Real Madrid and Barcelona star this Friday, January 16 at 8:45 p.m. at the Movistar Arena in a new Clásico for matchday 22 of the Euroleague 2025/26. The whites, who with the last three victories have made a space for themselves in the play-off zone, receive a Barça on an unstoppable streak with seven league wins in a row, fourth in the European table and fresh after defeating Granada, looking to repeat their recent assault on the same fiefdom.
In the middle of the January slope, this eternal duel between the giants of Spanish basketball boils with both teams separated by a sigh in the continental classification, where each victory tips the balance towards the Final Four. Sergio Scariolo, Madrid coach, raises the ante prior to the match: “A victory against Barça would be extremely important for the classification”, key to tying in wins and sealing 2-0 in the particular average that could decide future tiebreakers. Xavi Pascual, in charge of Barça, takes on the challenge with caution: winning twice in a row in Madrid is “very complicated”, but he anticipates an offensive festival with scores close to 90 points per side in a Movistar Arena that will roar like never before.
The whites arrive grown after coming back from MoraBanc Andorra in the Endesa League (85-90), a trench script resolved with defensive bite and rebounding superiority that reaffirms their domestic leadership. In the Euroleague, the last two days with results in their favor have consolidated them in the direct play-off positions (69-80 against ASVEL and 98-86 against Maccabi), projecting reliability in the big events despite the recent league slump against the culés at home (100-105). With Tavares at his best and Okeke regaining minutes, Scariolo recalibrates rebounding, his Achilles heel in the last Clásico, and perimeter surveillance to quell the visiting euphoria.
For their part, the culés have had an immaculate 2026. They defeated Casademont Zaragoza at the Palau (100-80) and Real Madrid on the visit, as well as Covirán Granada on the last day (108-71), their tenth consecutive victory in ACB. Fourth place in the Euroleague after beating Partizan (88-70) and Maccabi Tel Aviv (93-83) in the double matchday, with Nicolás Laprovittola slowly recovering his starring role and Kevin Punter as the top figure of Xavi Pascual’s team.
The recent history is tied 1-1 this season: Madrid took the continental first leg (92-101 in Palau), but Barça reversed the trend in the Endesa League by leading in rebounds and finishes. Scariolo asks for “joint forces” to reverse, Pascual to consolidate the inertia. More than the points, the winner will gain emotional oxygen in a table where each step brings closer or further away from the Final Four.
A new competition puts the Euroleague Classics in check
Today’s Real Madrid-Barcelona could be the last Euroleague Classic in its current format, except for crosses in play-in, quarterfinals or the Final Four, in the face of growing rumors of a new European league with an NBA flavor that seduces the big clubs. Madrid considers its departure towards this project a given, while Barça, tied until 2035 due to contractual issues, could break the agreement by paying 10 million euros if the negotiations prosper. This uncertainty adds epicness to the duel, at a time when the future of Spanish basketball in Europe hangs in the balance.
Schedule and where to watch Real Madrid – Barcelona, Euroleague 2025/26 online TV
The match will begin at 8:45 p.m. (Spanish peninsular time) and will be televised by Movistar Plus+ on the Movistar Plus+ (M7) channels: SEE GAME and M+ Deportes (63). In addition, you can follow all the coverage of the meeting, including prior, live narration and subsequent statements on the LA RAZÓN website (www.larazon.es).
