Dubai Basketball-Real Madrid: aiming for a spot in the EuroLeague Super Cup final
Our team faces the host in the semifinal of the first edition of this competition, which takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi (7:00 pm, Movistar Plus+).
Real Madrid kicks off the 2026-2027 season today in Abu Dhabi with the semifinal match of the inaugural EuroLeague Super Cup. Under the guidance of Pedro Martínez, who will make his official debut as head coach of the madridista bench, they face the tournament host, Dubai Basketball, with the goal of reaching tomorrow's final and becoming the first team to etch their name in the history of this new competition.
The season begins on a grand scale at the Etihad Arena (with a capacity of 18,000 spectators) with a unique two-day tournament that will crown the European super champion. Alongside Real Madrid (last season's EuroLeague runner-up) and Dubai Basketball (the local team), Olympiacos (current champion) and Fenerbahce (2025 champion) will also participate, playing the other semifinal. The final will take place on Saturday at 7:00 pm, while the third-place match will be held at 4:00 pm.
Pedro Martínez has joined Real Madrid as head coach. Seven new players have been signed: Shulga, Luwawu-Cabarrot, Jantunen, Jones, Sarr, Pradilla, and Nick Smith Jr. Meanwhile, our opponent has also strengthened its squad with Xavi Pascual as head coach and renowned players such as Walkup, Okobo, Blossomgame, Shengelia, and Diakite. These additions complement Musa, Bacon, Wright, Bertans, and others to form a team of high quality and physical strength.
Madrid to impose its game
This strategy is based on what has been observed during preseason: maximum intensity on defense, speed, short possessions, and offensive rebounding. The four preparatory matches have demonstrated our team's significant offensive capacity, averaging 108.2 points. There have only been two previous meetings between these teams, both last season, with one victory each on their home courts: 107-93 for Real Madrid and 93-85 for Dubai Basketball. This evening, Pedro Martínez's squad will aim to start the season with a win in Abu Dhabi.
Disclaimer: Translation generated by artificial intelligence. It may contain inaccuracies.