Round 16 at a glance: A busy week is before us!

The last two-round week of 2025 takes flight on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Round 16 highlighted by a meeting between the 2025 and 2024 champions. Here’s your overview of all the action.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Dubai Basketball vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (17:00 CET)

Maccabi (5-10) is aiming for a third straight win as it travels for a first-ever meeting with Dubai (7-8). The Israeli team has finally found consistency by taking two consecutive triumphs for the first time this season, and will hope that in-form Roman Sorkin can stay strong against home team dangerman Filip Petrusev. Visiting shooting star Lonnie Walker is in great form after averaging 24.3 points in the last three games, but Dubai will be full of confidence after winning four straight games at home. The most recent of those, over Bayern last week, was helped along by 15 points and 7 rebounds from Awudu Abass, and his physicality will be important against a Maccabi team that ranks third in the league in offensive rebounding (13 per game).

Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens (18:45 CET)

A showdown between the last two champions promises plenty of excitement as Fenerbahce (9-5) welcomes Panathinaikos (9-6). The host has won six straight after grinding out a comeback triumph at Monaco last week, while the Greens again showed their occasional vulnerability with a heavy defeat at Milan. Fener will call upon Devon Hall to continue to lead its league-best defense (79.1 points per game allowed) and slow down the playmaking skills of former hero Kostas Sloukas, who is delivering one of his best ever seasons with averages of 10.7 points and 5.7 assists. On the perimeter, the defensive tenacity of Nicolo Melli will be key in repelling the three-point scoring threat of Juancho Hernangomez, who is looking to recover his top form after making 2-of-4 at Milan last week.

Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade (20:05 CET)

Two of this season's surprise early pacesetters are targeting another victory as Hapoel (11-4) faces Zvezda (9-6) in Jerusalem. It's the home team's first ever EuroLeague game in its own country, and arrives with Hapoel sitting top of the standings after the outstanding Elijah Bryant inspired a comeback win at Virtus last week. Zvezda, which hopes to recover Chima Moneke after he missed last week’s Serbian Derby, is seeking a reaction after losing two in a row and needs to reignite an offense that only scored 79 and 76 points in those defeats. An all-star backcourt matchup between Vasilije Micic and Codi Miller-McIntyre will be crucial, while Hapoel center Dan Oturu will look to follow up last week's double-double (21 points, 10 rebounds) by dominating the paint against Zvezda starter Donatas Motiejunas.

Olympiacos Piraeus vs. Valencia Basket (20:15 CET)

Impressive Valencia (10-5) will attempt to further demonstrate its title credentials by overturning Olympiacos (8-6) in Piraeus. The Spanish team made it four straight wins by comfortably downing Efes last week, and has a sharpshooter in fine form with Kam Taylor netting 18 and 20 points in the last two games. Olympiacos needs to bounce back after losing three of the last four games, and could be reinforced by a debut for recent signing Monte Morris. The Reds can rely on a dynamic one-two punch in the paint with league-leading rebounder Nikola Milutinov backed up by Donta Hall, who gave one of his best performances with 11 points and 8 boards in last week’s loss at Barcelona. Valencia’s inside presence is led by Jaime Pradilla, who netted 14 points to help overcome Efes last week.

EA7 Emporio Armani Milan vs. Real Madrid (20:30 CET)

A pair of direct rivals heading in the right direction head into battle with Milan (8-7) welcoming Real (9-6). Sergio Scariolo’s men are on a four-game winning streak, while the host has won two of the last three under new head coach Peppe Poeta. The visiting team will need strong perimeter defense to contain the threat of Armoni Brooks, who has knocked down an average of 4.2 triples in the last six games. Real also has a sharpshooter in fine form with Mario Hezonja averaging 19.3 points in the last three games. In the backcourt, Milan will hope that Leandro Bolmaro overcomes injury to confront Facu Campazzo, who has bounced back from a slow start to the season to average 14 points and 4.8 assists in his team’s winning streak.

Paris Basketball vs. FC Barcelona (21:00 CET)

Paris (5-10) will seek to end a four-game losing streak with the tough assignment of a visit from surging Barcelona (10-5). The home team needs to offer more defensive resistance after allowing 108 and 125 points in the last two games, and one priority will be perimeter defense against Kevin Punter and Will Clyburn, who combined for 10-of-14 three-point shooting in Barca’s strong win over Olympiacos last week – the third Blaugrana victory in a row. The presence of league-leading scorer Nadir Hifi (20.9 points per game) means that Paris will always present a serious offensive threat, and big man Allan Dokossi will hope to provide extra possessions for his team after grabbing at least 1 offensive rebound in seven of the last eight games.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Zalgiris Kaunas vs. Anadolu Efes Istanbul (19:00 CET)

New Efes (5-10) coach Pablo Laso will look to make a winning start with the tough task of a trip to Zalgiris (9-6). The home team will hope that fit-again Nigel Williams-Goss can continue to lead the offense as he did with 18 points and 10 assists in last week's win at Paris, while Efes needs Vincent Poirier to step up his return from injury to give much-needed reinforcements in the paint. Zalgiris can certainly expose any weakness in that department through the presence of Azuolas Tubelis, who has averaged 8.7 rebounds in the last three games. Offensively, the Turkish team will hope that Isaia Cordinier can continue his hot streak after double-digit scoring in five straight games.

LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:00 CET)

Two teams needing a boost in confidence go head-to-head as ASVEL (3-12) welcomes Bayern (5-10). The French team has lost four straight but was competitive in most of those, and is adding to its already strong backcourt options with Thomas Heurtel getting back to his best following injury. Bayern is also on a bad run after losing six in a row, but Andreas Obst’s return to form with 21 points in last week’s narrow loss at Dubai will be a source of optimism. In the paint, the German team will try to earn extra possessions through Oscar da Silva’s offensive rebounding abilities, while ASVEL will look for Mbaye Ndiaye to build on his strong performance at Maccabi last week (12 points, 6 rebounds).

Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade vs. Virtus Bologna (20:30 CET)

Partizan (6-9) will seek to ride the euphoria of last week’s Belgrade derby victory by making it three straight wins with a visit from Virtus (7-8). Improved form by Isaac Bonga is one of the reasons for Partizan’s upturn, and his physical presence will be required to limit the influence of Virtus’s red-hot center Mouhamet Diouf, who's averaged 9.7 rebounds in the last three games. The Italian team is 1-7 on the road and needs to find more scoring alternatives to Carsen Edwards, who will be desperate to bounce back after scoring just 2 points in last week’s home loss to Hapoel. He faces a thrilling backcourt confrontation with Duane Washington, who poured in 22 and 25 points in the last two games.

Kosner Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs AS Monaco (20:30 CET)

Baskonia (5-10) will attempt to continue its strong home form with a visit from dangerous Monaco (9-6). The visiting team allowed a 17-point advantage to slip against Fenerbahce last week, leading to withering criticism from Coach Vassilis Spanoulis, and big man Daniel Theis is among those hoping to find better form after netting just 4 points in that loss. The Spanish team has won five straight at Buesa Arena and will hope that Markus Howard can stay hot after netting a season-high 22 points in last week’s loss at Madrid. Baskonia leads the league with 61.6% of two-pointers converted, but Monaco is close behind (57.1%, fourth in the league), so whichever team finds the most effective defense inside the paint could be the winner.