Head coaches Ergin Ataman at Panathinaikos Athens and Pablo Laso at FC Bayern Munich, who share four of the last eight Turkish Airlines EuroLeague titles and now start new eras with new clubs, clash in Round 2 on Thursday.

Panathinaikos and Bayern enter new era of their rivalry

When [Panathinaikos Athens](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/panathinaikos-bc-athens/roster/pan/?season=2023-24) and [FC Bayern Munich](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/teams/fc-bayern-munich/roster/mun/?season=2023-24) crossed paths in previous Turkish Airlines EuroLeague seasons, their games didn't command too much extra attention in advance.

After all, Bayern did not make the playoffs until 2021, and by that time, Panathinaikos was on a downward trajectory toward finishing among the league's three worst teams in each of the last three years.

This new season, however, brought a lot of change to both Athens and Munich, and now their game on Thursday is full of intrigue.

When Ataman and Laso last met

### Changing fortunes

This summer, both teams backed up their unambiguous ambitions with splashy signings.

The Greens brought in nearly a dozen new players, led by three-time champion Kostas Sloukas from archrival Olympiacos Piraeus, All-EuroLeague center Mathias Lessort and Spanish forward Juancho Hernangomez from the NBA. Bayern, meanwhile, added rookie scorer Sylvain Francisco, veteran big man Devin Booker among and world-class paint protector Serge Ibaka to an already-solid core.

But the biggest changes for both came on the benches, with Ergin Ataman leaving Anadolu Efes Istanbul after five years and two titles for Panathinaikos, while Pablo Laso ended a year outside the competitions by joining Bayern. Together, Ataman and Laso have combined to win four of the last eight EuroLeague crowns dating to 2015, and three of the last five since 2018. At least one of the two has coached in seven of the last 10 championship games.

Indeed, the last time Ataman and Laso faced each other was in the 2022 championship game in Belgrade, when Efes pulled out a thrilling 57-58 win over Real for its second straight title.

But that's in the past, and what's in the present is their shared challenge to start changing their new clubs' recent fortunes.

Panathinaikos, a proud six-time EuroLeague champion, has missed the playoffs every year since 2019 and last went to a Final Four back in 2012.

Bayern, on the other hand, made history in 2021 when it became the first-ever German team to reach the EuroLeague playoffs, then repeated that feat the following year. But Bayern was ousted in a five-game playoff series both times before making a step back and missing out on the playoffs last season.

Serge Ibaka, Sylvain Francisco and 1 other Top 17 Plays from FC Bayern Munich vs. ALBA Berlin,10/05/2023

Bayern newcomers starred in Round 1

### Déjà vu

While the ultimate goal for both Ataman and Laso is to get their new teams to a Final Four eventually, their first task is to get on the path to playoffs contention.

Last week, both hosted national derby games to open the EuroLeague season, with mixed results. The Greens ended up on the losing end in an overtime thriller against Olympiacos Piraeus, falling [78-88](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/panathinaikos-athens-olympiacos-piraeus/E2023/7/), while Bayern overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to beat ALBA Berlin [80-68](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/fc-bayern-munich-alba-berlin/E2023/3/).

This week, Bayern will attempt to break a hex in Athens, where it has lost all six of its previous tries, including five games by double digits. Overall, 11 of 12 the games to date between these teams have finished with a home victory.

Panathinaikos badly needs to continue that streak, if for no other reason than to jump-start the Ataman era as soon as possible. While at Efes, Ataman started the past three seasons with 1-3, 2-5 and 0-4 records, and he certainly does not want another déjà vu.

With a combination of that early-season pressure and the intrigue of a high-profile coaching matchup, this rivalry enters a new era of its own, making this a battle fans do not want to miss.

The Round 2 clash between Panathinaikos Athens and FC Bayern Munich features a matchup of their new head coaches, Ergin Ataman and Pablo Laso, who share half of the last eight EuroLeague titles.

Panathinaikos Athens v FC Bayern Munich (2023-10-12T18:15:00.000Z)

### Erdem Can, Efes head coach

Real Madrid is going on without a defeat in the Spanish League and also they are the EuroLeague champs of last season. We will play against a very important team. We know that our fans will support us until the final buzzer.

### Chus Mateo, Real madrid head coach

Anadolu efes has been playing amazingly well these last seasons, they won two straight EuroLeagues and they gave a hard time to all their opponents, always with quality players, This year is no exception. Everybody knows Larkin, Clyburn or Beaubois. They signed Darius Thompson and they also have Zizic. They have many referents that we know well, and they normally make things difficult for us. It's important to keep our competitive level. We will have to suffer and we will have to do that with hard wrk, humility and being alert against a great team.

### Rodrigue Beaubois, Efes player

After losing our first game against Barcelona, we want to play better and do everything we can to get the win against the defending Champs. It’s our first game at home and we want to make our fans proud.

### Dzanan Musa, Real Madrid player

Efes is a tough team that has some of the best players in Europe, like Clyburn or Larkin. We know what we must do to win this game, but putting that plan into practice will be something else, because Efes has great fans and winning in Istanbul is complicated. We are ready to face whatever comes our way, but one thing is clear: two great teams will clash and try to take an important win in this early part of the EuroLeague season.

Game Videos

In a modern EuroLeague classic, Efes (0-1) will look to bounce back from last week's loss in Barcelona when it hosts a Real (1-0) team eager to add to its hard-earned win at Baskonia. It's a high-profile home EuroLeague debut for Efes boss Erdem Can, who will hope to see more versatility from an offense which relied too heavily on Shane Larkin (16 points, 12 assists) last week. Conversely, Real successfully spread the points around in Vitoria, adapting to the needs of the game – and the absence of injured big man Walter Tavares – by knocking down 15 three-pointers. That kind of offensive flexibility could prove valuable again on Thursday in Istanbul.

Pre-game quotes: Efes vs. Real Madrid

Anadolu Efes Istanbul v Real Madrid (2023-10-12T17:30:00.000Z)

Anadolu Efes and Real Madrid, who have dominated the EuroLeague title chase since 2018, meet again to open a new chapter that includes many familiar faces.

Battle of the champions: Real Madrid visits Anadolu Efes

If we look at the past five editions of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four, not including the discontinued 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Anadolu Efes and Real Madrid have dominated the titles, winning four out of five.

The Turkish and Spanish powerhouses won the EuroLeague in 2018 (Real), 2021 (Efes), 2022 (Efes), and 2023 (Real), with only CSKA Moscow ruining their party in 2019 against Efes in the final. Now, after experiencing very different summers, they will [meet in a battle of champions to open Round 2](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/game-center/2023-24/anadolu-efes-istanbul-real-madrid/E2023/11/) on Thursday.

[MORE...](https://www.eurohoops.net/en/trademarks/1564598/battle-of-the-champions-real-madrid-visits-anadolu-efes/)

In a special night for former Turkish Airlines EuroLeague MVP Luka Doncic, Real Madrid edged Dallas Mavericks 127-123 at WiZink Center in the Spanish capital on Tuesday. Facu Campazzo scored his team's last 9 points, completing an epic comeback. 

Campazzo's late heroics lift Real past Dallas 

In an NBA preseason game, the first in European soil in almost seven years, Real edged Dallas 127-123 at home on Tuesday. Campazzo led the winners with 20 points. Sergio Llull and Vincent Poirier each added 19 points, Guerschon Yabusele added 18 while Rudy Fernandez got 14 for Real. Tim Hardaway Jr. led Dallas with 21 points. Seth Curry, Dwight Powell and Dante Exum each added 13 for the guests. In his return to Madrid, Luka Doncic only stepped on court for 5 minutes due to a calf problem, scoring 9 points.

.

Real fans had to wait almost 2,000 days to see Doncic back at WiZink Center. Doncic saw limited playing time due to a calf problem. At the end of the first quarter, Real presented Doncic with a replica of the 2017-18 EuroLeague trophy, and had the chance to salute the team's entire roster, as well as former players such as Anthony Randolph, Jonas Maciulis and Trey Thompkins. Doncic led Real to the 2017-18 EuroLeague title, earning that season's season MVP and Final Four MVP honors. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez presented Doncic the club's badge of honor, too

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🏅 La insignia de honor del Real Madrid 🏅<br>Florentino Pérez 🤝 <a href="https://twitter.com/luka7doncic?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@luka7doncic</a> <a href="https://t.co/BZUArrbxli">pic.twitter.com/BZUArrbxli</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1711857133749170416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Llull got Real going with 3 consecutive three-pointers, then Campazzo also struck from downtown for a 12-5 lead. Doncic, Fernandez and Dzanan Musa joined the three-point shootout for a 20-16 score. Hardaway Jr. rescued Dallas and Dwight Powell's put-back layup brought his team within 32-31. Poirier kept Los Blancos in charge, 38-36, after 12 minutes. Hardaway Jr. made Dallas regain the lead, 38-39, early in the second quarter. Poirier got help from Fabien Causeur and Llull to restore a 48-43 Real edge. Hardaway Jr got help from Jaden Hardy and Curry to give Dallas a 65-71 lead at halftime.

Curry followed a three-pointer with a floater soon after the break to make it a double-digit game, 68-78. Llull and Musa tried to change things for Real and Poirier got the hosts a bit closer, 78-84. Dallas found a go-to guy in Powell, who kept his team fully in charge, 90-99, at the end of the third quarter. Exum stepped up with 6 quick points and Dexter Dennis's layup made Real call timeout at 98-109 with over 7 minutes left. Real was not done, however, as Campazzo sparked his team's comeback and Yabusele's three-pointer tied the game, 118-118, in the next-to-last minute. Campazzo took over in crunch time with back-to-back layups, a pair of free throws and a huge three-pointer for a 127-123 lead, enough to seal the outcome.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">👏 Remontada y victoria en el amistoso frente a los <a href="https://twitter.com/dallasmavs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dallasmavs</a>. ¡Grande equipo!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HalaMadrid?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HalaMadrid</a> <a href="https://t.co/sXt396ynXB">pic.twitter.com/sXt396ynXB</a></p>&mdash; Real Madrid Basket (@RMBaloncesto) <a href="https://twitter.com/RMBaloncesto/status/1711855883817246754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Valencia Basket point guard Jared Harper is set to be sidelined for a few games due to a shoulder injury.

Valencia loses Harper to injury

[Harper ](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/jared-harper/011970/)was injured in the second quarter of his team's Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season opener against AS Monaco after receiving a severe blow to his right shoulder. He was sidelined in his team's Spanish League game last weekend, and medical tests revealed the Harper has a shoulder sprain which will keep him out indefinitely. Harper could only play a bit over 8 minutes last week against Monaco, as he could only score one single point. Last season, Harper averaged 10.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists, and was one of the main pillars of the Valencia team.

<center>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">🏥0️⃣ ¡Ánimo <a href="https://twitter.com/Therealvinoo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Therealvinoo</a>! <br><br>Cas 👉 Parte médico Jared Harper<a href="https://t.co/hW846xzTui">https://t.co/hW846xzTui</a><br><br>Val 👉 Comunicat mèdic Jared Harper<a href="https://t.co/UCInMu6Ygx">https://t.co/UCInMu6Ygx</a><br><br>Eng 👉 Medical report Jared Harper<a href="https://t.co/ZfLtoiB2Am">https://t.co/ZfLtoiB2Am</a> <a href="https://t.co/JGUbshhllD">pic.twitter.com/JGUbshhllD</a></p>&mdash; Valencia Basket Club (@valenciabasket) <a href="https://twitter.com/valenciabasket/status/1711320604169683395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Five years after he shocked the basketball world by leading Real Madrid to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague title as a teenager, Luka Doncic comes "home" on Tuesday to face his old team with the Dallas Mavericks of the NBA.

Real Madrid and Luka Doncic: 'He is one of us'

Real Madrid hosts the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday in the first such showdown between NBA and Turkish Airlines EuroLeague teams on European soil in more than seven years. It is safe to say that Dallas star Luka Doncic's love for Los Blancos and his former teammates definitely made the game happen.

Simply put, no player in EuroLeague history achieved as much as Doncic as a teenager.

He left the competition after two full seasons as a 2018 EuroLeague champion and the Final Four MVP after having already been voted the season-long MVP, First Team All-EuroLeague and back-to-back Rising Star Trophy winner.

Five years after Dallas drafted him into the NBA, Doncic is arguably the most highly regarded EuroLeague booster in the world. Every time he praises the competition or says good words about Real, it gets headlines. As such, Doncic has raised awareness of the EuroLeague's quality and passion.

The year after he was voted the 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year, Doncic surprised a lot of people by saying that scoring in the NBA was easier than in the EuroLeague.

Looking back: Luka Doncic Highlights

"I would say that scoring is easier in the NBA just because of the different rules, the amount of space, the time...," he said on on J.J. Redick's podcast The Old Man and the Three. "In EuroLeague, it's more team basketball, it's more tactics, and you have less time."

Doncic, who has now been on All-NBA First Team for four consecutive seasons, made another unexpected confession earlier this year.

"I watch some NBA games, but I watch more EuroLeague than NBA," he said at a post-game press conference. "But if it is a really good NBA game on TV, I will watch it."

Doncic has pointed to his former Real teammate Sergio Llull and longtime EuroLeague icon Vassilis Spanoulis as two of his basketball heroes.

"He was my idol, I always admired him," Doncic said about Spanoulis. "That's why I wear number 7. I couldn't get 7 \[in Dallas\] because it was taken, so that's why I have 77. I just want to thank him for everything he brought to basketball not just to me, to a lot of players. He just showed to play basketball, how to act on the court, what is leadership."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="art" dir="ltr">🍊🍊🍊🪄🪄🪄 <a href=https://t.co/mYASHsVEwd>https://t.co/mYASHsVEwd</a></p>&mdash; Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) <a href=https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1660364117192978432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>May 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Luka is forever thankful for the opportunity to play at Real Madrid starting at age 15 and considers the Spanish capital as his home. He has congratulated the team often on X (Twitter), not least after Lull's game-winning shot in last season's EuroLeague Championship Game. 

He shows support to Real's football and basketball teams as often as possible, whether it is Karim Benzema winning the Ballon d'Or or former teammates Llull, Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez adding another trophy to their roll of honors.

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Its so nice to be a REAL MADRID fan!😊</p>&mdash; Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) <a href=https://twitter.com/luka7doncic/status/1530663682178433025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>May 28, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script></center>

Of course, Doncic's *madridismo* is hugely appreciated by fans and former teammates alike. It is easy to spot dozens of Madrid fans wearing Doncic's jersey at WiZink Center, a number that will increase exponentially on Tuesday. Llull has already tweeted about Doncic's comeback, asking fans to welcome him with open arms. "The kid grew up and we face his Dallas Mavericks tomorrow," he said. "Let's welcome him the way he deserves. He is one of us."

<center><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">El niño se nos ha hecho mayor y mañana jugamos contra sus Dallas Mavericks. <br>Recibámosle como merece, es uno de los nuestros 🙌🏽❤️ <a href=https://t.co/tvt3KDer4X>pic.twitter.com/tvt3KDer4X</a></p>&mdash; Sergio Llull (@23Llull) <a href=https://twitter.com/23Llull/status/1711322124147712419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>October 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js charset="utf-8"></script></center>

It will be somewhat of a dream come true for Real fans, who have not seen Doncic play at Wizink Center in 1,942 days, since the end of the 2017-18 season. It will be much the same for Doncic.

"A very special day for me. There will be a lot of emotions," Doncic said in the game's presentation on Monday morning. "Everyone knows what Real Madrid and Madrid mean for me."

Five years after a teenage Luka Doncic led led Real Madrid to the 2018 EuroLeague title, he comes "home" to face his old team with the Dallas Mavericks.

Episode 3 of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast shows us that the contest is not just for fans.

EuroCup Finals MVP John Shurna joins the Fantasy Challenge Podcast!

Episode 4 of the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge Podcast shows us that the contest is not just for fans.

Podcast hosts Javier Gancedo is joined by a very special guest, [John Shurna](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/eurocup/players/john-shurna/006588/), a reigning BKT EuroCup champion for Dreamland Gran Canaria.

Shurna, who was the MVP of last season’s EuroCup Finals, is an devoted Fantasy Challenge manager – but in EuroLeague only!

Follow their conversation to fine out what kind of [Fantasy Challenge](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) teams they are putting together for Round 2!

The EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime faces an unusual circumstance ahead of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 2.

Euroleague Fantasy tips, Round 2: loads of good options!

The [EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime](https://euroleaguefantasy.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/home) faces an unusual circumstance ahead of Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 2. The game between EA7 Emporio Armani Milan and Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv has been postponed, so players from both teams will get their average score (in this case, the same score they had last week) in Round 2. 

Since there are some players whose scores are known before tip-off, let's focus on those players who will be on the court in Round 2 and can give an edge in either private leagues or in the overall standings. Here are five recommendations for Round 2.

[Chima Moneke, Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (10.9 credits) –](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/chima-moneke/012201/) Moneke has had a strong start to the season in both competitions, making the most out of his extended playing time. He posted a PIR of 22 in Baskonia's EuroLeague home opener against Real and followed that with a PIR of 37 in the Spanish League this weekend. A must-have player.

[Nikola Milutinov, Olympiacos Piraeus (14.3 credits) –](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/nikola-milutinov/003941/) Milutinov led Olympiacos to a big road victory in the Greek derby with 15 points, 7 rebounds and a PIR of 21. He is set to play his first EuroLeague home game in Pireaus since 2020, so Milutinov should be extra motivated to have a good game and please the Reds's fans against Barca.

Rokas Giedraitis,Johannes Thiemann, Chima Moneke, Nikola Milutinov and Semi Ojeleye are featured in this week's article.

EuroLeague Fantasy tips: Regular Season, Round 2

[Semi Ojeleye, Valencia Basket (11.4 credits) –](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/semi-ojeleye/011982/) Ojeleye was expected to have a big impact in Valencia and that's what he did in Round 1. He led Valencia to a big home lead against Monaco with 19 points, 7 rebounds and a PIR of 23, all in less than 22 minutes. Ojeleye faces a physical test against DyShawn Pierre as Valencia hosts Fenerbahce.

[Rokas Giedraitis, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (11.9 credits) –](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/rokas-giedraitis/006436/) Giedraitis came off a really strong pre-season and delivered in Round 1, getting 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a PIR of 20 against ASVEL. Zvezda visits Kaunas and Giedraitis should be ready to be back to his home country and have another strong performance.

[Johannes Thiemann, ALBA Berlin (8.7 credits) –](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/johannes-thiemann/003958/) ALBA is without Khalifa Koumadje and Yanni Wetzell, which means other players have seen extended playing time at the '5' position. Thiemann has been strong, posting a PIR of 17 in Round 1 against Bayern and averaging 16.3 points and a PIR of 19.0 in three German League games so far.

Take a look at the best tips for this round in the EuroLeague Fantasy Challenge powered by Ardu Prime.

Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward Achille Polonara will undergo surgery on Tuesday to address a recently discovered testicular tumor, the club announced. His recovery period will be determined after the operation.

Virtus's Polonara to undergo surgery

Virtus Segafredo Bologna forward [Achille Polonara](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/players/achille-polonara/002084/) will undergo surgery on Tuesday to address a recently discovered testicular tumor, the club announced. His recovery period will be determined after the operation.

Polonara, 32, played as recently as the opening round of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season last Thursday, when he was on the floor for 10 minutes as Virtus lost at home to Zalgiris Kaunas. He actually joined Virtus from Zalgiris in the summer. He had played the first half of last season with Anadolu Efes Istanbul before moving to Zalgiris at the start of 2023 and helping the team reach the playoffs.

Polonara debuted in the EuroLeague with Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2019 and took the competition by storm in the 2020-21 season, averaging 12.2 points, 6.6 rebounds – [second behind only Walter Tavares of Real Madrid](https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/euroleague/stats/expanded/?size=25&viewType=traditional&seasonCode=E2020&statisticMode=perGame&seasonMode=Single&sortDirection=descending&statistic=totalRebounds) – 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals for a 16.5 PIR that ranked 11th among all players. 

His playing time and numbers dropped slightly to 7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds  and 1.1 assists during the 2021-22 season with Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul before he moved to Efes and Zalgiris last season.