The leaders face one of the contenders for a top-six finish. Real Madrid are riding a six-game winning streak in the EuroLeague but are weakened by injuries to several key players, while Panathinaikos have lost for the first time in several weeks and want to restore their reputation as leaders.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid began the season with three defeats: 77:78 in Dubai, 84:94 at home to Anadolu Efes and 98:102 in Tel Aviv. They then won six consecutive games, or 11 including the Spanish league. After nine rounds, their record stands at 6 wins and 3 defeats, with a points differential of +74 and an average of 96.2 points per game, the second-highest figure. In the latest round, they thrashed Fenerbahce (95:76): Théo Maledon recorded 26 points and 7 rebounds for a performance index rating of 35, Facundo Campazzo posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists, and Edy Tavares added 14 points. However, Real Madrid lost two players in that game: Maledon sprained his right knee and is likely to miss between two and six weeks, while Mikael Jantunen suffered a complete rupture of the plantar fascia in his left foot and faces a lengthy absence. Usman Garuba and Gabriel Deck were already sidelined. Maledon is the team's leading scorer in the EuroLeague, averaging 16.3 points and 5.2 assists per game, and his absence is a serious blow to the squad.
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos lead the competition after nine rounds with a 7-2 record. However, on 30 October they lost to Anadolu Efes in Istanbul (68:83): steals and 16 turnovers resulted in their lowest-scoring game of the season, while the visitors failed to stop a decisive 14:0 run late on. Kendrick Nunn led the Greek team with 17 points, while Nigel Hayes-Davis scored 11. Previously, Panathinaikos had won away at Partizan (72:55). Their reliable defence has taken them to the top of the EuroLeague: they have conceded an average of 75 points per game, the best figure in the competition. However, they have struggled offensively, averaging 84.6 points per game, which ranks 15th.
Real Madrid vs Panathinaikos Prediction
Last season, Panathinaikos won the last three head-to-head meetings: 77:87 in Madrid on 13 November, when Real Madrid were still unbeaten at home, 81:82 in Athens on 3 February 2026 and 70:85 in March 2025. Real Madrid won the game in Madrid in the 2024/25 season (90:86). They are in good form now but have to play without Maledon and Jantunen, while Panathinaikos are better defensively. The hosts are strong at home, so a big away win looks unlikely, but Real Madrid are unlikely to win by a large margin either: we expect a close game.
