Dubai Basketball marked their return to the EuroLeague with a statement victory, edging Real Madrid 78-77 at a sold-out Coca-Cola Arena on Thursday night. The result sent shockwaves through the competition on opening night, as the newly promoted ABA League champions punished the Spanish giants for a late collapse.
Real Madrid, fresh off their SuperCup triumph over Olympiacos in Abu Dhabi, looked in control for much of the first half. A 44-38 advantage at the interval suggested Pedro Martinez's side were cruising toward a routine win. But Dubai had other plans.
A decisive third quarter turned the game on its head. The hosts outscored Madrid 25-18 to seize the lead, and despite Real briefly pulling six points clear with three minutes remaining — courtesy of an Andres Feliz three-pointer — Dubai clawed their way back. Elie Okobo hit a fading jumper, Mfiondu Kabengele converted from the line, and then McKinley Wright drilled the go-ahead three that silenced any hope of a Madrid fightback.
The final seconds belonged to Filip Petrusev. With Real needing a basket to win, the Serbian center produced a crucial defensive stop on Feliz to seal a historic night for the Dubai franchise.
Dwayne Bacon was the undeniable star. The American forward poured in 24 points on nine-of-eleven shooting from two-point range, adding five rebounds and four assists. His explosive first-quarter dunk over Mikael Jantunen — driving coast to coast after a defensive rebound — set the tone for an evening in which Dubai refused to be overawed by their illustrious visitors. Wright contributed 12 points, including the decisive late three.
For Real Madrid, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Theo Maledon scored 11 points each, while Jantunen and Damian Jones added 10 apiece. But Madrid's inability to close out the game will concern Martinez, whose team endured a trophyless 2025-26 season before lifting the SuperCup.
The result carries extra significance given the history between the two clubs. Real had beaten Dubai in the SuperCup semifinal just weeks earlier, and many expected a repeat. Instead, Xavi Pascual's side flipped the script on the biggest stage in European club basketball.
Dubai's victory marks a milestone for basketball in the UAE. The franchise, which won the ABA League last season, showed they belong at Europe's top table. For the EuroLeague, the message is clear: the new kids are not here to make up the numbers.
Sources
- https://www.realmadrid.com/en-US/news/basket/first-team/reports/cronica-dubai-real-madrid-24-09-2026
- https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/2011783/euroleague-season-opens-with-two-last-second-thrillers/
- https://basketballsphere.com/en/euroleague-round-1-recap-dwayne-bacon-dubai-real-madrid/
