Besiktas are back in the EuroLeague for the first time since 2012-13, and they open the 2026-27 season at home to Valencia Basket in Istanbul on Friday, tip-off 19:00 CEST. It’s Round 1, so nobody has a result on the board yet. For me, that makes this one of the more interesting openers of the week. The bookies have the newcomers as favourites, and I’m not sure I agree.

Inhaltsübersicht

Last Season at a Glance

• Valencia, EuroLeague 2025-26: 25-13, 2nd in the regular season, beat Panathinaikos 3-2 in the playoffs, lost 90-87 to Real Madrid in the Final Four semi-final

• Valencia, ACB 2025-26: champions, beat Barcelona 3-1 in the Finals

• Besiktas, EuroCup 2025-26: runners-up, lost the Finals 2-0 to Bourg (72-60, 73-71)

• Besiktas, Turkish BSL 2025-26: 25-5 in the regular season, lost the Finals 3-1 to Fenerbahce

These two have never met in the EuroLeague, so there’s no head-to-head to lean on here.

Besiktas host Valencia Basket in Istanbul as both teams open their 2026/27 EuroLeague campaigns. With the Turkish side returning to the competition after 13 years and Valencia arriving with proven EuroLeague experience, this is one of the more intriguing Round 1 matchups. Bettors can also compare odds and payment options at the best betting sites with crypto before tip-off.

Why Are Besiktas Favourites?

Home court, mostly. And to be fair, it’s a real factor. A club returning to Europe’s top table after 13 years is going to have a loud building on opening night.

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Dušan Alimpijević got a two-year extension, and I like that they kept the core together. Devon Dotson, Ante Zizic, Anthony Brown and Berk Uğurlu are all still there. On top of that they added Furkan Korkmaz, Scottie Wilbekin, Jaylen Nowell and Eugene Omoruyi. That’s a lot of shot-making.

But here’s what I keep coming back to. Besiktas got into this competition by replacing Monaco, not by winning their way in. They lost the EuroCup Finals and lost the Turkish Finals. Good team, clearly. A EuroLeague-proven team? Not yet. Their preseason was mixed too: a 83-71 loss to Dubai, then a 101-75 win over Karşıyaka.

Valencia Have Changed, but Not That Much

Valencia’s summer was bigger news. Pedro Martínez used his buyout clause and left, and his assistant Xavi Albert has stepped up to head coach. That matters less to me than it might look. Albert was part of the staff that took this team to second in the regular season and the Final Four, so I’d expect the same fast, aggressive style.

And they landed Nikola Mirotic from Monaco. A former EuroLeague MVP turning up at a club that finished second last season is a big deal, and I don’t think the price fully reflects it.

The warning signs are real, though. Jasiel Rivero and Neal Sako are both reported to be carrying injuries. Valencia also have a tough week, with ACB action against Lleida on Sunday and Baskonia at home in Round 2 on Tuesday.

Can Valencia Cover as Underdogs in Istanbul?

This is my favourite bet of the game. Valencia have the far stronger EuroLeague track record, and they lost that Final Four semi-final to Real Madrid by just three points.

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If you’d shown me these two rosters without the prices, I’d have made Valencia the favourites. The market gives them 2.5 points anyway. Round 1 openers are messy, rotations are still being figured out, and I’d rather have the more experienced team with a small head start. If you believe in Valencia the way I do, the straight win at around 2.00 is worth a look too. But I’ll take the cushion.

Points in This One?

Valencia averaged about 89.9 points and allowed about 85.3 per game last regular season. That’s over 175 combined on average, well clear of this line.

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Their Supercopa semi-final against Barcelona last Saturday finished 87-86, 173 points, with Kameron Taylor scoring 23. And Besiktas have spent the summer adding scorers rather than stoppers.

I’m keeping the stake low for one reason. Opening nights can be scrappy, with new pieces still getting used to each other, and a cold shooting night from either side kills this. But if the game plays out the way I expect, with Valencia running and Besiktas trying to keep up at home, the over makes sense.

My Verdict on Besiktas vs Valencia

I think the market is paying too much attention to the Istanbul crowd and not enough to the gap in EuroLeague experience. Valencia +2.5 at 1.93 is the one I’d back with confidence. Over 171.5 at 1.91 is a smaller play on two teams built to score. Check the injury news on Rivero and Sako before tip-off.

Zusammenfassung

Besiktas return to the EuroLeague after 13 years and begin their 2026/27 campaign at home against a Valencia side with recent Final Four experience and an ACB title. The matchup brings together a reinforced Besiktas roster and a Valencia team that has kept much of its core while adding Nikola Mirotic. Before betting on the game, players can compare odds, markets and promotions across the beste Wettseiten to find the most suitable option.

Tomas Augustis

Sportanalyst

Tomas Augustis - ein erfahrener Sportanalyst mit mehr als 10 Jahren Erfahrung auf dem Gebiet der Sportanalyse. Mit einem soliden Hintergrund und umfangreichem Wissen über verschiedene Sportarten, ist Tomas derzeit für ...

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