Real Madrid and Barcelona are set to face off in the second clash of the 2026 season. Their latest encounter on January 4 at the Movistar Arena saw Barcelona triumph, breaking Real Madrid’s streak of nine consecutive victories in their meetings.
Although Barcelona emerged victorious in their last matchup, Real Madrid took the first round of this competition with a score of 101-92 on November 7 at Palau Blaugrana. That game marked the last European match coached by Joan Peñarroya during his tenure with Barcelona.
As the teams prepare for the showdown this Friday, Edy Tavares shared his thoughts on the current state of Real Madrid. The towering Cape Verdean player expressed confidence regarding his team’s form, stating, “The team is doing well. Our goal is to try to win as many games as possible to stay at the top.” Tavares emphasized the importance of winning against a competitive landscape in the Euroleague, noting that this match could significantly impact both teams’ futures in the tournament.
He further commented on the unique opportunity of hosting another classic in front of their fans, adding, “We aim to give our best to win and make our supporters happy.” A victory for Real Madrid would level their European record with Barcelona, while a win for the Catalans would allow them to create a gap in the standings.
Fans can also look forward to another exciting matchup between Tavares and Willy Hernangómez. The latter outperformed Tavares during their last ACB match and will be eager to repeat that success in the Euroleague. This time, Xavi Pascual is expected to welcome back Jan Vesely and Darío Brizuela, who were absent in the previous classic. Coach Sergio Scariolo will have his full roster available, except for Clyburn and Juan Núñez.
Following this classic, Real Madrid will face a direct challenge in the Liga Endesa as they host Valencia Basket on Sunday at 7 PM.