Will Olimpia Milano's Strong Start Give Them the Edge in Belgrade? Partizan vs Olimpia Milano Preview | September 25, 2026
Partizan
Olimpia Milano
Partizan will host Olimpia Milano in Belgrade on September 25 in the opening round of the new EuroLeague season. The Serbian side is yet to play an official game this season, while Milano already has two competitive victories behind it.
Match Preview
Partizan enter their first official game of the season after a preseason campaign that included five friendly matches. The Belgrade side won three of them, including a convincing 101-77 victory over JL Bourg in its most recent outing.
Last season ended without a trophy for Partizan. The team reached the ABA League final but lost to Dubai, while its Serbian SuperLeague campaign ended in the semi-finals against FMP Beograd.
Partizan finished 15th in last season's EuroLeague regular season with 16 wins from 38 games. Their home record was considerably stronger, with 11 victories in 19 games in Belgrade. That home advantage could again be important, particularly against an opponent that has historically caused problems on this court.
Olimpia Milano already have competitive basketball under their belt. The Italian side won the Italian Super Cup, beating Virtus Bologna in the semi-finals and Venezia in the final. Milano therefore enter their EuroLeague opener with two official victories already secured.
The club also won the Italian championship last season, beating Venezia in the final. It was their fourth domestic title in the last five years.
In the EuroLeague, however, Milano finished only 14th last season with 17 wins and 21 defeats. Their away record was modest, as they won six of 19 road games. The long-term head-to-head record against Partizan nevertheless gives the Italian side confidence.
The last six meetings between the teams are evenly split at three wins apiece, but Milano have dominated the longer-term matchup. They have won eight of the last 11 encounters. The Italians have also won five of the last seven games played at Partizan's home court, although the Serbian side edged last season's Belgrade meeting 80-78.
Prediction
Partizan will have the advantage of playing in front of their home crowd and finished their preseason with a convincing win over Bourg. Their 11-8 home record in last season's EuroLeague also shows why Belgrade can be a difficult venue for visiting teams. Milano, however, arrive with greater competitive rhythm. They have already played two official games and won both, while their recent head-to-head record against Partizan is particularly strong. The Italian side has also repeatedly produced positive results in Belgrade, winning five of the last seven meetings there. Partizan should make this a competitive opening-round matchup, but Milano's early-season rhythm and strong record in this particular fixture make the visitors capable of starting their EuroLeague campaign with another win. Recommended Bet: Olimpia Milano to Win
