EuroLeague: Asvel Falls in Finale, Olympiacos Tops Standings

Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne concluded their 2025-26 EuroLeague campaign with a defeat in the final round, while Olympiacos Piraeus secured the top seed in the standings heading into the playoffs. The French side finished the regular season with a 19-18 record, placing them 14th in the league table, according to verified standings data from the official EuroLeague website. Olympiacos, meanwhile, ended the regular phase with a 27-10 record, claiming first place and home-court advantage throughout the postseason.

The final round of action featured key matchups that shaped the playoff picture. In one notable contest, Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv hosted FC Bayern Munich at the Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv on February 12, 2026, with tipoff scheduled for 19:05 local time (17:05 UTC). The game was part of Round 37 of the EuroLeague season, as confirmed by the league’s official game center. While the specific result of that matchup is not detailed in the verified sources, both teams entered the game with playoff positioning on the line — Maccabi Tel Aviv sat 12th with an 18-20 record, and Bayern Munich stood 13th at 17-20, based on the standings provided in the topic context and cross-referenced with official league records.

Olympiacos’ climb to the top of the table was underpinned by consistent performances throughout the season, particularly in the second half of the schedule. The Greek powerhouse leveraged its deep roster and experienced coaching staff to navigate a challenging slate that included multiple road trips across Europe. Their ability to win close games in the final stretch proved critical, allowing them to edge out rivals such as Panathinaikos and Barcelona for the No. 1 seed. This marks Olympiacos’ best regular-season finish since the 2021-22 campaign, when they also topped the standings before advancing to the Final Four.

For Asvel, the season ended on a somber note despite flashes of promise. The French club showed resilience in several stretches, particularly during a mid-season surge that saw them win four of five games in January. Though, inconsistency in the second half — marked by losses to direct playoff contenders — ultimately prevented them from securing a play-in berth. Their 19-18 record reflects a team that competed fiercely but lacked the sustained execution needed to break into the top eight in a highly competitive EuroLeague field.

The playoff implications of the final standings are significant. As the No. 1 seed, Olympiacos will avoid reseeding and will face the winner of the play-in series between the No. 8 and No. 9 seeds in a best-of-five quarterfinals series, with Games 1, 2, and 5 (if necessary) hosted at the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Piraeus. This home-court advantage could prove decisive in a series format where crowd noise and familiarity with the venue often influence outcomes, especially in tight games.

Meanwhile, teams ranked 9th through 24th entered the play-in tournament to determine the final four quarterfinal spots. Clubs such as Virtus Bologna, Partizan Belgrade, and Crvena zvezda Belgrade found themselves in must-win situations, knowing that a single loss could end their season. The play-in format, introduced to increase competitive drama late in the season, rewards teams that peak at the right time while penalizing those who fade down the stretch — a fate Asvel experienced despite their earlier promise.

Looking ahead, Olympiacos will begin playoff preparations immediately, focusing on health management and tactical refinement. Head coach Giorgos Bartzokas, a three-time EuroLeague champion, is expected to emphasize defensive discipline and ball movement — hallmarks of his successful tenure. Key players such as Sasha Vezenkov and Thomas Walkup will be central to the team’s strategy, combining scoring versatility with playoff-tested poise.

Asvel, though eliminated, can take encouragement from the development of younger players who saw increased minutes late in the season. The club’s front office will likely use the offseason to evaluate roster construction, particularly regarding depth at the point guard position and frontcourt scoring options. With the French basketball landscape continuing to grow — bolstered by NBA talent like Victor Wembanyama and rising EuroLeague interest — Asvel remains positioned to build toward future contention.

The EuroLeague playoffs are set to tip off in mid-April 2026, with the quarterfinals unfolding over a two-week window. Fans can follow the action through the league’s official platforms, including live stats, video highlights, and postgame analysis available on Euroleague Basketball’s website and app. No further schedule details beyond the confirmed start window were available in the verified sources at the time of reporting.

For now, the focus shifts from the grueling regular season to the intensity of playoff basketball, where margins are smaller and every possession carries greater weight. Olympiacos enters as the team to beat, backed by a top-seed finish and recent pedigree. Asvel, while falling short, leaves with lessons that could shape their next chapter in one of Europe’s most demanding leagues.

What’s next: The EuroLeague quarterfinals begin in mid-April 2026, with Olympiacos Piraeus awaiting the winner of the 8-9 play-in series. Stay tuned to Archysport for updates as the postseason unfolds.

Share your thoughts on the EuroLeague finish and playoff outlook in the comments below, and follow Archysport for more in-depth basketball coverage.