Basketball Champions League Matchday: Full Preview
The Basketball Champions League returns for its 11th season with the Regular Season beginning on 6 October 2026. The competition features 32 teams split across eight groups, with clubs battling through six group-stage games for a place in the next phase. The top team in each group advances directly to the Round of 16, while the second- and third-placed sides enter best-of-three Play-In series.
This season includes a mix of established BCL contenders, returning clubs and newcomers looking to make an impact. Reigning champions Rytas Vilnius begin their title defence, while AEK BC, Unicaja, Galatasaray MCT Technic, UCAM Murcia and other experienced sides will also be among the teams attracting attention.
With the opening round approaching, here is a look at the Matchday 1 schedule, some of the key games to watch and the current state of the competition.
What Are The Basketball Champions League Matchday 1 Fixtures?
The 2026–27 Basketball Champions League Regular Season begins on Tuesday, 6 October, followed by the remaining Matchday 1 fixtures on Wednesday, 7 October. The times below are converted to British Summer Time (BST).
The latest Basketball Champions League fixtures are:
Tuesday, 6 October
Hapoel Holon vs Cholet – 4:45pm
Cibona vs Galatasaray MCT Technic – 5pm
Persteri Betsson vs BMA365 Bamberg Baskets – 5:30pm
Rytas vs Sabah – 5:30pm
SIG Strasbourg vs Legia Warszawa – 7pm
Pallacanestro Reggiana vs KVIS Pardubice – 7pm
Igokea m:tel vs Surne Bilbao- 7pm
Asisa Joventut vs Bnei Penlink Herzliya – 7:30pm
Wednesday, 7 October
Trabzonspor vs Nanterre 92 – 5pm
Slavia Praha ERA NBK vs Alba Berlin – 5pm
AEK vs Salon Vilpas – 5pm
Juventus Utena vs Unicaja – 6pm
Telekom Baskets Bonn vs FC Porto – 7pm
Windrose Giants Antwerp vs Falco KC Szombathely – 7pm
Spartak Office Shoes vs Rasta Vechta – 7pm
UCAM Murcia vs Itelyum Varese – 7:30pm
Rytas Vilnius enter as defending champions after winning the 2026 BCL Final Four, while Salon Vilpas and RASTA Vechta earned their places in the Regular Season through the September Qualification Round Tournaments. Vilpas defeated CSM CSU Oradea 98–96 in the QRT1 Final, while Vechta beat Dziki Warszawa 93–82 in the QRT2 Final.
Basketball Champions League Matchday 1: Game of the Week Preview
Asisa Joventut v Bnei Penlink Herzliya is one of the standout fixtures of the opening round of the 2026–27 Basketball Champions League. Joventut are back for their second BCL campaign after making an immediate impact in 2025–26.
They became the first team in BCL history to win their opening nine games, before their unbeaten start was ended by Elan Chalon in the Round of 16. They subsequently reached the Quarter-Finals, where they defeated AEK BC by 22 points in Game 2 but ultimately lost the series after a narrow defeat in Athens.
The Catalan side enter the new campaign with considerable momentum. In September, Asisa Joventut ended an 18-year wait for a major trophy by winning the Supercopa Endesa, beating Barça 101–87 in the final. Nicolas Laprovittola was named MVP after a spectacular tournament, including 31 points and nine three-pointers in the final, while Ricky Rubio added 10 points and eight assists.
Joventut have also retained much of the core that helped them make their BCL breakthrough, with Ante Tomic, Ludde Hakanson and Simon Birgander all remaining on the roster. They have added further quality and depth, including Kwan Cheatham Jr., Boogie Ellis, Eli John Ndiaye and Emir Sulejmanovic, giving head coach Daniel Miret a strong mix of continuity and new talent.
With Joventut arriving as the reigning Supercopa champions and carrying the confidence of their impressive first BCL season, the opening fixture should offer an early indication of whether they can maintain the consistency and high level that made them such a difficult opponent in 2025–26.
What Were The Basketball Champions League Matchday 1 Results?
The 2026–27 Basketball Champions League Regular Season is scheduled to begin on 6 October 2026, meaning there are no legitimate Matchday 1 results or individual performances to report yet.
The latest Basketball Champions League results are:
The opening results will determine the first standings of the Regular Season and could provide an early indication of which teams are best placed to challenge for the top of their respective groups. However, with each team playing six Regular Season games, a single result will not determine qualification.
The competition format gives added importance to the final group positions. The eight group winners qualify directly for the Round of 16, while the teams finishing second and third move into the Play-Ins. Fourth-placed teams are eliminated after the Regular Season.
Bet on the Basketball Champions League at Bet442
The Basketball Champions League provides plenty of competitive action throughout the season, and supporters can follow the opening round before deciding whether they want to place a bet.
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