Spanish Derby in Athens: Valencia in First-Ever Final Four Against Real Madrid Giant — Madrid Leads Season Series 4-2, Jean Montero Chases Upset

European basketball's most spectacular week begins in Athens. One of the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four's most striking semifinals is the Valencia Basket - Real Madrid clash to be played on Friday, May 22, at 21:00 local time (20:00 CEST) at the Telekom Center Athens. Two Spanish giants meeting in the Greek capital created a rare situation in Final Four history — the two heavyweights of Liga ACB will battle fiercely for a European trophy. The winner of the match will face the winner of the Olympiacos - Fenerbahce Beko semifinal in the final on Sunday, May 24, at 20:00 CEST.

For Valencia Basket, this Final Four is a historic moment. Founded in 1986, the club has reached Europe's top four most prestigious teams for the first time. After completing the regular season in second place with 25 wins and 13 losses in 38 games, the Taronja Squad (Orange Team) experienced an epic comeback in the playoff stage. Valencia, starting the series 0-2 down against Panathinaikos, then won three matches in a row to write a story leading to the Final Four. The chief architect of this comeback was 22-year-old Dominican playmaker Jean Montero — who played at 13.7 points average in the regular season and earned the title of first Valencia player ever to be named to the All-EuroLeague First Team, while also winning the 2025-26 EuroLeague Playoffs MVP award. The young playmaker is the biggest hope for his team to pull off a surprise against Madrid.

Real Madrid, as one of EuroLeague history's most established clubs, is accustomed to the Final Four. The Spanish giant, which has been in the Final Four 11 times in the last 15 years and won championships in the 2015, 2018, and 2023 seasons, has put on a strong performance under coach Sergio Scariolo this season. Los Blancos completed the regular season in third place with a 24-14 record, and took the Athens ticket by sweeping Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-0 in the quarterfinals. Madrid's Game 1 win in the quarterfinal series was 86-82 and Game 2 win was 102-75 — particularly the defense and offensive balance they showed in the second match revealed the high level of preparation by Scariolo's team. This season the club also stands atop Liga ACB, and Real Madrid's head coach Scariolo has a strong chance of lifting his first EuroLeague trophy.

The two teams' season series presents an interesting statistic before the match. In the 2025-26 season, Valencia and Real Madrid have met six times — Real Madrid holds a 4-2 advantage. The two teams who took the court four times in the EuroLeague regular season, in the Copa del Rey semifinal, and twice in Liga Endesa, share almost weekly familiarity. In the Liga Endesa match played at Roig Arena on April 25, Real Madrid had reinforced their leadership position against Valencia by extending a 12-game winning streak. Considering Madrid's record of 13 wins in 14 away games, the semifinal on neutral ground in Athens could provide a major advantage. However, Valencia Basket's energetic playing style, their three-point efficiency, and Montero's creativity could shift the balance.

Valencia's offensive power isn't limited to Montero. The Taronja Squad, which scored 3418 points in the regular season, displayed one of EuroLeague's most productive offenses. Valencia, which raises the tempo and succeeds in transition basketball, will want to use its speed advantage against Real Madrid's physical strength and veteran roster. Real Madrid, on the other hand, has the experience advantage with players like Facundo Campazzo, Mario Hezonja, Sergio Llull, and Walter Tavares — particularly Tavares's dominant center play will seriously challenge Valencia's offensive defense. Madrid producing an average of 94 points and conceding 78.5 in the playoff series indicates how well the defense-offense balance has been established.

The Final Four atmosphere in Athens has always been special, and this year is no exception. Telekom Center Athens (OAKA), as the heart of Greek passionate basketball culture, will host both semifinals. In the other semifinal on Friday, May 22, at 18:00 local time, home favorite Olympiacos Piraeus will host defending champion Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul. Olympiacos has been in the Final Four for 5 consecutive years but hasn't lifted the trophy since 2013. Fenerbahce, on the other hand, is targeting back-to-back championships — only Olympiacos, Anadolu Efes, and Maccabi Tel Aviv have won this feat in European basketball history. Sunday's final will be played at 20:00 CEST and broadcast worldwide via EuroLeague TV Final Four Pass — in Spain it can be watched on Movistar Plus+.

For Valencia, the Final Four offers more than a historic moment — it presents an opportunity for the greatest achievement in club history. The Taronja Squad, which has caught the chance to lift a European cup in 40 years of club history, carries on its back the hopes of a generation of basketball lovers. Real Madrid, in their 12th Final Four match, has historical continuity: the chance to reach the club's 11th EuroLeague trophy emerges. Sergio Scariolo adding another European cup to his name will add another bright headline to the Italian coach's career. Friday evening, Athens will witness a night where all basketball eyes turn to Roig Arena's two rivals — and with a Spanish team pocketing the final ticket, an unforgettable page in EuroLeague history will open.