Barcelona host Anadolu Efes in the standout game of the EuroLeague 2026/27 opening round.
The premier European competition is back, and from the very first round there are already games that can offer an early glimpse into the new landscape of the season.
The standout matchup is undoubtedly Barcelona vs. Anadolu Efes, with the Blaugrana opening their EuroLeague campaign in front of their home crowd against a Turkish side arriving in Barcelona having already made a positive first impression.
Barcelona head into the game following a heavy 101-87 defeat to Joventut Badalona in the Supercopa Endesa final. The result alone does not tell the whole story for the Catalan side, but conceding 101 points and their defensive performance are certainly impossible to ignore. Joventut shot 50% from three-point range and 72% from two-point range, while Nico Laprovittola finished with 31 points, going 9-of-13 from beyond the arc.
It is clear that Alexander Sekulic’s new-look Barcelona are still finding their identity. The Slovenian coach has a very different roster at his disposal compared to last season, and a lack of chemistry is only natural at this stage of the season. At the Supercopa, Justin Robinson scored 17 points in the semi-final against Valencia, while Kevin Punter led the way in the final with 20 points. Joel Parra added 24, while Tyrese Martin finished with 16.
The biggest question is how a team that has added more athleticism and intensity will function, especially as it still needs time to develop cohesion. All of this comes in a EuroLeague opener against an opponent arriving with a very different kind of momentum.
Anadolu Efes won the VTB SuperCup in Moscow, beating Zenit, UNICS and Lokomotiv Kuban in succession. In the final, Pablo Laso’s team edged Loko 88-82, with Mike James taking responsibility for the final possession and hitting a four-point play — a three-pointer plus the foul — to make it 88-82 with 3.9 seconds remaining. James finished with 27 points.
James was named the tournament MVP after averaging 19 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists across the three games. Alongside him is another major star: Dario Saric, who brings size, experience and playmaking to Efes’ frontcourt. The partnership between the two is one of the major focal points of Laso’s new project.
And they are far from the only ones. P.J. Dozier, Bruno Fernando, Matthew Strazel and Jordan Loyd are all important pieces of a roster aiming to return to the highest level of the EuroLeague. Efes arrive in Barcelona with three official games already under their belt, giving them a small edge in terms of readiness over a Barcelona team that is only now getting its EuroLeague campaign underway.
The injury report
Barcelona will be without Yoan Makoundou, who is dealing with an issue involving his left patella and is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks. Tosan Evbuomwan is also unavailable after suffering a shoulder injury while playing for Great Britain.
For Efes, Isaiah Cordinier has yet to return following knee surgery, while Georgios Papagiannis is back and available after a lengthy absence.
What happened last season
The two teams split their meetings last season. In Istanbul, Efes claimed a 74-73 victory thanks to a Cordinier free throw with 0.3 seconds remaining, while Barcelona responded with a 78-71 win at Palau Blaugrana. The Catalans have also won all three of their most recent home games against Efes.
