EuroLeague evening in Milan: Milano and Crvena zvezda in a fight for the upper part of the standings
In the 22nd round of the 2025/2026 EuroLeague season, the Mediolanum Forum in Milan turns into the stage for one of the most interesting matchups of the middle portion of the regular season, as EA7 Emporio Armani Milano hosts Crvena zvezda Meridianbet from Belgrade. The game is scheduled for January 15, 2026 at 20:30, and it is a clash of teams that are currently in heavy traffic around playoff positions, where every win lifts or drops a team by several spots. Statistics show that Crvena zvezda, after 18 games played, stands at 10 wins and 8 losses, with a positive point differential and a strong home record, while Milano is at 9 wins and 9 losses, exactly 50% success and with a slight negative overall points differential. Such a context makes this game a mini-final in January, because the winner gains important tie-breaker arguments and an additional psychological edge in the fight for the play-in and the playoffs. That is precisely why fan interest is high, and ticket sales for this matchup are attracting basketball lovers from Italy, Serbia, and the wider region, who want to feel the EuroLeague atmosphere live and secure their tickets via the button later in the text.
A tight table and the stakes of the game in the 2025/2026 season
A look at the current EuroLeague standings reveals how sensitive every game in the central part of the season is, especially for clubs hovering around the zones from seventh to twelfth place. Crvena zvezda, with a 10–8 record and a +43 point differential, is currently in the upper half of the ranking, but in a competition where several clubs have almost the same number of wins and losses, even the slightest streak of poor results is not allowed. Milano, with a 9–9 record and a -8 point differential, is firmly in the play-in zone, but at the same time aware that one home win can mean a jump toward safer territory, and one slip-up—a fall into the lower part of the table. It is even more interesting to look at the segmented numbers: Crvena zvezda has an impressive home-court record, but a significantly more modest one on the road, while Milano is more balanced, with almost the same number of wins at home and away, which further opens the story about the importance of home court precisely in this game. In a scenario where final positions will be decided by nuances, fans who decide to buy tickets and come to the arena literally become the “sixth player,” and the fact that ticket sales are already underway suggests that the stands of the Mediolanum Forum will be filled to the last seat.
Olimpia Milano: a deep roster and the desire to return to the European top
Olimpia Milano enters the 2025/2026 season with one of the deepest rosters in the EuroLeague, which is confirmed by the officially published squad with a whole series of proven names. The key to the offense remains in the hands of Shavon Shields, who, as captain and one of the top scorers, still holds the role of the player around whom most isolations and sets in crucial moments revolve. At the power forward and center positions, Milano has a combination of experience and strength in players like Zach LeDay, Devin Booker, Vlatko Čančar and Josh Nebo, while Giampaolo Ricci and Ousmane Diop bring depth and the ability to play small-ball lineups. The backcourt tandem Nico Mannion – Lorenzo Brown offers a balance between creativity and tempo control, with Quinn Ellis and Diego Flaccadori as additional options in playmaking and on-ball defense. With so many options, Milano can change its style from a slower, controlled offense to a faster pace with many pick-and-roll situations, which is especially important in a matchup against Crvena zvezda’s aggressive defense. For fans considering buying tickets, it is precisely that combination of the club’s recognizable name, rich tradition, and attractive roster that is an additional reason to secure a seat in the stands and watch live how this string of big names copes against the Serbian champion.
Crvena zvezda: energy, athleticism and a wide rotation of the Belgrade squad
Crvena zvezda Meridianbet also in the current season confirms its status as a team that combines experience, NBA pedigree, and the energy of younger players, which is clearly visible from the roster published for the 2025/2026 season. In the ABA League and the EuroLeague, Chima Moneke, Jordan Nwora and Tyson Carter stand out in particular as players who bring points, rebounds, and physical dominance, while Jared Butler and Yago Dos Santos provide additional creativity on the perimeter positions. Semi Ojeleye and Donatas Motiejunas offer strength in the paint and the ability to stretch the offense with outside shooting, and an experienced band of players such as Nikola Kalinić, Dejan Davidovac and Ognjen Dobrić maintains the identity and recognizable defensive energy of the Belgrade club. Codi Miller-McIntyre gives Zvezda the option of a true “floor generator” who can set up teammates, but also take responsibility himself in closing moments. With such depth, the coach has the luxury to rotate more than ten players, maintain a high intensity of pressure and aggressive switching, which will be one of the key challenges for Milano’s backcourt line. Spectators who buy tickets for this game can expect a Zvezda that will, through athleticism and defensive toughness, try to silence the home crowd and turn the Mediolanum Forum into yet another away stage where the Belgrade club seeks a valuable victory.
Head-to-head history: a slight results advantage on Milano’s side
Although this game is played in the new, expanded EuroLeague, the recent head-to-head history of Milano and Crvena zvezda over the past few seasons is already rich enough to announce another dramatic duel. The latest run of meetings shows a slight advantage for the Italian side: Milano has recorded five wins in the previous six European games, including an away thriller in Belgrade at the end of the 2024/2025 season, decided by two points, as well as a convincing home win in December 2024 when Olimpia’s offense went past the hundred-point mark. On the other hand, Crvena zvezda has proven it can win in Milan, which was seen in one of the matchups in early 2024, when the Serbian side outplayed the host with tough defense and better three-point shooting. Such a head-to-head context creates a story in which neither team has absolute psychological dominance, but Milano enters with the feeling that its style of play in this arena traditionally functions better. Fans who secure tickets for this matchup will get the chance to watch the continuation of a rivalry in which many games were decided by details—one offensive rebound, one missed free throw, or one three-pointer in the final seconds—which, from the stands on site, leaves a far stronger impression than in front of the television.
Mediolanum Forum: an arena of over 12 thousand seats that lives for basketball
The Mediolanum Forum, today also officially renamed the Unipol Forum, but still best known to fans by its old name, is one of the most recognizable basketball temples in Europe. Located in Assago, right by the southern edge of Milan, at Via Giuseppe di Vittorio 6, the complex is part of the larger business-entertainment area Milanofiori, with shops, cinemas and additional facilities. The arena has a capacity of more than 12 thousand spectators, and throughout its history it has hosted the EuroLeague Final Four, world figure skating championships, major concerts and various sports spectacles, which means the infrastructure is at the level of the biggest European arenas. The steep layout of the stands and the proximity to the court create the feeling that every fan is “over the shoulder” of the players, which in the EuroLeague especially comes to the fore when teams with fiery fan bases like Milano and Crvena zvezda meet. For everyone buying tickets, it is important to know that the arena is easily accessible by public transport, and at the same time spacious enough to accommodate true basketball masses, so those who buy tickets in time and secure their tickets will be able to choose between different sectors, from the fan zones behind the basket to more comfortable seats closer to center court.
Stands atmosphere and the importance of securing your tickets in time
EuroLeague games in Milan are known for a special combination of Italian temperament and basketball tradition, and the arrival of Crvena zvezda further amplifies the atmosphere, given that the Belgrade club has one of the most passionate fan bases in Europe. When the red-and-white colors of hosts and visitors mix in the stands of the Mediolanum Forum, you get an acoustic wall that often raises the adrenaline level for both players and the crowd. In such an environment every point, block, or stolen ball triggers strong reactions, and the very fact that ticket sales for such games are usually very dynamic means that fans must react in time. Those who buy tickets earlier have a greater chance of choosing seats by the court or in sectors where the loudest supporter groups gather, while arriving later often means remaining tickets in higher rows or less attractive corners of the arena. That is precisely why the call “secure your tickets in time” is not an empty phrase, but a very concrete piece of advice for everyone who wants to experience such an atmosphere from the first row, instead of watching it through a screen or hearing it retold by friends.
Getting to the arena and planning the game day in Milan
For fans coming from other parts of Italy or from abroad, one of the key elements is logistics—how to get to the arena, where to park, and how to fit the rest of the day into Milan’s city story. The Mediolanum Forum is located in the Assago area, which is fastest reached from the city center by taking the green metro line (M2) to the Assago Milanofiori Forum station, which is practically next to the arena itself. Those arriving by car can count on large parking lots around the complex, but for days of major events it is advisable to set off earlier to avoid congestion on access roads. Given that the game is in an evening slot, many fans will want to spend the day in the city—touring the Duomo, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, or the Navigli district—and then head down toward Assago a few hours before tip-off. For such a plan, timely ticket purchase is extremely helpful so that you know the exact sector and entry time, as well as pre-booked accommodation near the venue, especially if you are traveling with family or a larger supporter group. In this way, the day turns into an all-day Milan experience, and not just a short trip to the arena.
Milan as a destination for fans: between basketball, culture and gastronomy
Milan is a city that offers fans much more than the game itself—and that is precisely why the matchup against Crvena zvezda is an opportunity to turn basketball into a mini-trip. With sights such as the Duomo cathedral, the Sforza Castle, or the modern districts Porta Nuova and CityLife, the city is also known for a rich gastronomic scene, from traditional trattorias to modern bistros and pizzerias. Fans who come to the game often combine a day of sightseeing with an evening visit to the Mediolanum Forum, which requires at least one night in the city or nearby. That is why it is smart to look in time at accommodation offers in the host city, because during major sporting events quality and prices can vary significantly depending on location and the timing of the reservation. When you know you have secure accommodation and tickets in your pocket, you can more relaxedly surrender to walks through the center, coffees on terraces, and evening preparation for cheering in the arena. A city that lives sport—from football through fashion to basketball—is an ideal backdrop for a EuroLeague evening in which Milano and Crvena zvezda fight for important points.
Tactical clash: game tempo, the paint and shooting runs
On the court, a very tactical game is expected in which tempo will be one of the key factors. Statistics show that both teams average around 85 points per game, with Crvena zvezda only slightly more efficient on offense, while Milano tries through organized defense and rebounding control to compensate for possible shooting oscillations. In the paint, fans will be able to follow matchups such as those between Devin Booker, Josh Nebo or Bryant Dunston on one side and Donatas Motiejunas, Ebuka Izundu or Chima Moneke on the other, while on the perimeter positions the focus will be on Shields, LeDay, Mannion and Brown in Milano’s jersey and on Nwora, Butler, Miller-McIntyre and Yago Dos Santos in Zvezda’s jersey. The key question will be whether Milano can slow down Zvezda’s transition and force it into a half-court offense, while the visitors will try to force as many turnovers and open threes as possible from kick-out situations. For fans considering buying tickets, such a tactical clash means that on the court they are not watching only individual talent, but also a chess game between the coaching staffs, where every timeout and every change of defensive scheme can break the game.
The EuroLeague evening experience: from the first entry into the arena to the final buzzer
Attending a EuroLeague game at the Mediolanum Forum rarely boils down to just forty minutes of play—it is a complete experience that begins already upon entering the arena. There are fan zones, stores with club souvenirs, DJs or music before tip-off, announcements over the PA, and warm-ups during which fans follow every dunk and every made three. As the stands fill, the noise grows, and the moment when the lights go out and the teams are introduced, especially in high-risk games of great sporting significance, is often in itself worth the price of the ticket. During the game, fans in Milan are known for choreographies, chants and creating pressure on opposing shooters from the free-throw line, while Zvezda’s fans bring recognizable songs and uninterrupted noise from the away section. That is precisely why ticket sales for such matchups often attract also neutral basketball lovers, who want to experience an atmosphere rarely seen in domestic leagues. Those who buy tickets in time and secure their tickets can thus experience the full story—from the first step into the arena to the final buzzer and possible celebration in the stands.
Why now is the right moment to secure your tickets for Milano – Crvena zvezda
As January 15 approaches, it is clear that interest in the game between Milano and Crvena zvezda will continue to grow, especially if both teams ahead of that date maintain or improve their positions in the standings and remain in a direct fight for the play-in and the playoffs. That is precisely why time plays an important role also for fans: the earlier you decide to buy tickets, the greater the chances that you will choose among the best seats, rather than taking what is left at the last moment. Besides the position in the arena itself, there is also the travel aspect, because those coming from outside Milan need to coordinate transport, possible days off and accommodation for fans on game day. The combination of the sporting importance of the matchup, the history of head-to-head meetings and the special atmosphere in the arena makes this game an ideal choice for everyone who wants to “mark” the EuroLeague experience in their own fan calendar. When we add to that the fact that tickets for such games are often in demand and that the best tickets sell out quickly, the logical step for every basketball lover is—to seize the opportunity, follow the instructions below and secure your tickets in time.
Sources:
- EuroLeague – official standings and club statistics in the 2025/2026 season.
- Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano – official roster announcement for the 2025/2026 season.
- Be-Basketball – roster and basic player statistics for Crvena zvezda in the 2025/2026 season.
- Wikipedia / Forum di Milano – information on the capacity, address and history of the arena in Assago near Milan.
- Sports portals (H2H and results of previous meetings between Milano and Crvena zvezda).