Can Dubai Get Revenge Against Real Madrid? Dubai Basketball vs Real Madrid Preview | September 24, 2026
Dubai Basketball
Real Madrid
The new EuroLeague season begins with an intriguing rematch at Coca-Cola Arena, where Dubai Basketball will host Real Madrid. The teams met less than a week ago in the EuroLeague Super Cup, with Real Madrid edging Dubai 98-95 in overtime after the UAE side had led by as many as 16 points.
Match Preview
Dubai Basketball enters its second EuroLeague season after winning the ABA League last year. The club has significantly strengthened its roster during the offseason, appointing Xavi Pascual as head coach and bringing in experienced players such as Tornike Shengelia and Elie Okobo.
Dubai already showed its potential against Real Madrid in the Super Cup. Okobo scored 24 points, while Dwayne Bacon added 19, as Dubai pushed the Spanish side all the way to overtime. The team then lost 85-77 to Fenerbahce in the third-place game, but its overall performance in the tournament provided a positive indication ahead of the new EuroLeague campaign.
Home court has been particularly important for Dubai. Last season, the team collected 13 of its 19 EuroLeague victories at Coca-Cola Arena. It also defeated Real Madrid 93-85 in Dubai, while the Spanish side won the meeting in Madrid 107-93. That makes the upcoming matchup the fourth official meeting between the teams, with Real Madrid currently leading the series 2-1.
Real Madrid arrives in Dubai as the reigning EuroLeague Super Cup champion. After overcoming Dubai in the semifinal, Madrid defeated Olympiacos 93-89 in the final. The team showed its depth throughout the tournament, with several players reaching double figures in the final.
Real Madrid have also undergone significant changes ahead of the new season. Pedro Martinez is the team's new head coach. The Spanish side also strengthened its roster with several new arrivals, including Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Olivier Sarr, Mikael Jantunen, Damian Jones and Ukrainian guard Maksym Shulha.
Last season, Real Madrid finished first in the ACB regular season but were eliminated by Tenerife in the opening playoff round. In the EuroLeague, however, the team reached the Final Four before losing 92-85 to Olympiacos in the semifinal. Madrid then defeated the same opponent in the Super Cup final to begin the new campaign with a trophy.
The recent head-to-head meetings have produced plenty of offense. The first three official encounters finished 107-93, 93-85 and 98-95 after overtime, with Dubai scoring at least 93 points in each game. The latest meeting was particularly competitive, as Dubai controlled long stretches before Madrid recovered and forced overtime.
Key Trends
- Real Madrid lead the head-to-head games 2-1.
- Dubai won the last meeting between the teams in Coca-Cola Arena, 93-85.
- Dubai scored at least 93 points in all three previous meetings with Real Madrid.
- The latest matchup ended 98-95 after overtime.
Prediction
The recent Super Cup semifinal showed that the gap between these teams can be very small. Dubai led by 16 points before Real Madrid produced a late comeback, while the home side had enough offensive quality to score 95 points against one of Europe's most experienced teams. The rematch also takes place in Dubai, where the hosts have historically been much stronger. Their 13-6 home record in last season's EuroLeague campaign and the 93-85 victory over Madrid demonstrate how important Coca-Cola Arena can be in this matchup. Real Madrid have the advantage of entering the season with a Super Cup trophy and the confidence of having already beaten Dubai days earlier. However, the hosts have already shown that they can create serious problems for the Spanish side, and the new EuroLeague season gives Dubai another opportunity to test itself against one of the competition's biggest clubs. With both teams bringing significant offensive talent and their previous meetings consistently producing high scores, another competitive and fast-paced game could be expected at Coca-Cola Arena. Recommended Bet: Over 170 Total Points.
