Valencia Overpower Hapoel Tel Aviv 93-82 in EuroLeague Showdown

Valencia claimed a commanding 93-82 home victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv in a EuroLeague regular-season matchup at the Fuente de San Luis on October 9, 2026. The Spanish side used a balanced offensive attack and a decisive third-quarter run to pull away from a stubborn Hapoel team, improving their early-season record and sending a clear message to the rest of the competition.

Match Overview

The game tipped off with both teams trading blows in a fast-paced opening quarter. Valencia leaned on their perimeter shooting, while Hapoel Tel Aviv attacked the paint with physical drives and offensive rebounds. The first ten minutes ended with Valencia holding a slim 24-21 lead, setting the stage for a tense and tactical battle.

By halftime, the hosts had extended their advantage to 48-41, thanks to a late 8-0 run sparked by back-to-back three-pointers. Hapoel, however, refused to fade away. The Israeli club opened the third quarter with a 12-4 surge to briefly take a one-point lead, forcing Valencia head coach to call a timeout.

Key Moments That Decided the Game

• Second-quarter surge: Valencia closed the first half on a 14-5 run, turning a tight game into a seven-point cushion at the break.
• Hapoel's third-quarter push: A quick 12-4 start to the second half gave the visitors a 53-52 lead, their first since the opening minutes.
• Valencia's decisive response: After the timeout, Valencia rattled off a 17-3 run over the next five minutes, reclaiming control at 69-56.
• Fourth-quarter poise: Hapoel cut the deficit to eight points twice in the final period, but Valencia's free-throw shooting and defensive stops sealed the win.

Tactical Story

Valencia's game plan revolved around ball movement and three-point shooting. The hosts finished with 14 made three-pointers, frequently exploiting Hapoel's help defense with skip passes and corner kick-outs. Defensively, Valencia switched aggressively on screens, limiting Hapoel's pick-and-roll efficiency and forcing 15 turnovers.

Hapoel Tel Aviv found success inside, scoring 42 points in the paint and grabbing 12 offensive rebounds. Their half-court offense often ran through their power forward, who consistently drew double-teams. However, the visitors struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 6 of 24 attempts (25%), which proved to be the statistical difference in a game decided by 11 points.

Standout Players

Valencia: The home side's backcourt duo combined for 41 points. Point guard Mateo Puig orchestrated the offense with 19 points and 8 assists, while shooting guard Luka Vranjes added 22 points on 5-of-9 shooting from deep. Center Pablo Ferrán anchored the paint with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

Hapoel Tel Aviv: Forward Amit Cohen led the visitors with 24 points and 9 rebounds, constantly attacking the rim. Guard Yonatan Levi chipped in 16 points and 6 assists, but costly turnovers in the third quarter halted Hapoel's momentum.

EuroLeague Standings and Season Impact

With the win, Valencia moves to 2-1 in the young EuroLeague season, keeping pace with the early playoff contenders. The victory also extends their home winning streak in European competition to five games dating back to last season. Hapoel Tel Aviv, meanwhile, drops to 1-2 and will look to regroup before a crucial road trip next week.

The result highlights Valencia's depth and resilience, while Hapoel showed flashes of brilliance that suggest they can compete with the league's elite. Both teams will face tougher tests ahead, but this match served as an early indicator of their respective ceilings in the 2026-27 EuroLeague campaign.

What's Next

Valencia travels to face a fellow Spanish rival in their next EuroLeague fixture, hoping to build on this offensive rhythm. Hapoel Tel Aviv returns home for a must-win game against a mid-table opponent, where they will need to improve their perimeter shooting to avoid falling further behind in the standings.