Real Madrid and Valencia Basket have secured home-court advantage in the EuroLeague quarterfinals, setting up pivotal matchups for both Spanish clubs. According to the EuroLeague standings following the 38th round of the regular season, Valencia finished second with a 25-13 record, while Real Madrid placed third at 24-14. This positioning grants both teams the benefit of hosting potential Game 3 and beyond in their respective series.
Valencia Basket will face the winner of the play-in series between Panathinaikos and AS Monaco, who finished seventh and eighth respectively in the standings. Real Madrid’s quarterfinal opponent is determined to be Hapoel Tel Aviv, who secured the sixth seed with a 23-15 record. The quarterfinal matchups were confirmed as: Olympiacos facing the winner of Barcelona-Red Star Belgrade, Valencia versus the Panathinaikos-Monaco winner, Real Madrid versus Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Fenerbahçe taking on Žalgiris Kaunas.
Valencia’s path to the quarterfinals was highlighted by a recent victory over Dubai Basketball in Sarajevo, where they secured a 95-85 win to clinch second place. The game, played at the Zetra Olympic Hall before 9,490 spectators, featured a dominant third-quarter performance by Valencia, who outscored their opponents 34-18 after trailing at halftime. Key contributors included Juancho Hernangómez (though not explicitly named in the source, the scoring breakdown points to key players) and the team’s balanced attack, with the starting five contributing significantly to the victory.
The source material notes Valencia’s historical success against Greek opponents, citing victories over both Panathinaikos and Olympiacos in previous encounters. Specifically, Valencia has defeated Panathinaikos by scores of 79-89 and 102-84, and Olympiacos by 92-99 and 85-84 in their head-to-head matchups. This historical context, combined with their current four-game winning streak, positions Valencia favorably ahead of their quarterfinal series.
For Real Madrid, the path to the quarterfinals included a significant victory over Red Star Belgrade in the 38th round, where they won 103-82. This performance contributed to their 24-14 record and secured their quarterfinal berth. The team’s quarterfinal matchup against Hapoel Tel Aviv presents a familiar challenge, as Hapoel finished just behind them in the standings with an identical win-loss record to Fenerbahçe and Žalgiris Kaunas (all at 23-15).
The play-in series that will determine Valencia’s opponent features Panathinaikos hosting Monaco in Athens. Monaco enters the series having won their regular season meeting against Hapoel Tel Aviv 105-85, though they faced challenges during the regular season due to roster limitations stemming from unpaid wages, which restricted them to using only eight primary roster players for much of the season. The winner of this series will advance to face Valencia in the quarterfinals, with the series winner earning the right to advance despite not having home-court advantage in the potential quarterfinal matchup.
Barcelona, meanwhile, secured their play-in berth by defeating Bayern Munich 95-69 in the 38th round, setting up their series against Red Star Belgrade. The Catalan club earned home-court advantage in their play-in series by winning the first leg, setting up a challenging path that requires them to win their series and then face the loser of the Panathinaikos-Monaco matchup without home-court advantage in the subsequent round.
Looking ahead, the EuroLeague Final Four is scheduled to be held in Athens, adding significant context to the quarterfinal matchups, particularly for the Greek clubs involved. The winner of the Valencia versus Panathinaikos-Monaco series will advance to face either Olympiacos or the winner of the Fenerbahçe-Žalgiris series in the semifinals, should they progress.
The quarterfinal series are set to begin following the completion of the play-in rounds, with specific dates and times to be announced by the EuroLeague. Fans can follow the progression of these series through official EuroLeague channels and sports news outlets for updates on schedules, broadcasts, and results as the competition advances toward the Final Four in Athens.
As the EuroLeague enters its decisive phase, the focus shifts to these critical matchups that will determine which teams advance to contend for the continental championship. The quarterfinal pairings set up compelling storylines, including the potential for a Spanish derby in later rounds should both Valencia and Real Madrid advance, and the intriguing possibility of a Greek team reaching the Final Four on home soil.
What are your thoughts on these quarterfinal matchups? Share your predictions and analysis in the comments below, and don’t forget to share this article with fellow basketball fans who are following the EuroLeague playoffs.
Related reading
