Today, the first round of the 2025–2026 EuroLeague basketball season is taking place in the Bulgarian capital. The Catalan club faces Hapoel Tel Aviv, last year’s EuroCup champions, who are now making their debut at the top level of continental competition.
Barcelona approaches the tournament’s start after disappointing results in friendly matches: the team lost to Joventut Badalona (74-63) and Força Lleida (80-81). The squad has also lost one of its key players—Juan Núñez is out for up to five months due to required knee surgery. Last season, the Catalans were eliminated in the quarterfinals, losing to Monaco in a series that went to five games. They did not manage a comeback, something previously achieved only by Real Madrid.
Barcelona’s opponent, Hapoel Tel Aviv, has also suffered lineup setbacks: the participation of Yam Madar, who recently underwent an appendectomy, remains in question. The Israeli club conducted an extensive transfer campaign, signing ten new players. Among the newcomers are Vasilije Micić, Chris Jones, Iftach Ziv, Collin Malcolm, Tyler Ennis, Daniel Oturu, Elijah Bryant, Tai Odiase, Itay Segev, and Sandy Cohen. The management expects that the revamped roster will allow them to contend for top positions.
Barcelona has also strengthened its lineup, signing Miles Norris, Will Clyburn, Toko Shengelia, Juani Marcos, and Myles Cale. Of particular note is the transfer of Vasilije Micić to Hapoel — the Serbian point guard became the highest-paid player in the tournament, signing a three-year contract worth €14 million after leaving the NBA. His move to Real Madrid fell through due to tax regulations that made the deal unprofitable for the Spanish club.
Micić is a two-time EuroLeague champion with Anadolu Efes, twice named Final Four MVP, and received the regular season MVP title in 2020-2021. In the NBA, he played for the Charlotte Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Phoenix Suns, but was unable to secure a lasting position in the league.
Expectations for the match are high: both teams have renewed their rosters and intend to make a statement from the very start. For Hapoel, this is a historic EuroLeague debut, while Barcelona aims to reclaim its status as one of the tournament favorites.
