After a few months’ break, the EuroLeague returns in exactly 17 days, officially kicking off the 2026/27 season. Every team has its own goals, and their success will heavily depend not only on their own form, but also on the form of the opponents they face.
As last season proved, nothing in the EuroLeague is guaranteed. Teams that strengthened their rosters this summer could face injury troubles and fall into a slump, while those whose offseason moves went under the radar – perhaps even underrated – might manage to overachieve.
With a high number of double-round weeks (10) and a full 38 rounds in the regular season, good or bad stretches can easily ruin a season or propel a team straight to the top. Every team will face a grueling stretch at some point during the year, which is why it is worth looking at the parts of the schedule that could prove particularly tough for each club, depending on the quality of their opponents and the importance of those matchups.
Here is a breakdown of the toughest stretch for all 20 EuroLeague teams in the 2026/27 season.
Anadolu Efes
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 19 – 25 (at Maccabi Tel Aviv, vs Barcelona, vs Fenerbahce, at Virtus, at Real Madrid, vs Dubai, at Panathinaikos)
Anadolu Efes entered a brand-new era this summer after a massive roster overhaul, bringing in former EuroLeague MVP Mike James alongside NBA returnee Dario Saric to fill the void left by longtime leader Shane Larkin. This rebuilt squad faces its ultimate reality check midway through the season, starting in late December with an away game against Maccabi Tel Aviv and ending 37 days later with a trip to Panathinaikos.
Asvel
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 12 – 17 (at Fenerbahce, at Anadolu Efes, vs Milano, at Olympiacos, at Hapoel Tel Aviv, at Virtus)
Asvel is coming off a turbulent summer that saw a near-total roster overhaul. As new head coach Tony Parker announced, they enter the season with ambitions of being significantly better than in recent years. Their toughest stretch runs from November 17, when they visit Fenerbahce, to December 15, when they travel to face Virtus. Across those 28 days, they will play five road games, with just a single home fixture against Milano.
Barcelona
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 30 – Round 35 (at Zalgiris, vs Baskonia, vs Hapoel Tel Aviv, at Olympiacos, at Fenerbahce, vs Panathinaikos)
Barcelona enters the season under new head coach Aleksander Sekulic with a significantly revamped squad. While key veterans like Tornike Shengelia and Jan Vesely have departed or retired, new additions such as Josh Nebo highlight a younger roster rebuild. This new-look team will face its ultimate test in the playoff race during the stretch run of the season. Their hardest gauntlet starts on March 9 away at Zalgiris and runs through April 2 against Panathinaikos at Palau Blaugrana, punctuated by daunting road trips to Olympiacos and Fenerbahce in between.
Baskonia
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 30 – 34 (vs Panathinaikos, at Barcelona, at Real Madrid, at Dubai, at Anadolu Efes)
Baskonia endured a high-profile offseason roster turnover, parting ways with key contributors Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Mamadi Diakite, and Trent Forrest while bringing in replacements A.J. Lawson, Chris Duarte, and veteran Kenneth Faried. Paolo Galbiati’s squad faces its ultimate trial in the regular-season stretch run, navigating a gauntlet against top EuroLeague title contenders. The brutal 16-day run kicks off at home against Panathinaikos on March 9 and concludes away at Anadolu Efes, featuring a grueling road sequence against Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Dubai in between.
Bayern
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 18 – 23 (vs Panathinaikos, vs Olympiacos, vs Besiktas, at Dubai, at Maccabi Tel Aviv, at Panathinaikos)
Bayern opted for not so many roster changes this offseason, after naming Anton Gavel as head coach to succeed Svetislav Pesic. Andreas Obst continues to lead the core, now reinforced by incoming talent in Duane Washington, Austin Wiley, and MarJon Beauchamp. However, Munich side faces a potentially season-defining gauntlet around the holiday period. The demanding stretch tips off at home against Panathinaikos on December 18 and concludes with the return fixture in Athens on January 14. In between, Bayern hosts Olympiacos and Besiktas, while navigating perilous road trips to face Dubai and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Besiktas
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 29 – 35 (at Panathinaikos, vs Asvel, at Olympiacos, vs Anadolu Efes, at Valencia, at Real Madrid, at Milano)
Besiktas returns to the EuroLeague after a 13-year absence, with head coach Dusan Alimpijevic facing a demanding road ahead in their push for play-in and playoff spots. High-profile additions Scottie Wilbekin, Eugene Omoruyi, Furkan Korkmaz, and David DeJulius will be tested in a crucial stretch that kicks off away at Panathinaikos on March 4 and concludes away at Milano on April 1. During this month-long gauntlet, Besiktas travels to face Olympiacos, Valencia, and Real Madrid, while hosting Asvel and Anadolu Efes.
Crvena Zvezda
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 10 – 17 (at Olympiacos, at Real Madrid, at Milano, at Barcelona, vs Virtus, at Fenerbahce, at Valencia, at Panathinaikos
Crvena Zvezda tips off the 2026/27 campaign under new head coach Ibon Navarro backed by high-profile summer arrivals Patrick Baldwin Jr., Chris Jones, Nick Weiler-Babb and Johnathan Motley, alongside retained core pieces Jordan Nwora and Jared Butler. However, a brutal 40-day period lies ahead in the first half of the season. Between November 6 and December 16, Navarro’s side faces an eight-game stretch featuring seven away fixtures – including visits to heavyweights Olympiacos, Fenerbahce, Real Madrid, and Panathinaikos – with just a single home matchup against Virtus breaking up the road trip.
Dubai
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 24 – 29 (at Anadolu Efes, at Barcelona, at Panathinaikos, vs Virtus, at Besiktas, vs Olympiacos)
Dubai enters its second EuroLeague campaign transformed under new head coach Xavi Pascual. Joined by marquee recruit Tornike Shengelia from Barcelona and Monaco’s dynamic duo Jaron Blossomgame and Elie Okobo, the UAE team pairs fresh firepower with returning anchors Mfiondu Kabengele and Dzanan Musa. A season-defining gauntlet looms between January 22 and March 5, kicking off with a tough three-game road swing against Anadolu Efes, Barcelona, and Panathinaikos. Following a home clash with Virtus and a trip to face Besiktas, Dubai caps off this crucial run hosting Olympiacos – a six-game stretch set to heavily dictate their fate.
Fenerbahce
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 17 – 23 (vs Maccabi Tel Aviv, vs Hapoel Tel Aviv, at Besiktas, vs Panathinaikos, at Anadolu Efes, at Dubai, at Partizan)
Fenerbahce enters the new campaign firmly established as a premier EuroLeague title contender, though their path to the top remains far from simple. High-caliber arrivals Shane Larkin, Will Clyburn, Shavon Shields, and Trent Forrest give Sarunas Jasikevicius immense depth, but the team will be tested heavily. Fenerbahce faces unique logistical and scheduling hurdles in Rounds 17 and 18 when hosting Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv, with a strong likelihood those home fixtures will be relocated to a neutral venue, echoing last year’s setup. That neutral-site stretch kicks off a brutal one-month gauntlet. Jasikevicius’ squad must navigate local derby road tests against Besiktas and Anadolu Efes, host Panathinaikos, visit Dubai and survive intimidating away environments in Belgrade against Partizan.
Hapoel Tel Aviv
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 29 – 36 (at Virtus, at Real Madrid, at Bayern, at Barcelona, vs Fenerbahce, vs Dubai, at Zalgiris, at Besiktas)
Following its debut campaign, Hapoel Tel Aviv targets a Final Four push in its second EuroLeague season, adding marquee depth in Zach LeDay, Tomas Satoransky, and Amir Coffey alongside returning focal points Elijah Bryant, Vasilije Micic, and Daniel Oturu. However, head coach Dimitris Itoudis and his team face a grueling regular-season stretch run. The tough sequence begins March 4 away at Virtus, initiating a four-game road gauntlet through Real Madrid, Bayern, and Barcelona. Then they host home fixtures against Fenerbahce and Dubai before wrapping up the demanding period away against Zalgiris and Besiktas.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 20 – 25 (at Hapoel Tel Aviv, vs Panathinaikos, vs Bayern, at Dubai, at Real Madrid, at Olympiacos)
Maccabi Tel Aviv surged during the second half of last season to nearly crash the play-in picture, and head coach Oded Kattash now boasts a reinforced roster with incoming additions Keaton Wallace, Daniel Theis, Bonzie Colson, and Yam Madar – even as Lonnie Walker’s exit to the NBA leaves a big void to fill. Maccabi’s primary schedule test arrives at the turn of the year, bridging late 2026 and early 2027. The grueling stretch kicks off with an intense local derby against Hapoel Tel Aviv and home fixtures against Panathinaikos and Bayern, capping off with a daunting three-game road swing through Dubai, Real Madrid, and Olympiacos.
Milano
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 26 – 33 (at Valencia, vs Panathinaikos, at Fenerbahce, vs Anadolu Efes, vs Olympiacos, at Zalgiris, at Dubai, at Paris)
Determining Milano’s toughest schedule segment presented a genuine toss-up between an early-season test (Rounds 3-9) and a late-season crunch (Rounds 26-33). with the latter taking precedence. Head coach Giuseppe Poeta leads a significantly revamped squad following high-profile exits in Zach LeDay, Shavon Shields, and Josh Nebo, balanced by the arrival of Alec Peters, Moses Wright, Garrison Mathews, and Devon Hall. Milano’s push to end its playoff drought will largely hinge on a critical stretch running from February 3 to March 23. During this phase, Milano hosts EuroLeague powerhouses Panathinaikos and Anadolu Efes while navigating tricky road tests against Fenerbahce, Olympiacos, Zalgiris, and Dubai.
Olympiacos
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 28 – 36 (vs Panathinaikos, at Dubai, at Milano, vs Besiktas, at Crvena Zvezda, vs Barcelona, vs Virtus, at Anadolu Efes, at Fenerbahce)
Reigning EuroLeague champions Olympiacos reinforced their squad with the arrivals of Codi Miller-McIntyre and Jean Montero, even as long-time anchors like Alec Peters moved on. Firmly entrenched among the primary title contenders, the red-and-whites face a potential seasonal pivot point during February and March. This crucial two-month stretch features a marquee derby against Panathinaikos and a treacherous away sequence against Dubai, Milano, Crvena Zvezda, Anadolu Efes, and Fenerbahce – direct postseason competitors fighting for playoff seeding.
Panathinaikos
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 9 – 16 (at Anadolu Efes, at Real Madrid, vs Barcelona, at Virtus, at Zalgiris, at Valencia, at Besiktas, vs Olympiacos.
Following a favorable season-opening stretch featuring seven home fixtures in eight rounds, Panathinaikos faces its first major trial from late October through mid-December during an intense road-heavy sequence. Head coach Zeljko Obradovic, returning to the bench after 14 years, commands a star-studded squad featuring Kendrick Nunn, Nigel Hayes-Davis, and Mathias Lessort, alongside summer arrivals Guerschon Yabusele, Sylvain Francisco, Brancou Badio, and Isaac Bonga. The “Greens” tip off this demanding stretch away at Anadolu Efes before wrapping up the gauntlet with a high-stakes rivalry clash against Olympiacos.
Paris
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 18 – 23 (at Baskonia, at Milano, vs Crvena Zvezda, at Zalgiris, at Hapoel Tel Aviv, at Olympiacos)
Paris enters the 2026/27 EuroLeague campaign under new head coach Maxime Lefevre, taking over the helm while dynamic guard Nadir Hifi remains the focal point on the floor. The French capital side added serious talent this summer, signing former NBA forwards T.J. Warren and Alize Johnson alongside French national team regulars Frank Ntilikina and Terry Tarpey. Paris faces a season-defining holiday gauntlet starting December 18 away at Baskonia, followed immediately by a trip to face Milano. After a brief home respite against Crvena Zvezda, Lefevre’s squad embarks on a brutal three-game road swing through Zalgiris, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and Olympiacos.
Partizan
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 1 – 5 (vs Milano, at Paris, at Bayern, at Real Madrid, vs Panathinaikos)
Partizan executed a complete squad refresh this summer with eight incoming and eight outgoing moves, presenting a fresh look under head coach Joan Penarroya. While keeping star guard Carlik Jones provides vital continuity, new arrivals Luca Vildoza, Ethan Thompson, and Kevarrius Hayes inject dynamic depth. Partizan’s campaign could be shaken right at the start. A sluggish start could prove disastrous across a grueling five-game opening slate. After tipping off at home against Milano, Penarroya’s squad embarks on a three-game road trip against Paris, Bayern, and Real Madrid. The early-season gauntlet culminates in a high-voltage home clash against Panathinaikos – setting the stage for Zeljko Obradovic’s emotional first return to Belgrade since departing Partizan last season.
Real Madrid
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 25 – 30 (at Fenerbahce, at Partizan, vs Paris, at Zalgiris, at Barcelona, vs Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Real Madrid initiated a major summer reset following an uncharacteristic year without silverware – their first empty trophy cabinet in 18 years. Star forwards Mario Hezonja and Trey Lyles departed alongside head coach Sergio Scariolo, paving the way for Pedro Martinez to take the helm. Fresh arrivals Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Jaime Pradilla, and Damian Jones join established anchors Facundo Campazzo and Walter Tavares to form a new-look core. Real Madrid faces a make-or-break trial during a grueling late-winter stretch in February and March, when Los Blancos hit the road for demanding tests against Fenerbahce, Zalgiris, and Partizan, capped by a high-stakes away El Clasico battle against Barcelona.
Valencia
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 18 – 23 (at Real Madrid, at Zalgiris, at Baskonia, vs Partizan, at Panathinaikos, at Hapoel Tel Aviv)
Valencia underwent a radical summer transformation following head coach Pedro Martinez’s departure, elevating long-time assistant Xavi Albert to the helm. The club parted ways with core pieces Jean Montero, Brancou Badio, Jaime Pradilla and Braxton Key from last season’s Athens Final Four roster, while adding high-caliber firepower in T.J. Shorts and Armoni Brooks. Taronges face their premier schedule test starting December 17, hosting Real Madrid before tackling four away fixtures over their next five games – highlighted by perilous road trips to Zalgiris and Panathinaikos, before wrapping up the swing against Hapoel Tel Aviv. This mid-season sequence could make or break their push to replicate last year’s deep EuroLeague run.
Virtus
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 1- 5 (at Fenerbahce, at Milano, vs Olympiacos, at Bayern, at Paris)
Virtus enters the new campaign under new head coach Alex Mumbru, who restructured the backcourt by bringing in Trent Frazier, Marcus Carr and Wendell Moore Jr. to replace departing guards Carsen Edwards, Alessandro Pajola, and Matt Morgan. The Italian side faces arguably the most daunting regular-season run-in of any EuroLeague contender. The opening five rounds could provide an early litmus test for their campaign. Their early-season schedule features a daunting four-game road gauntlet against Fenerbahce, Milano, Bayern, and Paris, with a lone home fixture in the middle of it against Olympiacos rounding out the sequence.
Zalgiris
Toughest part of the schedule: Round 32 – 38 (at Panathinaikos, vs Maccabi Tel Aviv, at Bayern, vs Hapoel Tel Aviv, at Dubai, at Olympiacos, vs Fenerbahce)
Zalgiris parted ways with Sylvain Francisco and Moses Wright this summer, but responded by assembling perhaps one of the most formidable rosters in the club’s recent history. The arrivals of Jonas Valanciunas, Carsen Edwards, Sterling Brown, and Marius Grigonis significantly raise the stakes for head coach Tomas Masiulis. However, their regular-season run-in will be a true trial by fire. Navigating a grueling road schedule against Panathinaikos, Dubai, and Olympiacos alongside high-voltage home tests against Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv, and Fenerbahce, Zalgiris faces one of the toughest final stretches in the entire competition to secure their playoff fate.
