Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beşiktaş head into their head-to-head meeting in the opening stretch of the 2026 EuroLeague regular season without a win to their name. Both teams sit in the lower part of the standings and have yet to pick up points, which makes this match a crucial one in the fight to climb out of crisis. A win would allow one of the sides to end its losing run and take the first step toward escaping the bottom of the table, while a defeat would further complicate its position in the standings.
The history of head-to-head meetings between Hapoel Tel Aviv and Beşiktaş in the EuroLeague is still limited — the teams have met a restricted number of times, and each side has wins to its name. The head-to-head record gives neither team a clear advantage, which adds intrigue to the upcoming encounter. That is precisely why the Hapoel Tel Aviv - Beşiktaş preview draws heightened interest from fans and analysts: in the absence of a clear favorite, the outcome could be decided by a single good run or by the individual skill of the leading players.
The teams' form at the start of the season leaves much to be desired: both sides are without a win and are struggling to organize their attacking play. Hapoel Tel Aviv traditionally relies on the support of its home crowd, which could be an additional asset in this matchup. Beşiktaş, for its part, is known for its tough defense and its ability to impose an uncomfortable tempo on opponents. An analysis of the teams' form shows that both sides need to reset their playing rhythm and find stability in the finishing stage of their attacks.
The key factor in the encounter will be the battle on the boards and the quality of long-range shooting. Hapoel will try to use the advantage of its home court and impose a high tempo, while Beşiktaş will bank on tight defense and ball control. Discipline is worth noting: with the opponents evenly matched, it may be the number of turnovers and free-throw accuracy that determine the winner. A tense, low-scoring game with a battle down to the final minutes is expected.
