Euroleague F4: Valencia vs Real Madrid 22/05/2026

A game with enormous stakes and tension between two well-known rivals could easily turn into a slower and tougher battle than we are used to seeing when Valencia and Real Madrid face each other.

Betting on total points

Valencia and Real Madrid will meet once again this season, but this time under completely different circumstances. Their seventh head-to-head clash comes on the biggest possible stage, the EuroLeague Final Four semifinal, where there is no room for mistakes. Real hold the edge in previous meetings and possess experience in games of this magnitude that is difficult to compare with any team in Europe, but this time the situation does not seem so straightforward for the Madrid side.

Injuries have seriously disrupted Real’s rotation at the most important stage of the season. The absence of Edy Tavares has completely changed the look of the team, while additional problems in the center position forced Scariolo to search for alternative solutions. In such circumstances, Usman Garuba has taken on major responsibility and did an excellent job against Hapoel. He may not dominate the paint like Tavares, but he brings much more mobility and defensive energy in switching situations, which could be crucial against a team like Valencia.

Pedro Martinez’s side has played all season in its recognizable style – a lot of transition basketball, quick ball movement, and constant pressure through three-point shooting. However, the series against Panathinaikos showed that this team can also play in a completely different way when required. They proved capable of slowing the tempo down, turning games into low-scoring battles, and finding ways to win through toughness and discipline.

Because of all this, it is difficult to expect an open and fast-paced game. The stakes are simply too high, and both coaches know very well how one bad stretch can decide a place in the final. A much more realistic scenario is a game where every possession carries huge importance, with plenty of physical contact, a slower tempo, and far fewer easy points than we are usually used to seeing when these two teams meet.