Dubai Edges Real Madrid 78-77 in Historic EuroLeague Thriller
Dubai, UAE – September 24, 2026
Dubai Basketball Club secured a historic and thrilling 78-77 victory over Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid on Thursday evening at the Coca-Cola Arena, kicking off their new Turkish Airlines EuroLeague campaign in dramatic fashion. The game was settled by a single point after a tightly contested battle that saw constant lead changes until the very final seconds.
Prior to tip-off, players, coaching staffs, and attendees observed a moment of silence in mourning of the late Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who passed away on Monday. Dubai has declared an official ten-day period of mourning with flags flown at half-mast.
On the hardwood, both teams delivered a high-intensity showdown marked by fierce competition from the opening whistle. Dubai claimed the first quarter 20-16, before Real Madrid bounced back to take the second 28-18. Following the halftime break, Dubai mounted a strong response, edging the third quarter 25-18. A tightly fought 15-15 final period ultimately sealed a famous one-point victory for the hosts.
Dwayne Bacon emerged as a key offensive weapon for Dubai, pouring in a game-high 24 points, while Mfiondu Kabengele and Filip Petrušev played pivotal defensive roles in a contest that demanded absolute focus until the final buzzer.
Post-match, Dubai head coach Xavi Pascual expressed his elation over the milestone win, extending a special message of gratitude to the fans who packed the Coca-Cola Arena to support the team.
“I was completely focused on the game, which, as I said, was very special. First of all, I want to say thank you to all the fans who came here,” Pascual said.
“I hope that day by day we can win more and more fans. This will be the best win we can achieve this season: to make people love basketball in Dubai and feel that they are part of this project.”
Pascual concluded, “I am sure that the people who came here enjoyed it a lot, so I am very happy for them. My sincere thanks to all of them for being with us.”
