Real Madrid face host team Dubai Basketball in the semifinals of the EuroLeague Super Cup this weekend at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The four-team preseason event brings together top contenders in European basketball, with the United Arab Emirates serving as both the opening venue and the host location for May's EuroLeague Final Four. The opening semifinal features reigning European champions Olympiacos against Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe at 16:30 local time on Movistar+, followed by Real Madrid taking on Dubai Basketball at 19:00.
Real Madrid Prepare for Season Opener
The clash against Dubai Basketball serves as the first competitive test for Real Madrid under head coach Pedro Martínez. The matchup comes just days before the two sides meet again in the opening round of the regular EuroLeague season next week.
Martínez stated that while the tournament comes early in the team's preparation, facing top-tier opponents provides a valuable test for all clubs involved. He noted that the primary focus for Real Madrid is to compete hard and present their strongest performance on the court.
Real Madrid enter the tournament as last season's EuroLeague runners-up, seeking to fine-tune their squad following off-season adjustments.
Financial Shift in European Basketball
The emergence of Dubai Basketball highlights a shifting economic landscape in European basketball, where traditional Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid and Barça no longer dominate player salaries. Neither club currently features a player among the top ten highest earners in the EuroLeague.
The league's highest salaries are now concentrated among Greek clubs Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, Israeli side Hapoel Tel Aviv, and newcomer Dubai Basketball. Dubai's financial power stems from club founder Abdulla Saeed Juma Al Naboodah, the Emirati businessman who established the franchise in 2023. Forbes estimated his net worth at 1.5 billion dollars a year ago, ranking him among the top 20 fortunes in Dubai.
Operating under a tax-free regime in the emirate, where player contract earnings are fully tax-exempt, Dubai Basketball has expanded its budget significantly. Following a debut EuroLeague season under a temporary five-year license in which the team finished with a 19-19 record and missed the play-in round, management has increased spending with the goal of reaching the Final Four.
Dubai Basketball Build Star-Studded Roster
Head coach Xavi Pascual leads Dubai Basketball after arriving from Barça, where his 300,000 euro buyout clause represented a modest fee for the ambitious UAE club. Pascual is one of seven Spanish head coaches directing teams in the EuroLeague this season.
Pascual commands a 19-player roster assembled through aggressive recruitment across European basketball. Dubai capitalised on the restructuring at Monaco to sign key figures Elie Okobo, Alpha Diallo, who was named EuroLeague defender of the year, and Jaron Blossomgame.
The squad also added Mamadi Diakité, Baskonia's top frontcourt performer last season, Tornike Shengelia from Barça, and Thomas Walkup from Olympiacos. Dubai also targeted Mario Hezonja, Sylvain Francisco, and Guerschon Yabusele during the transfer window, building a group that includes Dāvis Bertāns, Džanan Musa, Filip Petrušev, Aleksa Avramović, and Mfiondu Kabengele. Only NBA offers and top Greek salaries limited their recruitment drive.
Olympiacos Face Fenerbahçe in Opening Semifinal
In the tournament's first semifinal, Olympiacos take on Fenerbahçe in a meeting of European contenders. Olympiacos secured the EuroLeague title four months ago by defeating Real Madrid in the final.
Fenerbahçe, coached by Šarūnas Jasikevičius, enter the contest with a significantly strengthened roster compared to last season as both teams begin their campaign for European silverware.
