Red Star and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the spotlight of Round 27
At the Štark Arena in Belgrade on February 6, a game will be played that fans mark in their calendars in advance, as Red Star hosts Maccabi Tel Aviv as part of Round 27 of the 2025/2026 season. It is a slot that traditionally attracts a lot of attention, and this time even more so because of the tight standings and the importance of every win in the second part of the competitive year. The hall at Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 58 in New Belgrade will once again be the stage where there is demand for one ticket more, so tickets and passes have been one of the main topics for days already before the opening tip. Public interest in Belgrade in games like these rarely drops, and precisely because of that ticket sales usually speed up as match week approaches. Secure your tickets right away and click the button as soon as you see it, because the best seats in the stands get snapped up the fastest ahead of evenings like these. An atmosphere is expected in which every defensive stop and every rebound is felt, and such a context often turns even a seemingly small detail into a decisive advantage on the court.
This is a matchup in which both form and character intersect in a single night, because Red Star and Maccabi Tel Aviv bring different styles, but also a clear need for a result. The Belgrade team reaches this point of the season with a record of 12 wins and 10 losses, while Maccabi Tel Aviv stands at 9 wins and 13 losses, so those numbers already show that the home side comes in on slightly more stable footing, but with no room to relax. In a schedule like this there are no comfortable nights, and Round 27 usually arrives at a moment when games start being read as direct duels for positions, confidence, and psychological advantage for the rest of the season. Fans feel that, and that’s why tickets become part of the story of the game, not just logistics, because the stands in the Štark Arena often act like an extra player. The crowd in Belgrade expects energy from the first minute, and for the visitors in such an environment it is important to survive the opening surge and the tempo the home team imposes through defense and contact. For everyone who wants to be part of that picture, buying tickets often also means buying an experience, because the difference between watching and taking part in the atmosphere can be enormous.
Form and numbers that explain why this matchup is special
Red Star this season builds its identity through a combination of physical play and an offense that relies on multiple creators, and a good part of the responsibility is carried by Codi Miller-McIntyre, who so far has been among the most consistent with 13.3 points and 6.3 assists per game. When you add Jordan Nwora with an average of 17.0 points and Chima Moneke with 14.6 points along with 7.6 rebounds, it becomes clear that the home team has several ways to punish a defense, whether through transition or through execution in the half court. Nikola Kalinić brings balance and experience on the wing, and his ability to fill multiple roles often helps in games when momentum swings through runs. With such a core, Red Star can look for an edge in rebounding, in one-on-one play, and in an attack where the defense must decide whom to double. In the Štark Arena such versatility usually stands out especially, because the crowd reacts to every aggressive defensive sequence and raises the intensity. That is exactly why tickets for a game like this have added value, because the fan doesn’t come only to watch, but to participate in a tempo that in Belgrade is built as a joint project of the stands and the court.
One of the reasons why Red Star has often looked solid this season is the depth of its rotation, which allows it to survive weaker stretches without a complete collapse of structure. Jared Butler has so far provided bursts of scoring production and organization, and Semi Ojeleye brings size and energy at the positions where the toughest battles are fought, especially when it is necessary to protect the paint or switch onto perimeter players in switch-heavy defense. Donatas Motiejunas and Ebuka Izundu offer different profiles of big men, so the home side can change its approach depending on whether it wants more back-to-the-basket play, more rebounding, or faster paint defense. Ognjen Dobrić and Yago Dos Santos come in as options that can raise the pace and pressure the ball, and in games of this profile it is often precisely defensive pressing that ignites the stands. When the crowd “hooks in,” ticket sales usually get a new wave of interest, because the story about the atmosphere spreads faster than any statistics. That is why, in practical terms as well, it is smart to think ahead, because tickets for this event become sought-after as soon as match day approaches. In Belgrade, evenings like these are often more than sport, and that can be felt already on the approaches to the arena, where crowds form earlier than usual.
Maccabi Tel Aviv enters this game with different pressure and a different story, but not with less motivation, because a record of 9 wins and 13 losses leaves little room for missed opportunities. In a season that has brought a series of tight finishes, it is crucial for the visitors to find continuity on defense and rhythm on offense, especially on the road where the opponent “feeds” off the crowd’s energy. The roster shows depth and athleticism, from Lonnie Walker IV on the perimeter, through Tamir Blatt and John DiBartolomea in playmaking and shooting, to bigs who can run the floor like Jaylen Hoard and Roman Sorkin. Such a combination suggests that Maccabi Tel Aviv can play at multiple speeds, but also that it needs discipline, because in Belgrade one empty possession often means five points on the scoreboard. In the context of tickets, it is precisely games in which the visitor arrives with an imperative and with a roster full of individual quality that most raise interest, because the crowd wants to see the best possible edition of both teams. If Maccabi manages to bring the game into its rhythm, a seat in the stands becomes a seat for an evening in which every possession is played like a small duel of character. And when such a “movie” is announced in advance, it is no surprise that tickets sell out earlier than many expect.
When you go deeper into the names, you can see how capable Maccabi Tel Aviv is of creating advantages in different matchups, because the list also includes Oshae Brissett, Will Rayman, and T.J. Leaf, and inside there are options such as Clifford Omoruyi and Zach Hankins. Jeff Dowtin and Uros Trifunović further expand the backcourt, so Red Star’s defense must prepare for waves of pressure and lineup changes that can shift the dynamics from minute to minute. Sorkin and Hoard can be especially important in a game where a big battle on the boards is expected, while Walker IV and Blatt carry the threat from the perimeter and from pick-and-roll situations. In the Štark Arena, such a profile of a visiting team usually means the game will not “settle” easily, but will swing through runs and counterpunches, which is exactly the scenario fans want. That is precisely why tickets and passes carry extra weight, because no one comes to a game that promises routine, but to a duel that promises a range of emotions from the first to the last minute. On nights like these it often happens that even neutral spectators become loud, because the pace and tension simply pull the stands in. If you want to be part of such an atmosphere, buying tickets earlier is also a practical decision, because it gives you more choice and less last-minute stress.
Head-to-head duels and the psychology of revenge
A special dimension to this matchup is also given by the fact that they have already met this season, and that first duel left a mark in both camps. According to available results from the earlier part of the competition, Red Star won away at Maccabi Tel Aviv on October 30 by 99:92, which is a detail that immediately opens the topic of revenge and adjustments. In such pairings, even the smallest detail is remembered, from who hit a tough three during a run, to who turned the ball over on a key possession, and coaches usually use that “material” as a map for a new plan. For Maccabi Tel Aviv it is a chance to show it can respond on the road, and for Red Star confirmation that the win in Tel Aviv was not an accident, but the result of a clear identity. In Belgrade, such narratives additionally fill the stands, because the crowd loves games with a story and with “history” within the same season, and tickets then become entry into the continuation of a series watched live. Red Star fans as a rule react especially to opponents who arrive with a motive for payback, because then you can feel both teams playing with extra charge. That is exactly why increased interest in tickets is expected now as well, because you are not watching just one game, but also an answer to what has already happened in the first head-to-head meeting.
The psychology of revenge is not just a phrase, but a real factor that is seen in the opening minutes, in the way the duel is entered, and in how the first refereeing criteria are handled. Red Star will certainly try to impose contact and a pace that in the Štark Arena often “eats” the visitor, while Maccabi Tel Aviv will look for composure and quick decisions, in order to avoid possessions that end in panic as the clock runs down. In such a game, leaders with the ball carry special weight, because the first lost duel in organization often means the first wave of noise from the stands, and that then spills over into defense and energy. That is why it will be interesting to see how situations are solved in which the ball is fed to the low post or play goes through switches, because both rosters have players who can punish a wrong read. Tactically, controlling the defensive rebound is also crucial, because every second-chance possession in an arena full of people sounds like a small victory, and fans reward that with volume. From the spectator’s perspective, these are exactly the details that make it worth getting tickets, because live you see best how a team “breaks” or “rises” after one made shot or one drawn offensive foul. Tickets for a matchup like this are not just access to the stands, but access to a game in which you can feel how momentum is built and carried from the court to the crowd and back.
Štark Arena as a stage: capacity, location, and the stands experience
The Štark Arena in New Belgrade has long had the status of a venue where big games are experienced differently, and the reason is a combination of capacity, acoustics, and the way the stands are “leaned” toward the court. For sporting events, 18,386 seats are listed, with the fact that it is a multi-purpose facility whose capacity changes depending on the type of event, so the experience can be adapted to the atmosphere the organizer wants to achieve. An additional practical advantage for part of the audience is that within the facility a parking area with 791 parking spaces is listed, which is important information for those coming from outside the city or planning to arrive by car. The address itself, Bulevar Arsenija Čarnojevića 58, places the arena in a traffic-important part of New Belgrade, where before and after big games recognizable fan columns are formed. In such an environment, tickets often also become planning an evening, because many come earlier to avoid crowds at the entrances and to experience the warm-up, team introductions, and the first reactions from the stands. Buy tickets via the button below and click the button as soon as you notice it, because this is the type of game where the best sections are the most sought-after, and the in-arena experience is strongest precisely when you are “in the middle” of the atmosphere. In the Štark Arena, details are often remembered, from the song before tip-off to the noise after a string of defensive stops, and that is what turns a ticket into a memory.
Practical information for arrival and entry into the arena
If you are planning to come to the game, the most important thing is to account for crowds around the arena and for the fact that traffic flows in New Belgrade can slow down in the hour before tip-off, especially when a large number of visitors is expected. Experience from major events at the Štark Arena suggests it is wise to arrive earlier, because then it is easier to find parking, pass the security check, and still have time to navigate the sections. Tickets and passes should be ready for inspection, and it is also good to check in advance which entrance corresponds to your section, because the arena has multiple access points and sometimes the most time is lost by circling the wrong way. For those coming from outside Belgrade, it is practical to plan the return as well, because after the final buzzer the exit of a large number of people happens in a short time, so patience is part of the logistics. Inside the arena, the atmosphere is often strongest already during the warm-up, so tickets are worth it also because the “story” begins before the opening tip, not only when the score starts. If you want to avoid stress and catch the best part of the fan build-up, buying tickets on time and arriving earlier is often the best combination, especially for those visiting the Štark Arena for the first time. On nights like these, details matter, and a good arrival plan means you experience the game to the fullest, instead of meeting it in a line.
What to watch on the court: pace, rebounding, and finishes
In a game of this profile, three things often decide it that are not always obvious in the statistics at first glance, and those are control of pace, control of rebounding, and composure in the finish. Red Star has so far this season shown it can maintain an offensive average in a range that suggests stability, with an emphasis on team play and on the fact that multiple players can take on the scoring role depending on the night. When you have a creator like Codi Miller-McIntyre, who along with points also brings assists, it is easier to “survive” periods when the shot is not falling, because the offense does not boil down to one idea. On the other hand, Maccabi Tel Aviv has in its roster several athletic profiles that can change the game with a transition run, so the home team will have to watch turnovers and how quickly the visitor gets back on defense after a miss. In close finishes, free throws and the defensive rebound become currency that is not forgiven, and in an arena full of people the pressure increases both at the line and in decision-making. For the spectator, that combination is exactly the reason to follow the game live, because in the Štark Arena you can feel how tension rises from possession to possession, and tickets then are worth double, as a ticket to sport and as a ticket to emotion. Whoever wants to feel that “charge” at the moment the game breaks usually does not wait until the last day, because tickets for nights like these can disappear faster than expected.
Tickets and fan interest: why a full arena is expected
When you combine Belgrade’s basketball temperament, the importance of points, and the fact that a team with a recognizable name and a roster full of notable individuals is coming to town, interest in tickets is almost a rule, not an exception. Red Star fans experience games in the Štark Arena as a city event, not just a sports slot, so ticket sales often turn into a race for a better section and a better view of the court. Maccabi Tel Aviv, on the other hand, comes to Belgrade aware that one of the louder arenas in Europe awaits it, and such challenges often draw out the best version of a team, because players either respond to pressure or get lost in it. For neutral spectators, that is an ideal scenario, because it promises a game with no calculating and with every ball contested, and that is what the crowd wants to pay for with a ticket. Tickets for this matchup disappear quickly, so buy your tickets on time and click the button when you see it, because this is a game that is not talked about only in the preview, but also for days afterward, through details you could see only live. In Belgrade, such nights are remembered by the sound, the rhythm, and the feeling that you are part of something bigger than the result, and a ticket is your entry into that story. If you want to experience the Štark Arena at full strength and be part of an atmosphere that can turn a game, buying tickets is the first step, and everything else comes with the first fan wave when the teams step onto the court.
Sources:
- EuroLeague (official team pages): win-loss records for Crvena zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade and Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv
- EuroLeague (team and player statistics): seasonal averages and individual performances of Crvena zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade
- Sofascore (game preview): tip-off time in UTC and location Belgrade Arena for KK Crvena zvezda vs Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Scoutbasketball (rosters and season results): player lists and the result Maccabi Tel Aviv vs KK Crvena zvezda 92:99 on 30/10/2025
- Štark Arena (official website): address and basic information about the Arena Beograd facility
- World Athletics (venue profile): seating capacity for sporting events and information about parking spaces