Big names, traditional rivalries and players capable of changing a game on their own. These are the five must-watch matchups of the first half of the EuroLeague season to mark on your calendar now.
The EuroLeague returns with most teams significantly strengthened and the race for the top expected to be more competitive than ever. From the Greek derby and the explosive clashes in Belgrade and Istanbul to the Tel Aviv showdown, the first half of the season includes games that will be impossible to ignore.
Olympiacos – Real Madrid
November 20, 2026, 21:15
A matchup that has delivered memorable European nights and developed an even fiercer rivalry in recent years. Olympiacos will host Real Madrid at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, in a rematch of last season’s final, with the individual battles alone making it one to anticipate.
Sasha Vezenkov, Evan Fournier, Tyler Dorsey and Nikola Milutinov are Olympiacos’ main points of reference, while young guard Jan Montero adds even more creation and unpredictability to the backcourt. On the other side, Facundo Campazzo and Edy Tavares remain the players who set the tone for Real Madrid. The two rosters suggest a high-level battle at every position.
Partizan – Crvena Zvezda
November 22, 2026, 21:45
This is much more than a basketball game. Belgrade will be split in two, and the atmosphere is expected to be as explosive as always. Partizan now have Luca Vildoza, who knows this rivalry extremely well from his time with Crvena Zvezda, while Carlik Jones, Alessandro Pajola and Lamar Stevens also stand out in their revamped roster. Vildoza’s arrival adds even more spice to the derby.
Crvena Zvezda, meanwhile, boast a particularly explosive trio in Jordan Nwora, Chima Moneke and Jared Butler—players with personality, scoring talent and the ability to catch fire within minutes. In a derby where mentality plays such a major part, strong characters will take centre stage.
Fenerbahçe – Anadolu Efes
December 10, 2026, 19:45
Istanbul is preparing for a star-studded showdown. Fenerbahçe added Shane Larkin to an already talented group, along with two experienced EuroLeague standouts, Will Clyburn and Shavon Shields. Together with Wade Baldwin and Talen Horton-Tucker, they form a backcourt unit with size, experience and plenty of offensive firepower. Fenerbahçe have one of the deepest rosters in the competition.
All eyes, however, will also be on Mike James. The EuroLeague’s all-time leading scorer is now Anadolu Efes’ central figure and will lead Pablo Laso’s side alongside players such as Matt Strazel, Dario Šarić and Bruno Fernando. James facing Larkin and Baldwin is enough on its own to make this one of the most intriguing games of the season.
Panathinaikos AKTOR – Olympiacos
December 11, 2026, 21:15
This fixture needs no introduction. The Greek “Clasico” moves to the Telekom Center Athens, where two teams with hugely powerful rosters and a clear goal of winning the EuroLeague will go head-to-head.
Kendrick Nunn, Kostas Sloukas, Guerschon Yabusele, Juancho Hernangómez and Nigel Hayes-Davis form an impressive core for Željko Obradović’s Panathinaikos. Across the court will be Vezenkov, Fournier, Dorsey and Milutinov, with Olympiacos bringing their own considerable quality and experience.
Nunn’s battle with Olympiacos’ guards, Yabusele and Vezenkov facing off at power forward, and the clash between the two frontcourts all create the conditions for a true basketball spectacle. In a game like this, though, tactics, form and reputations often take a back seat to passion.
Hapoel Tel Aviv – Maccabi Tel Aviv
December 29, 2026, 20:00
The final major derby of 2026 comes with a strong Israeli flavour. Hapoel have become one of the EuroLeague’s most ambitious teams, featuring players such as Vasilije Micić, Elijah Bryant, Zach LeDay and Jacob Toppin—a group with quality, size and plenty of experience at the highest level.
Maccabi respond with Yam Madar, Jaylen Hoard, Daniel Theis and Bonzie Colson, in a roster that combines athleticism, experience and a strong local identity. Theis, Colson and Madar are among Maccabi’s most important additions.
This is a derby that goes beyond the standings. Hapoel want to openly challenge Maccabi’s traditional dominance, while the “Yellow and Blue” are called upon to defend their status in the city against their most ambitious rival. The ideal finale to a first half of the season full of major basketball storylines.
