EuroLeague Semifinal Preview: Real Madrid to Face Panathinaikos in Abu Dhabi
Tonight marks the first games of the Final Four of Europe's premier basketball tournament. The reigning champion, Real Madrid, will face the Greek powerhouse that lost last season's final by just 4 points.
Main Event
Real Madrid will face Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague Final Four semifinal in Abu Dhabi
Tonight, May 28, 2026, the capital of the United Arab Emirates hosts the biggest event in European club basketball — the EuroLeague Final Four for the 2025/26 season. For the first time in history, Abu Dhabi welcomes the prestigious tournament, announced as the venue for the four final games following the league's geographic expansion and new sponsorship agreements with the region.
In the first semifinal, starting at 7:00 PM local time (6:00 PM Moscow time), the reigning EuroLeague champion Real Madrid will face the Greek giant Panathinaikos from Athens. This matchup holds special significance for both teams: it was Real Madrid who defeated Panathinaikos in last year's final by a narrow margin of 84-80, denying the Greeks the championship trophy.
The second semifinal, starting at 10:00 PM Moscow time, will pit another Greek club, Olympiacos, against Turkish side Fenerbahçe. The final will take place on May 30, 2026.
Details and Statistics
Real Madrid's path to the Final Four was impressive but rocky. In the quarterfinal series, Madrid faced Panathinaikos and managed to close the series 3-1, despite starting the matchup on the road without home-court advantage. The decisive fourth game ended with Real Madrid winning away in Athens 89-82.
The key player in that series was Argentine point guard Facundo Campazzo, who recorded a double-double in the fourth game with 16 points and 10 assists. A true wall under the basket was Walter Tavares, the Dominican center recognized as one of the best defenders in tournament history. In that same winning game, veteran Rudy Fernández scored 16 points, and Gustavo Ayón added 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Panathinaikos, for its part, showed character in the series against Real Madrid, winning the opening game at home but then losing three straight. Standouts for the Greeks included Nick Calathes, who scored 17 points in the fourth game, along with Keith Langford and Deshaun Thomas, who added 10 and 11 points respectively.
It is worth noting that Panathinaikos is the only team that managed to beat Real Madrid in the playoffs this season, making tonight's showdown even more intriguing.
Context and Significance
For Real Madrid, this Final Four is their fifth in the last six years. The Madrid side is defending the title they won a year ago and aims to prove that their era in European basketball continues. Winning the tournament would solidify their status as the most decorated club in EuroLeague history.
Panathinaikos is hungry for revenge. Last year's final loss by just 4 points remains a painful memory for Greek fans. Tonight, they have a chance not only to reach the final but also to take revenge on their tormentors for two consecutive playoff defeats (in the 2026 quarterfinals and the 2025 final).
An important factor is the financial side of the tournament. According to data published by Greek media, the prize pool for this season's Final Four has significantly increased. The tournament winner will receive €2.4 million, the runner-up €2.1 million, the third-place team €1.8 million, and the fourth-place team €1.5 million. For comparison, just a year ago, the champion received €1.8 million and the runner-up only €1 million. This "inflation" of prize money reflects the growing popularity and commercial success of the EuroLeague.
What's Next / Next Match Preview
The semifinal games will take place today, May 28, 2026:
- 7:00 PM local time (6:00 PM MSK): Real Madrid vs. Panathinaikos (Athens)
- 10:00 PM local time (9:00 PM MSK): Olympiacos (Piraeus) vs. Fenerbahçe (Istanbul)
Both games will be held at the same arena in Abu Dhabi. The final will take place on May 30, 2026, featuring the winners of the semifinal pairings.
Important format change: this season, the EuroLeague has abolished the third-place game. Now, the bronze medalist is determined by regular season results: of the two teams that lose in the semifinals, the one with the higher regular season standing takes third place.
Editorial Prediction
The editorial board considers the reigning champion the favorite in the Real Madrid vs. Panathinaikos matchup. Madrid has a psychological edge after winning the 2025 final and a convincing quarterfinal series victory over the same opponent (3-1). The key factor will be play under the basket: if Walter Tavares can neutralize the tall Greek big men and Campazzo continues to dish out assists in his trademark style, Real Madrid should advance. However, Panathinaikos is dangerous due to its experience and desire for revenge, so the match is expected to be tense. Editorial prediction: Real Madrid wins by 5–8 points and advances to the EuroLeague final for the second consecutive year.
— Editorial Team
