Andy West looks ahead to the first round of the new campaign
At a glance: The EuroLeague is back!
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18 Minute de lecture
The EuroLeague returns bigger and better than ever, with the competition expanding to 20 teams including the addition of two debutants. After a summer of superstar signings, this is what we can look forward to in Round 1 of the 2025-26 regular season.
Tuesday, September 30
Dubai Basketball vs. Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (18:00 CEST)
The new season begins with a piece of history as Dubai hosts its first regular-season meeting with a visit from Partizan. Home team coach Jurica Golemac has prepared for the challenge by recruiting a batch of EuroLeague-proven talent including scoring threats Dzanan Musa and Dwayne Bacon, and Dubai also boasts plenty of power in the paint with fresh faces Sertac Sanli and Mfiondu Kabengele, the reigning EuroCup rebounding king. After finishing last season’s competition just outside the playoffs with a 16-18 record, Partizan boss Zeljko Obradovic has retained the majority of his roster. The Serbian team’s star addition is free-scoring forward Jabari Parker, while NBA veteran Shake Milton will aim to make a strong debut after being signed to deepen Obradovic’s backcourt options.
Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv vs. FC Barcelona (18:00 CEST)
After roaring to title glory in last season’s EuroCup, Hapoel will step up for its EuroLeague debut with a tough task against traditional powerhouse Barcelona. The game – to be staged in Sofia, Bulgaria – will see Barca give debuts to experienced forwards Will Clyburn and Toko Shengelia, who both joined from Virtus during the summer. Joan Penarroya’s men, who reached the playoffs last season, can also call upon promising EuroLeague rookies Myles Cale and Miles Norris. Hapoel coach Dimitris Itoudis – a two-time EuroLeague champion – possesses plenty of backcourt talent following the summer recruitment of Chris Jones, Elijah Bryant and especially Vasilije Micic, a former EuroLeague champion and MVP. Centers Dan Oturu and Tai Odiase have also arrived, showing that Hapoel mean serious business over the coming months.
Anadolu Efes Istanbul vs. Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv (19:45 CEST)
New Efes coach Igor Kokoskov begins his reign with a visit from a Maccabi team led for the fourth consecutive season by Oded Kattash. The Turkish team, which finished sixth last season with a 20-14 record, has retained its key players inside and outside the paint, Shane Larkin and Vincent Poirier, whilst adding plenty of quality including last season’s Best Defender award winner Nick Weiler-Babb, elite scorer Jordan Loyd and towering big man Georgios Papagiannis. Maccabi endured a tough 2024-25 campaign, ending third from bottom at 11-23, and will hope to mount a stronger challenge this season with the assistance of new signings like Lonnie Walker and center Marcio Santos, who shined for Ulm in last season’s EuroCup and will now try to prove himself at the higher level.
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade vs. EA7 Emporio Armani Milan (20:00 CEST)
Experienced head coaches Ioannis Sfairopoulos and Ettore Messina will respectively look to guide their new-look Zvezda and Milan teams to a season-opening win in Belgrade. Zvezda has suffered the loss of key scorer Isaiah Canaan during the preseason preparations, placing more pressure on new signing Devonte’ Graham to make a fast start. Forward Semi Ojeleye plus big men Chima Moneke and Jasiel are also exciting arrivals for Zvezda, and their fast challenge will be outmuscling Milan’s summer signings Bryant Dunston and Devin Booker. Messina has also added vast experience and leadership in the backcourt with reigning champion Marko Guduric and Lorenzo Brown, while Shavon Shields and Zach LeDay will continue to play a vital role for the Italian team.
Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens vs. FC Bayern Munich (20:15 CEST)
Last season’s beaten semifinalists Panathinaikos will look to kickstart a fresh title challenge with a visit from free-scoring Bayern. Ergin Ataman has retained the core of last season’s Greens roster, including reigning league MVP Kendrick Nunn, whilst adding even more backcourt explosiveness with 2024-25’s assists leader TJ Shorts and three-point scoring ace Vassilis Toliopoulos. NBA veteran Richaun Holmes has also been captured to add further power in the paint, and it’s clear Panathinaikos is again a leading title candidate. But Bayern also has lots of ambition with coach Gordie Herbert welcoming eight new players including dynamic guard Kamar Baldwin and high-flying center Wenyen Gabriel, who makes an immediate return to Athens to debut against his former club.
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz vs. Olympiacos Piraeus (20:30 CEST)
After suffering another near-miss with a semifinals defeat, Olympiacos begins its latest title assault with a trip to new-look Baskonia. The Spanish team has a new head coach, with EuroLeague novice Paolo Galbiati overseeing a roster reloaded with the recruitment of promising talent such as Matteo Spagnolo and Markquis Nowell. Baskonia’s key player continues to be scoring ace Markus Howard, while backcourt facilitator Trent Forrest will hope to continue his outstanding form from the end of last season. Heading into his sixth straight season in charge of Olympiacos, Georgios Bartzokas has not changed much: the likes of Sasha Vezenkov, Evan Fournier and Nikola Milutinov are back to lead the Reds again. But Donta Hall and Tyson Ward are significant signings, adding more quality to an already loaded roster.
Virtus Bologna vs. Real Madrid (20:45 CEST)
Sergio Scariolo tips off his second spell in charge of Real Madrid with a trip to his former club, Virtus. The Spanish giant is looking to bounce back from a relatively disappointing season (seventh place, 20-14), and Scariolo has made moves in the market by recruiting EuroLeague rookies Chuma Okeke and Trey Lyles along with rising star Theo Maledon, who will look to repeat the spectacular performances he delivered last season with ASVEL. With the likes of Facu Campazzo, Mario Hezonja and Walter Tavares returning, Real will take plenty of talent to face a Virtus team which looks to be in rebuilding mode: veteran coach Dusko Ivanovic has signed eight new players and will look for instant chemistry in the backcourt from Luca Vildoza and Carsen Edwards.
Wednesday, October 1
AS Monaco vs. Zalgiris Kaunas (19:30 CEST)
Last season’s beaten finalist Monaco will look for a strong start at home against Zalgiris. Ahead of his first full season in charge, Roca Team coach Vassilis Spanoulis has made one of the summer’s biggest transfer moves by signing former EuroLeague MVP Nikola Mirotic, who will look to strike an instant connection with all-time scoring leader Mike James – now fully reintegrated after missing the end of last season with an internal suspension. Scoring threat Nemanja Nedovic and big man Kevarrius Hayes are also new additions to face a Zalgiris team led for the first time by Tomas Masiulis. The new coach is integrating some significant signings including experienced backcourt duo Maodo Lo and Nigel Williams-Goss, while talented center Azuolas Tubelis will look to make an instant impact in the paint.
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul vs. Paris Basketball (19:45 CEST)
Reigning champion Fenerbahce begins its title defense with a visit from new-look Paris. The Turkish team has retained the majority of last season’s triumphant squad, with the significant exceptions of Nigel Hayes-Davis and Marko Guduric. Their shoes will be filled by dynamic American guard Talen Horton-Tucker and flying Finn Mikael Jantunen, who is ready to make his debut for Sarunas Jasikevicius by facing his former club. Jantunen was just one of several high-profile summer departures from Paris, which is also led by a new coach in the form of Francesco Tabellini. The French club will hope that Nadir Hifi can continue his development into one of the continent’s most exciting players, while new signings such as EuroLeague rookies Jeremy Morgan and Justin Robinson will need to adapt fast.
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne vs. Valencia Basket (20:00 CEST)
Valencia returns to the EuroLeague after a one-year absence with a trip to ASVEL. The French club, again coached by Pierric Poupet, will rely on the veteran leadership of Nando De Colo, David Lighty and Edwin Jackson. The significant void left by Theo Maledon’s departure will have to be filled by Glynn Watson Jr, who showed his potential by averaging 16.0 points per game in the French league with Gravelines-Dunkerque. Valencia’s backcourt will be led by one of the competition's hottest prospects, Jean Montero, with plenty of assistance from experienced and versatile new signing Darius Thompson. Another important arrival for Pedro Martinez's team is rebounding star Neal Sako, who makes his debut by trying to dish out a defeat to his former club.