The Euroligue season began this Tuesday, notably with Dubai’s victory against Partizan Belgrade for his big debut in the competition. French players also highlighted, pending entry into the Betclic Elite clubs on Wednesday.
This Tuesday, September 30, 2025 was an important date in the history of the Euroligue, since it marked the entry into the European competition of the Dubai team, already integrated since the season spent in the Adriatic League, and which obtained the right to compete in the largest European Cup for five years. And the adventure of the Emirati team began with a victory, against Partizan Belgrade.
In front of the 6063 spectators of the Coca Cola Arena, the Dubaïotes won 89-76 (47-40, MT) thanks in particular to the 20 points Davis Bertans, the former NBA player who arrived in the summer of 2024 within the team. Recall that the Frenchman Mam Jaiteh signed this summer in Dubai, but broke the Achilles tendon during the preparation and will return, at best, at the end of the season. This evening also saw the brilliant victory of Hapoel Tel Aviv against Barcelona, in a match which took place in Sofia in front of 8000 spectators. In an uncertain context, because the Israeli teams could soon be excluded from European competitions, Hapoel won 103-87 (51-45, MT), with 20 points from Antonio Blakeney. On the Barça side, the 23 points and 7 rebounds of Will Clyburn were not enough.
Efes Istanbul, a quarter finalist last year, beat the Maccabi Tel Aviv on the score of 85-78 (40-44, MT), with 16 points of the former Monegasque Jordan Loyd and the Latvian Rolands Smits, but also 7 points, 3 rebounds and 2 passes in 31 minutes from French Isaïa Cordinier, arrived this summer from La Virtus Bologna. On the MacCabi side, the French international Jaylen Hoard, who is starting his second season at the club, finished best scorer on his team with 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 passes in 32 minutes.
Greek clubs at the rendezvous, not the Spanish
If Partizan Belgrade lost to Dubai, his Rival of the Red Star did not do better, with an 82-92 defeat at home against Milan (41-45, MT), with 21 points from Zack Leday on the Milanese side and 19 for Jordan Nwora on the Serbian side. Considered one of the favorites this season, Panathinaikos began its European campaign by an 87-79 victory over Bayern Munich (47-41, MT) thanks in particular to the 21 points of Kendrick Nunn while the 18 points of the Canadians Isiaha Mike and Xavier Rathan-Mayes were not enough for Bavarians.
Olympiakos, the rival of the “Pana” and other favorite at the final victory, went to win 96-102 on the Vitoria prosecution with a huge Aleksandar Vezenkov, author of 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Evan Fournier scored 10 points in 25 minutes for the Greek club. On the Basque side, the French international Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who is playing his second season in Vitoria, has a hit, with 23 points and 6 rebounds in 25 minutes, while Clément Frisch, who arrived this summer from Nancy, scored 8 points for his beginnings in Euroligue. Finally, the last game of the evening saw the Virtus Bologna beat Real Madrid 74-68 with 14 points from Carsen Edwards, while the 14 points of Mario Hezonja were not enough for the Madrilenians. On Wednesday, the three French clubs will start their season, with Monaco-Kaunas, Fenerbahce-Paris and Asvel-Valence on the program.
