustaining a cervical injury during practice.
- Summer signing Mam Jaiteh suffered an Achilles injury and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

### FC Bayern Munich vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (21:00 CET)

##### FC Bayern Munich

Bayern has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Maccabi on Friday.

- Kamar Baldwin was a late scratch for Round 10 and has not played since. He "will probably return in the first or second week of January," [according to Bayern's website](https://fcbayern.com/basketball/de/spiele/profis/bbl/25-26/fc-bayern-basketball-vet-concept-gladiators-trier-28-12-2025/spielbericht).
- [Rokas Jokubaitis](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/bayerns-rokas-jokubaitis-suffers-knee-injury/) will be sidelined until the spring following knee surgery.
- Elias Harris has yet to return to action following a knee injury suffered in June.

##### Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv

- Team captain John DiBartolomeo did not travel to Munich due to personal reasons.
- [Zach Hankins is expected to miss the next two-to-three weeks](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabis-zach-hankins-to-miss-23-weeks-with-bone-bruise/) with a bone bruise.
- [Jeff Dowtin Jr. is expected to be out until February](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/maccabi-jeff-dowtin-out-six-weeks-with-foot-injury/) with a torn ligament in his foot.

## Tuesday, December 30, 2025

### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:05 CET)

##### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv

Hapoel has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Zalgiris on Tuesday.

- Vasilije Micic missed Hapoel's Round 18 game with a shoulder injury.

- Guy Palatin missed Rounds 13 through 17 with a back injury, but he returned to action in Round 18.

- [Bruno Caboclo](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/hapoel-bruno-caboclo-undergoes-back-surgery/) is recovering from back surgery. There is no timetable for his recovery.

##### Zalgiris Kaunas

Zalgiris has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Hapoel on Tuesday.

- Dovydas Giedraitis missed Rounds 17 and 18.

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Paris Basketball (20:15 CET)

##### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne

ASVEL has not yet sent an injury report for its game against Paris on Tuesday.

- Nando De Colo left ASVEL's Round 16 win over Bayern with an injury. He returned to action in Round 18.
- Armel Traore did not feature in Round 18.
- Mehdy Ngouama's short-term deal with the club has come to an end, [the club confirmed on December 12](https://x.com/LDLCASVEL/status/1999506682687172879).

##### Paris Basketball

Paris has not yet sent an injury report for its game at ASVEL on Tuesday.

- Derek Willis, who had been out since Round 13, returned to action in Round 18.
- Daulton Hommes missed Rounds 17 and 18.
- Ismael Bako last played in Round 13.
- Joel Ayayi last played in Round 12.

### Valencia Basket vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CET)

##### Valencia Basket

Sergio De Larrea is listed as questionable and is Valencia's only player on the injury report for its game against Partizan on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Xabi Lopez-Arostegui has been ruled out for the last five rounds. He is listed as available for Round 19.

##### Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade

Shake Milton, Aleksej Pokusevski, Carlik Jones, Mario Nakic and Mitar Bosnjakovic are ruled out for Partizan's game at Valencia on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Shake Milton (foot) did not play in Round 18.
- Miika Muurinen had been out since Round 15 due to an ankle injury, but he was on the game-day roster in Round 18. However, he didn't play.
- Aleksej Pokusevski suffered an ankle injury in Round 14 and has yet to return to action.
- Carlik Jones (ankle), who last played in Round 5, has yet to return to action.
- Mario Nakic has been sidelined with a knee problem.

### FC Barcelona vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CET)

##### FC Barcelona

Jan Vesely is questionable while Will Clyburn, Toko Shengelia and Juan Nunez are all ruled out for Barcelona's game against Monaco on Tuesday, the club has confirmed.

- Jan Vesely returned to action in Round 18.
- Will Clyburn suffered an injury in Round 17 and [will be out for approximately the next six weeks](https://x.com/FCBbasket/status/2002694206280614084).
- Tornike Shengelia missed Round 16 with groin pain and did not play in Round 17.
- [Juan Nunez is out ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/news/barcelona-guard-juan-nunez-to-miss-6-months/)due to a knee injury. He expected to be sidelined until April.

##### AS Monaco

Monaco has not yet sent an injury report for its game at Barcelona on Tuesday.

- Yoan Makoundou missed Round 18.

Stay up to date with the latest injury information provided by the EuroLeague clubs

Injury report, Round 19: Jerian Grant questionable, Carsen Edwards out

Real Madrid v Dubai Basketball (2026-01-02T19:45:00.000Z)

Valencia Basket v Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (2025-12-30T19:30:00.000Z)

FC Barcelona v AS Monaco (2025-12-30T19:30:00.000Z)

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne v Paris Basketball (2025-12-30T19:15:00.000Z)

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv v Zalgiris Kaunas (2025-12-30T19:05:00.000Z)

Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens announced on Thursday that it has loaned out big man Ioannis Kouzeloglou to Maroussi Athens for the remainder of the season

Panathinaikos sends Ioannis Kouzeloglou out on loan

[Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-aktor-athens/pan/) announced on Thursday that it has loaned out big man [Ioannis Kouzeloglou](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/euroleague/players/ioannis-kouzeloglou/profile/004451/) to Maroussi Athens for the remainder of the season. Kouzeloglou (2.04 meters, 30 years old) first joined the Greens on a two-year deal over the summer. He made his EuroLeague debut this season and appeared in three games in the competition. Kouzeloglou had a bigger role in the Greek League, where he contributed 2.9 points and 2.3 rebounds.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="el" dir="ltr">Η ΚΑΕ Παναθηναϊκός AKTOR ανακοινώνει την παραχώρηση του Γιάννη Κουζέλογλου στο Maroussi CHERY με την μορφή δανεισμού μέχρι το τέλος της τρέχουσας αγωνιστικής περιόδου.<br><br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/paobcaktor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#paobcaktor</a> <a href="https://t.co/KuACAGIGzk">pic.twitter.com/KuACAGIGzk</a></p>&mdash; Panathinaikos BC (@Paobcgr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Paobcgr/status/2006732514891804809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

More Panathinaikos news

The big man will continue the season with Maroussi Athens

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 19 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season.

Pregame quotes hub: Round 19

## Friday, January 2, 2026

### Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (18:00 CET)

**Pablo Laso, Efes head coach** 

"Crvena Zvezda is a very good and athletic team with multiple ways to play. Donatas Motiejunas adds a valuable size as a big man who helps them with his passing and ball movement. They can go with a small lineup, using Semi Ojeleye and Chima Moneke inside, which makes them difficult to match up against. For us, this game is an important test. Our new player Saben Lee has just arrived, PJ Dozier has returned from injury, and we are playing at home. It’s a big challenge to face a team like Crvena Zvezda, and I hope we have a good game and secure the victory."

**Ercan Osmani, Efes forward** 

"Crvena Zvezda is a dangerous team with talented players. They started the EuroLeague strongly and are also fighting for a playoff spot. On our side, some of our teammates who have recovered from injuries have rejoined the team, and we believe we will keep getting better day by day. In the first game of the new year, we want to get a victory in front of our fans to make a good start to the year. Hopefully, we will begin a winning streak with this game and climb to the spot where we want to be in the standings."

### Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (20:00 CET)

**Sarunas Jasikevicius, Fenerbahce head coach**

"Baskonia is in very good shape, clearly. Ascending rhythm with the play and the wins. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Marcus Howard are playing on a great level, and the team is really trying to understand what the new coach wants. And clearly building. In general, in the past we had very bad results in Vitoria. Let's see if we can change it."

**Nicolo Melli, Fenerbahce big man**

"It's a very tough game. It comes in a very good moment for them. They're playing very well. Vitoria is always a tough court to play on. We are coming off a good moment, a good period, so hopefully we keep it. We can keep going and start the new year with the right steps. It's not going to be easy, but we're going to go there with one goal."

Nicolo Melli: 'Vitoria is always a tough court to play on'

### Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:15 CET)

**Ergin Ataman, Panathinaikos head coach**

“Happy New Year to everyone, to all the people who follow us, to the entire EuroLeague and its supporters. The team is doing well. We will be ready for this game; we are in very good shape. We have great respect for Olympiacos, who for me are one of the top teams in the EuroLeague. 

"The truth is that I told my players that over these two years we won the EuroLeague, we won the title, we won the league and the cup, but we never beat Olympiacos in the EuroLeague. That is the reality. We will try to play good basketball. It will certainly be a tough game. We want to continue being among the top four teams in the standings. We had some minor injuries; last week many players were ill, as I was as well—I stayed at home for three days. Now everyone is healthy and ready for this game. 

"Jerian Grant has a minor issue, so we protected him in today’s practice. I think he will train normally tomorrow morning and will be on the court with us. Sloukas is fine. He didn’t play in Kaunas and Maroussi, but he completed the last two or three practices and tomorrow he will be on the court. Samodurov injured a finger. He went to the hospital for an MRI. I hope it’s nothing serious. It was a surprise for us, because he trained but felt pain in his little finger."

**Richaun Holmes, Panathinaikos center**

“The preparation is the same—we watch video and get ready. I’m a creature of habit; I like consistency in my work and routine to stay focused. I feel good, I’m finding chemistry with my teammates again, and I’m looking forward to stepping on the court. It’s going to be fun—I’m excited about the atmosphere. The fans have been great all season, so I can’t wait to be back in front of them. Faried is my guy; I’m happy to see him out there and I try to learn as much as I can from him. I’m fully ready—I’ve always liked competition. I play basketball, I’m doing what I dreamed of, and I look forward to every challenge.”

**Giorgos Bartzokas, Olympiacos head coach**

“Panathinaikos has been playing very well lately, and this is reflected both in their results and in the numbers. As we’ve heard, their roster will be complete, with no absences, and combined with the intense atmosphere there, this creates a very difficult situation for the visiting team—let alone for us. We need to rely on our team play, play together as we have in recent games, and go there aiming to win the game. It’s important to stay focused for all 40 minutes. Obviously, to win on that court—where most teams lose—you need to stay concentrated, not give them easy possessions and allow them to get into transition. They have players who are very good at that, such as Osman and Nunn. How we execute, how we do the basic basketball things—spacing, how we set screens on the ball or away from the ball, and how we attack the boards—are always very important. I think that if we execute our game plan, we will have a serious chance to win.”

**Sasha Vezenkov, Olympiacos forward**

“First of all, I’d like to wish everyone a happy new year, with health above all. Olympiacos–Panathinaikos, and vice versa, is a special game for the fans, the organizations, and the teams. But as professionals, we approach it as just another game. The first round is coming to an end, and we want to see our level of readiness for a big game, and we are ready to give 100%. It’s the biggest derby in Europe—the winner gets a week-long psychological boost, while the loser thinks about it a bit more. However, given the schedule we have in January, both a win and a loss are forgotten the same night. Of course, a win against your eternal rival gives you an extra boost. We know the atmosphere, most of us have played many games like this, and we are ready for battle.”

Giorgos Bartzokas: 'Panathinaikos has been playing very well lately'

### Virtus Bologna vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:30 CET)

**Dusko Ivanovic, Virtus head coach**

"Another difficult game, like every game against Milan. In the last three, four games, they played really well, faster, with good shooting percentages and with very aggressive defense. We must approach the match with great effort, especially since we will be missing three players, two of whom play in the paint, but we must be alert and fight to win."

**Saliou Niang, Virtus forward**

"We have a big game against Milan. We're going into this game with several injuries, but we still have the team and that can't be an excuse. We care a lot because, in any case, it's a very emotional game. We know how much our fans care about this game, and the same goes for us. We'll give it our all: we're preparing as best we can. A win would be the best way to start 2026."

**Peppe Poeta, Milan head coach**

"Bologna's pace at home is a pace worthy of the top of the standings: with home court advantage and a strong defensive identity, they have built their EuroLeague record. For us, it will be crucial to keep our balance offensively to make sure they won't be able to run much and go off with the crowd. It will be important also to work well defensively and limit their second chances off offensive rebounds because they are very effective at taking advantage of them. Generally, we know we need a solid and consistent game for 40 minutes, as always when we play in such a tough building."

Saliou Niang: 'A win would be the best way to start 2026.'

### Real Madrid vs. Dubai Basketball (20:45 CET)

**Sergio Scariolo, Real Madrid head coach**

“We are facing a team full of talent, with many very good players in one-on-one situations, capable of attacking the basket, getting to the free-throw line frequently, and with great shooters… It’s a complex game because of the quality of the opponent. We will have to work very hard defensively to keep them under control, and it won’t be easy. At the same time, we are highly motivated to play a good game, another one in front of our fans, and keep adding wins in the EuroLeague standings.”

**Walter Tavares, Real Madrid center**

“This is a very tough game, the first of the year, at home, and we hope to rise to the occasion. In this EuroLeague, there are many teams tied, there’s a lot of parity, and whoever loses focus this month or next could end up very low in the standings. We have to try to get as many wins as possible to stay as high as we can. Dubai Basketball competes very well; it’s a new team with very good players, and that’s why this game will be tough because, in this competition, it’s hard to beat any team. We’re going to try to do our best and defend our home in the first game of the year with our fans. I think we need to be consistent for the full 40 minutes and avoid the ups and downs that hurt us a lot.”

**Jurica Golemac, Dubai head coach**

“Tough game, tough opponent. Every away game is very tough in the EuroLeague, especially Real Madrid. They’ve got a very experienced team, very deep roster, very experienced coach. So we need to play very, very patient, very disciplined, very physical, to be smart, not lose control and try to get them to the last quarter, to stay close and be able to surprise.”

**Justin Anderson, Dubai forward**

“We need to continue to play together the way that we’ve been playing, sharing the basketball, playing with great energy, great speed, great pace. It’s going to be a tough environment. This is a classic team in the EuroLeague, well coached. We have a lot of respect for what they do and how they run this team. But at the same time, it’s very important for us to start the new year off right, so we want to make sure we put our best foot forward and rebound and run.”

Sergio Scariolo: 'We will have to work very hard defensively'

### FC Bayern Munich vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (21:00 CET)

**Svetislav Pesic, Bayern head coach**

"Winning five times in a row is very rare in the EuroLeague, especially this season with so many games. Maccabi has a very good balance between outside and inside players. This will be our first test to see how well, after three Bundesliga games, we have internalized the new philosophy. The players are eager, but Maccabi is a challenge as one of the best transition teams in Europe. They play very fast and with confidence, so we know what our first task is.”

**Oded Kattash, Maccabi head coach**

"Bayern is better than its results. Once again, we find ourselves playing against a team that changed coaches. In the game against Hapoel, they couldn't make too many corrections or changes, but already in their recent league games, we've seen them doing things completely differently. Naturally, the impact of a coaching change is that they are more committed. They've received some new spirit, so defensively, they are more present... Bayern has a very deep roster. In recent games, players who played less have stepped up, always someone different. We know the style and the key players, and we'll come prepared for that."

**Marcio Santos, Maccabi center**

"We know Bayern is not in the best form, but it's a good team with good players and good shooters. We need to be focused on the game, play defense and play hard. Every game is important, so we'll do our best every night. I think because they're in last place, they'll come with a lot of energy and hunger. We need to show up with our own hunger and start the year with a good game."

Svetislav Pesic: 'This is the first test of our new philosophy'

## Tuesday, December 30, 2025

### Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (20:05 CET)

**Dimitris Itoudis, Hapoel head coach**

“Zalgiris is a very competitive team. They play at a high tempo and base a lot of their game on transition, which is generated by their strong defense. They have size and can play both big and small lineups, often averaging lineups of over two meters. They have very creative guards, but at the same time their bigs and forwards contribute a lot to their game.”

**Dan Oturu, Hapoel center**

“Every game presents a different challenge. Zalgiris is a great team, well coached, with talented players, competing hard for all 40 minutes. It’s going to be a real challenge , and we’ll have to rise to the occasion.”

**Tomas Masiulis, Zalgiris head coach**

“We’re facing the best team in the EuroLeague at the moment, one that has a lot of experienced players, good coaches, and a disciplined group. Their defense and physicality are at a very high level. It’s going to be a tough game.”

### LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Paris Basketball (20:15 CET)

\--

### Valencia Basket vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (20:30 CET)

**Pedro Martinez, Valencia head coach**

"The EuroLeague is an extremely demanding competition. We're doing well, but we're struggling to win every game, and I don't think tomorrow will be any different. Partizan is a team with an impressive roster. The names of the players they have, how good they are, obviously they're not having a good season at the moment, but I'm absolutely sure that with Joan Peñarroya they're going to change the dynamic and improve. And let's hope it's not tomorrow when they start, but if it's not tomorrow, it will be soon because they have a lot of quality and I'm sure Joan will pull the right strings to make them change. All the alarm bells are ringing, partly because of the difficulties we had in winning yesterday's game and partly because Partizan has some of the best players in the EuroLeague. This roster started the season with the goal of being a Final Four contender, and obviously things aren't going well for them, but they are taking the right steps to change the dynamic, and we have to be prepared for all the difficulties. Yesterday showed that we are a very good team, but that to win games we need to be at 100%. Eighty percent isn't good enough, nor is 90%, but when we are at 100% we are very competitive against everyone, and that's kind of the goal we need to achieve."

**Joan Penarroya, Partizan head coach**

"Valencia is a strong team with an excellent coach, so it’s no surprise they’ve been getting these results so far. They play at a high pace, create a lot of possessions, and take a lot of shots from beyond the arc. On top of that, they have talented players who can attack off the dribble, knock down threes, or make the right pass at the right time. For us, the most important thing will be trying to control their transition game and limit their fast breaks."

**Cam Payne, Partizan guard**

"We need to look at the video and see how we can stop them. The most important thing is to keep playing together, which will give us a good chance in tomorrow’s game."

### FC Barcelona vs. AS Monaco (20:30 CET)

**Xavi Pascual, Barcelona head coach**

"First of all, we know we’re playing against one of the best teams in the league, a team that has taken part in the Final Four the last two seasons, a team that is extremely well built at every position, with a lot of perimeter talent, a lot of physicality, and one that will make it very, very hard for us to compete against them. Not only because we’re shorthanded, and that shows, but also because their quality is extremely high and they’re very well balanced across the board. Yes, the four guards – Mike \[James\], the all-time leading scorer in the competition and an incredible player; then there’s \[Elie\] Okobo, \[Matthew\] Strazel, and \[Nemanja\] Nedovic, who bring a tremendous amount of creation. And then, of course, you look at the physical presence at the 3 and 4 positions with \[Jaron\] Blossomgame and \[Alpha\] Diallo, who are very dominant at both spots, plus Miro \[Nikola Mirotic\]. And then you go inside, with \[Kevarrius\] Hayes and \[Daniel\] Theis. Honestly, it’s a very, very good team. We need the Palau to help us a lot, like it did against Baskonia, because the difficulties in winning this game will be incredibly great. This is a big game, one of the biggest you can see in Europe. It’s an extremely difficult game in every aspect, and only with a full Palau really pushing us can we achieve victory – otherwise it will be practically impossible."

**Miles Cale, Barcelona forward**

"The team is in a really good place right now, with a positive mindset. Even though we’re missing some key players, we’re all coming together and fighting as a group to keep finding ways to win. We were on the road yesterday and came away with a solid win – a great team victory. Today we’re focused on preparing the right way for tomorrow’s game, and hopefully we can come out with another good win. They’re a very experienced team, top to bottom, so we’re going to have to rely on each other, lean on our veteran guys, and bring energy from the opening tip. Defense is going to be key. Even though they have a lot of offensive weapons, we’re going to have to dig in, dig deep, and get stops. If we can do that, I think we’ll put ourselves in a good position to win the game. Hopefully we get a great crowd in here for the last game, bring some good energy, and come away with a win for our fans. Our fans have been incredible lately, and we want to finish it off with a strong win for them."

Check out what the coaches and players are saying ahead of Round 19 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague season

Pregame quotes, Round 19: 'It’s the biggest derby in Europe'

The Greek derby carries many labels, but every battle between Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus captures the attention of basketball fans throughout the continent, regardless of the circumstances. On Friday, January 2, 2026, the next clash – in Round 19 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague regular season – will take place at OAKA.

Top five EuroLeague eternal derbies between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos

The Greek derby carries many labels, but every battle between Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens and Olympiacos Piraeus captures the attention of basketball fans throughout the continent, regardless of the circumstances. On Friday, January 2, 2026, the next clash – in Round 19 of the 2025-26 EuroLeague regular season – will take place at OAKA.

Panathinaikos currently sits higher in the standings with a 12-6 record, while Olympiacos, with one game in hand, is 10-7. However, the Reds are riding a nine-game winning streak in the eternal EuroLeague head-to-head.

The Greens’ last win dates back to the 2020-21 season at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, a 77-88 victory. Their most recent home win came six years ago, on December 6, 2019.

The rivalry between Greece’s two biggest clubs at the continental level has produced countless memorable moments. From the first clashes in the mid-1990s – often with Final Four implications – to the modern era under the current competition format, where every team faces each other home and away, the derby has remained must-watch basketball.

Eurohoops revisits these EuroLeague matchups, looks back at the results, and presents a Top 5 list to set the tone ahead of the upcoming meeting between these two behemoths.

Read more [HERE](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1913174/top-five-euroleague-eternal-derbies-between-panathinaikos-and-olympiacos/).

Who doesn’t eagerly await the big derby between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos? Not only basketball fans in Greece, but across the world