Madrid and Dubai reunite in the Euroleague

The Real Madrid arrives in Dubai with the first title of the Pedro Martínez era in hand, but without time for celebrations. Just six days after defeating Dubai in the semifinal of the Abu Dhabi Supercup, the Whites must return to the Coca-Cola Arena to open the 2026-27 Euroleague campaign. There is no neutral court or trophy at stake, but victory counts for the standings and sets the tone for a dizzying week that will feature four games in eight days.

The semifinal in Abu Dhabi showcased a blockbuster duel. Dubai started strong with four-for-four from beyond the arc thanks to McKinley Wright IV, reaching 16-4 by the sixth minute. Madrid took time to get into the game, uncomfortable against the versatile Emirati defense that switched on almost every pick. Pedro Martínez found solutions from the bench by pairing Campazzo, Feliz, and Tavares, allowing the Whites to overcome a 16-point deficit. By halftime, the match was tied (43-42), and Madrid entered the final quarter leading.

Jaime Pradilla and Luwawu-Cabarrot picked up the offensive slack with consecutive three-pointers, but Madrid couldn't close the game. Several turnovers allowed Dubai to regain the lead with under a minute left. An off-balance three from Luwawu-Cabarrot forced a tie, and the Emiratis missed their last possession, sending the game into overtime. There, Madrid took control from the jump: Feliz scored five points and Campazzo hit a three to lead 88-96. Okobo responded with another five, and Wright brought it to 95-96, but Luwawu-Cabarrot sealed it with two free throws.

Tavares' Dominance and Revenge against Olympiacos

Sergio Tavares was Madrid's standout in Abu Dhabi with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and a valuation of 22. From the bench, Pradilla and Luwawu-Cabarrot added 13 and 20 points respectively. For Dubai, Okobo scored 24 points, and Bacon had 19, though the Emiratis felt Bacon's absence after a severe head injury. The glaring flaw for Madrid was the 22 turnovers the team accumulated.

The next day, Madrid settled a small historical debt. They defeated Olympiacos 89-93 in the final, avenging their loss to the Greeks in last May's Euroleague final. Tavares was named MVP in a game where seven Madrid players recorded double-digit valuations. The final basket was made by Andrés Feliz from inside. The coach himself acknowledged that the team is still a work in progress. Martínez congratulated his players for believing even after experiencing a horrible third quarter, and Tavares admitted they have much to improve.

In the final, Sergio Llull and Damian Jones played, having been left out of the semifinal roster along with Gabriele Procida and Nick Smith Jr., the latest signing. The Madrid team stepping onto Dubai should have more depth than the one from Friday in Abu Dhabi, a crucial factor for such a demanding week.

The Dubai of Pascual, a strengthened project to compete

The Emirati team faces its second season in the Euroleague with a new outlook. In their debut, they finished eleventh with a 19-19 record, although they won the ABA League with a 28-5 record. This summer, they made a strong commitment: Xavi Pascual at the helm and a core of trusted veterans. The coach was particularly attentive to the arrivals of Shengelia and Walkup, two players who will be leaders both on and off the court. They are joined by Okobo, Blossomgame, Mintz, and Diakité, for whom they paid a buyout of 400,000 euros to Baskonia.

The Abu Dhabi tournament ended with two losses for Dubai. In the third-place game, they fell 85-77 to Fenerbahce in a match where both coaches rested players with an eye on the Euroleague start. Bacon didn't appear in the box score, and Okobo fouled out. Nevertheless, Dubai left a good impression in the third quarter: Jasikevicius admitted his team was unprepared for the physicality the Emiratis brought to the game. That same recipe of physical defense and constant changes stymied Madrid for half of the semifinal.

The keys to the matchup and a punishing schedule

The keys seem clear after what was seen in Abu Dhabi. Madrid must protect the ball against one of the most uncomfortable defenses on the continent. The 22 turnovers from the semifinal cannot happen again. Dubai needs Okobo and Wright to be as sharp as in Abu Dhabi to offset Tavares' dominance in the paint. It remains to be seen, additionally, in what condition Bacon arrives after the head injury.

The official history is brief and closely matched. The two encounters from last season were resolved in favor of the home team: 107-93 for Madrid on one occasion and 93-85 for Dubai on another. The Emirati victory came precisely at the Coca-Cola Arena following a comeback: Madrid led 49-42 at halftime, but Petrusev and Musa spearheaded a 17-4 run at the end of the third quarter that turned the game around. Now the semifinal from Abu Dhabi adds to those two matchups.

The game on Thursday opens a demanding stretch for Pedro Martínez's team. After visiting Dubai, Madrid hosts Unicaja on Sunday the 27th at the Movistar Arena in the first match of the Liga Endesa, travels to Anadolu Efes' court on Tuesday the 29th, and faces Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv on Thursday, October 1, at the Sofia Arena. Four games in eight days and three away trips: minute management begins now, just a week after conquering the Supercup.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Madrid y Dubai se reencontran en la Euroliga