Dubai Basketball set for EuroLeague debut next month against Spanish opposition.
Dubai: Dubai Basketball fans have plenty to celebrate as the team turns its attention to the 2026/27 season following a historic ABA League title triumph.
The club’s opening two EuroLeague home fixtures promise a major spectacle, with Spanish giants set to provide a high-profile start to Dubai’s European campaign.
Coca-Cola Arena will host Dubai Basketball’s first EuroLeague home game against Real Madrid on Thursday, September 24, before welcoming another Spanish powerhouse, Barcelona, just five days later on Tuesday, September 29.
Real Madrid first up
Dubai Basketball could hardly have asked for a more demanding start to its EuroLeague journey. Real Madrid arrive in the UAE as one of Europe’s most successful clubs, coming off a remarkable 2025/26 season in which they won the Liga ACB, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup before reaching the EuroLeague semi-finals.
However, Dubai Basketball will draw confidence from their previous encounters with the Spanish giants, having shown last season that they can compete at the highest level.
Real Madrid secured a 107-93 win in Madrid after recovering from a 14-point half-time deficit, but Dubai responded impressively just over a month later with a memorable 93-85 victory over Los Blancos at Coca-Cola Arena.
A commanding fourth-quarter performance helped the UAE side complete the comeback, underlining their ability to challenge Europe’s top teams on home court.
Pascual faces former club
New Dubai Basketball head coach Xavi Pascual will face a familiar opponent when Barcelona visit Coca-Cola Arena, setting up another highly anticipated EuroLeague clash.
Pascual enjoyed a hugely successful tenure across two spells with the Catalan club, guiding them to the EuroLeague title, four Liga ACB championships, multiple Copa del Rey trophies and Spanish Super Cups. He returned to Barcelona for the 2025/26 season, but the campaign ended without silverware as the team exited the EuroLeague in the Play-In stage before falling in the Liga ACB and Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Now, only months after his departure, the Spanish coach will look to lead Dubai Basketball to victory against the club where he established himself as one of Europe’s most respected coaches.
Dubai can also take confidence from last season’s encounters with Barcelona, having demonstrated their ability to compete with the Spanish giants. The UAE side recorded a memorable 83-78 victory at Coca-Cola Arena in the teams’ first meeting before suffering a narrow 91-89 defeat at Palau Blaugrana, with Barcelona securing the win in the final seconds.
Fans can watch both games, along with all other Dubai Basketball home fixtures, by purchasing a season ticket.
