Full Breakdown
Hapoel Tel Aviv Triumphs Over Real Madrid as Maccabi Tel Aviv Slides to a 0-3 Start
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Hapoel Tel Aviv recorded a 102-98 victory over Real Madrid, completing a EuroLeague double-week sweep. Elijah Bryant earned both weekly MVP awards, finishing with 22 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Vasilije Micic contributed 22 points, while Zach LeDay and Bruno Caboclo each added 15. The win followed an 81-80 away triumph over Red Star Belgrade two days earlier, in which Bryant posted 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
In contrast, Maccabi Tel Aviv fell 90-67 to Panathinaikos, dropping to 0-3 on the season and sinking to the bottom of the standings. Injuries sidelined big man Daniel Theis, and captain John DiBartolomeo missed the game for a family wedding. Roman Sorkin led Maccabi with 13 points.
Background & Context
The 2026/27 EuroLeague campaign opened with mixed fortunes for Israel’s two representatives. Hapoel, coached by Dimitris Itoudis, entered the double-week after an opening-round loss to Bayern Munich but quickly rebounded with the Red Star win. Maccabi, under Oded Katash, entered the season with high expectations but struggled to find cohesion, prompting early criticism of structure and execution.
Data & Statistics
- Hapoel vs. Real Madrid: 102-98; Bryant 22-13-7, Micic 22 points (8-16 shooting), LeDay 15, Caboclo 15.
- Hapoel vs. Red Star: 81-80; Bryant 18 points (9-9 FT), 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals; LeDay 12 points, Antonio Blakeney 12 (1-6 3-pt), Micic 11 points (3-14 3-pt) and 6 rebounds.
- Maccabi vs. Panathinaikos: 90-67; Sorkin 13 points, Keaton Wallace 9, Oshae Brissett 8; Panathinaikos’ Gershon Yabusele 17 points.
Official Statements & Responses
He also praised the defensive effort that preserved the lead in the closing minutes.
Real Madrid coach Pedro Martínez described the first half as “very bad” defensively and offensively, but said the team’s increased aggressiveness in the second half allowed a comeback, even though the final result favored Hapoel.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We expect Vasa to give us those kinds of performances,” — Dimitrios Itoudis
What’s Next
Hapoel Tel Aviv’s schedule includes a challenging encounter with Real Madrid followed by a game against Milano later in the week. Maccabi Tel Aviv will seek to rebound against Valencia and Milano in its upcoming fixtures, aiming to halt the winless streak.