EuroLeague spectacle in Munich: Bayern and Maccabi Tel-Aviv open the new year at BMW Park
Friday, January 2, 2026, at 21:00 brings a real basketball spectacle to Munich: Bayern welcomes Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the 19th round of the EuroLeague 2025/2026, in an atmosphere that, judging by the interest in tickets, could easily turn into another sold-out basketball holiday at BMW Park. The host enters the duel under pressure, with a 5-13 record and last place in the standings, while Maccabi arrives as a team in the middle of the rankings with 7-10, still in the race for the play-in zone. It is precisely this contrast – Bayern seeking a new beginning and Maccabi chasing a connection to the playoffs – that makes this match particularly interesting for fans thinking about buying tickets. For many, this will also be the first encounter with the completely refreshed face of BMW Park, an arena that raises the bar for the experience in the stands and on the floor every season. If one considers that Munich traditionally loves big sports dates, it is clear why there is already talk that tickets for this event are in demand and that every fan who secures their place in the arena on time has also reserved a perfect basketball start to the New Year.
Table, context, and what this match means for both teams
After the first 18 rounds of the EuroLeague, Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv holds 14th place with a record of 7-10, in a tightly packed middle of the standings where a few wins in a row can push a team towards the upper house, but also just as quickly return them towards the bottom. Bayern, on the other hand, in 20th position and a record of 5-13, currently looks towards the top of the standings from the lowest point, but with enough games until the end of the season to at least open the story of a late hunt for the play-in. That is exactly why the duel at BMW Park carries the weight of a match "more than just an ordinary round": a victory for Maccabi would solidify it as a serious candidate for the playoffs, while a triumph for Bayern could mark the beginning of a long-sought rise under the new coach. Fans know this very well, so it is no wonder that ticket sales are intensifying as the date of the match approaches – a good part of the audience is aware that such meetings often determine the mood for the entire January. For those who want to directly experience what the fight for EuroLeague survival and the return of self-confidence looks like, tickets for BMW Park at this stage of the season are not just an entry to the stand, but an investment in a story that is being written live before their eyes.
Maccabi Tel-Aviv: offensive machine with distinct rhythm and self-confidence
Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv remains faithful to its recognizable identity this season as well – high rhythm, aggressive attack, and constant search for transition after every defensive action. According to the numbers so far, the Israelis are among the most efficient offenses in the EuroLeague, scoring about 89 points per game, with a very high total valuation index and the ability to make an 8:0 or 10:0 run in a short period that breaks the opponent's resistance. Their frontcourt players, like the athletically dominant center who controls the rebound and closes the paint, and mobile wings who can run the counter, fit perfectly into the philosophy of a team that lives off rhythm. On the perimeter positions, Maccabi has playmakers capable of combining the pick-and-roll game with precise shooting from outside, along with shooters who open the width of the attack and force the defense into difficult rotations. In their away games across Europe, fans are already used to watching matches in which Maccabi rarely falls below 80 points, so it is clear that Bayern will have to slow down the tempo if they want to avoid an open shooting showdown. All this makes the duel in Munich particularly attractive for lovers of offensive basketball spectacle – precisely they are most often the first to seek tickets for such matches, aware that for the price of a ticket they will get 40 minutes of very substantial and offensively rich basketball content.
Bayern in a results crisis, but with a new coach and the support of the home crowd
Bayern enters this meeting after turbulent weeks in which a series of defeats in the EuroLeague, concluding with nine consecutive failures, led to a parting with Gordon Herbert and the return of coaching legend Svetislav Pešić to the bench of the Bavarian club. Pesic, the man who has already led Bayern to the German title and left a deep mark on European basketball, arrives as a figure who brings discipline, structured attack, and tough defense – exactly what the team lacked in the most critical part of the season. On the floor, the most is still expected from veteran Vladimir Lučić, whose experience and leadership remain the foundation of the locker room, while perimeter players like Andreas Obst, Kamar Baldwin, or Xavier Rathan-Mayes must bring aggression on the ball and precision from the perimeter. In the interior line, Bayern relies on the work ethic of centers who must withstand the physical duel with Maccabi's tall players and protect their own rim. Although the table does not look brilliant at all, home games at BMW Park are still an opportunity to reverse the course of the season with the help of a loud crowd, and fans reward this with increasing interest in tickets – many believe that this very match will show how much Pesic's signature is already visible in the team's play and therefore want to be in the arena personally, and not in front of a screen.
History of mutual meetings: Maccabi in the lead, but Bayern knows how to surprise
Although the teams have not met yet this season, recent EuroLeague seasons clearly say that Maccabi is more successful in mutual meetings: in the last five games, the Israelis lead 4-1. Fans still have fresh memories of the drama from April 2025, when Maccabi celebrated 93:90 in a tense finish, even though Bayern had a historic shooting performance from one of its guards who scored a record 26 points in one quarter – but even that was not enough to stop the rush of the guests in the final minutes. On the other hand, Bayern showed that they know how to strike back when everything clicks for them: a convincing 89:74 victory in March 2024 was a reminder that the Bavarians do not lack quality, but continuity and concentration throughout all 40 minutes. Such statistics create an interesting psychological framework – Maccabi arrives in Munich with the feeling that they know how to win in this pair, while Bayern seeks an emotional "breakthrough" to turn the momentum in their own favor. Precisely because of that sports "narrative", tickets for this duel have additional weight: fans are not just buying a ticket for one game, but for a new chapter of a rivalry that has delivered a series of memorable matches in recent years.
BMW Park: a modern basketball stage with a rich Olympic and musical history
BMW Park at the address Grasweg 74 in the Munich district of Sendling-Westpark is one of those arenas that combine classic basketball tradition and contemporary technology. Originally built for the basketball tournament of the 1972 Olympic Games, the arena has changed names over the decades, hosted the final of the former FIBA European Champions Cup, and even Eurovision in 1983, before becoming the permanent home of Bayern's basketball section. After a thorough renovation and recent rebranding, BMW Park today has a capacity of about 6,500 to 6,700 seats for basketball games, with stands that are steep enough and close to the court that fans literally feel every change of rhythm on the floor. A special attraction is the innovative LED glass floor, the first of its kind permanently installed in a professional sports arena, which allows spectacular projections, statistical displays, and light effects during team introductions and time-outs. This means that fans who secure their tickets will have an experience that goes beyond a classic match – BMW Park turns into a scenography in which every arrival of players on the court is almost a small show. For those who want to be within walking distance of the arena, it is ideal to check accommodation near BMW Park for fans in advance, whereby the entire experience turns into a pleasant city weekend with top-class basketball in the evening slot.
Munich as a basketball city: Westpark, the old center, and the winter backdrop around BMW Park
Munich is much more than a football city – in recent years, basketball Bayern has created a firm, committed audience that fills BMW Park even during cold winter evenings, when average January temperatures oscillate around zero. The arena is located next to the famous Westpark, one of the largest green areas of the city, which makes it an ideal starting point for fans who want a light walk during the day, and a basketball spectacle in the evening. From the old city center with Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt, and historic beer halls, to modern neighborhoods with restaurants and bars, Munich offers enough content for a visit to the match to easily grow into a short city break. With excellent public transport connections – a combination of subway lines U4/U5 to the Heimeranplatz station and bus lines leading to the arena – fans can leave their car without worry and avoid traffic jams on the city ring Mittlerer Ring. Those coming from other cities or countries will often, along with tickets for the match, simultaneously look for accommodation in Munich on the day of the match, so that after the late slot at 21:00 they have a short retreat to a hotel or apartment before returning home.
Numbers that reveal the story: Maccabi's attack against Bayern's search for balance
The statistical picture of the season so far in the EuroLeague very clearly outlines the main trends of this match. Maccabi averages about 89 points per game, while Bayern stays below 80, which suggests that the guests will try to impose a game of wide rhythm, with a lot of possessions and a high number of shots, while the host will try to slow down the game and reduce it to disciplined attacks on set defense. The Israeli club also leads in rebounding – recording about three rebounds more per game, with particularly emphasized offensive rebounding which often brings them additional possessions and a "second chance" for points. In assists, Maccabi is also somewhat better, with almost 20 passes per game compared to Bayern's about 17, which speaks of greater ball flow and a greater role of combination play in the visiting attack. On the other hand, Bayern despite the crisis has very decent shooting percentages for two points and a solid free throw line, but suffers from a higher number of turnovers, which in a meeting with transitionally powerful Maccabi can be decisive. Fans in the stands of BMW Park can therefore expect a tactical duel in which every rebound and every taken block will tell its own little story, and everyone who buys tickets will be close enough to hear it – from the sound of the ball hitting the LED floor to the noise of the stands at the moment when the winner is decided in the finish of the match.
Atmosphere in the stands: red-and-white Bayern and yellow-and-blue Maccabi face to face
One of the reasons why tickets for the duel between Bayern and Maccabi are always in demand is also the specific clash of fan cultures: the home crowd in red-and-white colors, which has developed recognizable basketball rituals in recent years, and visiting Maccabi fans, whose yellow-and-blue wave and fan songs traditionally create the impression of a mini-derby wherever they appear in Europe. BMW Park, with its six thousand and something seats, allows this mixture of colors and voices to be densely concentrated – there is no bad seat, and in some sectors you are so close to the court that you can hear the communication of players and coaches. Particularly standing out is the moment of team introduction, when the LED floor turns the parquet into a light stage, and the introductory choreography of fans with banners and scarves raises adrenaline even before the first tip-off. That is precisely why many fans decide that they do not want to watch this match only on television, but want to personally feel what BMW Park sounds like when Bayern goes on a scoring run or when Maccabi retaliates with threes in a row. If you want to be part of that atmosphere and experience live the fight of two traditionally loud fan groups, it is best to secure your tickets on time via the button below, because ahead of such duels the capacity of the arena usually fills up faster than many would expect. For those planning to stay overnight, it is worth considering already now accommodation for fans staying in Munich, so that the entire trip is organized without haste.
Arrival at the arena, safety, and tips for fans planning the trip
The practical side of visiting a match at BMW Park is just as important as the purchase of tickets itself, especially for a meeting that starts at 21:00, in the middle of the winter period and possibly slippery city roads. The arena is located immediately next to the important road Mittlerer Ring and near the A96 motorway, which facilitates arrival by car from the wider Bavarian region and neighboring countries, but at the same time means that one should count on traffic jams during the evening rush hour. Because of that, fans are often recommended to use public transport – subway lines U4 and U5 to the Heimeranplatz station, along with a short walk or transfer to a bus, are the most common choice of both home and visiting fans. Given the current security context at international matches, intensified checks at entrances are expected, therefore it is reasonable to plan arrival at least an hour before the start to pass the security check in peace, find a seat in the arena, and enjoy the team warm-up and announcements on the LED floor. Those who combine arrival at the match with an all-day stay in the city most often choose accommodation near main transport hubs in advance, thereby making movement between the center, hotel, and arena easier for themselves. Finally, it is worth emphasizing that precisely fans who buy tickets on time via the button below will have the luxury of choosing their seats in BMW Park – whether they want to be right next to the fan stand, behind the basket in the family zone, or on the side stand with the best view of the tactical finesses of the duel between Bayern and Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
Sources:
- Euroleague-standings.com – current standings of EuroLeague 2025/2026 after 18 rounds played
- Maccabi.co.il and official EuroLeague data – schedule, results, and form of Maccabi Rapyd Tel-Aviv in the 2025/2026 season
- Euroleaguebasketball.net – statistical comparison of teams, point averages, and head-to-head record of Bayern and Maccabi
- Wikipedia and muenchen.de – data on BMW Park (capacity, location, history of the arena) and context of the city district Sendling-Westpark
- FC Bayern Basketball and European sports portals (Bild, Welt, Sport1…) – information on the series of defeats, dismissal of Gordon Herbert, and return of Svetislav Pešić to the Bayern bench