Breaking Down the EuroLeague's Greatest Upsets: When Teams Bet Big

Loved by many, and respected by all basketball enthusiasts, the Euroleague is one of the premier sports offerings that the beautiful game of basketball has to offer. Teamwork, tactics, and local rivalries add more flavor to an already great league.

But even here, mutual fans are the real winners because the Euroleague also has its list of disappointments - and in the betting world, they are called upsets. There’s no guarantee of a win if you bet or place your stake on your favorite team.

That’s why in this article, we’ll go over some of Euroleague’s greatest upsets.

Olympiacos vs. Real Madrid (2013)

First on the list is perhaps one of the greatest upsets in Euroleague history. Real Madrid went into that game as the clear favorites with a roster that featured generational talent with an elite coach to back them up. Olympiacos had just managed to reach the finals through sheer will and hard work, putting a different twist on the underdog narrative.

The game started with Real Madrid on the front foot with their high-octane dominating style that ensured Olympiacos trailed by 17 points. What followed was nothing short of historic. Olympiacos mounted a furious comeback, fueled by their captain, Vassilis Spanoulis, who delivered a masterclass in clutch play.

Partizan Belgrade vs. Panathinaikos (2010): A Serbian Masterclass

Played as the Euroleague quarterfinal, the match between Partizan Belgrade and Panathinaikos was one for the ages as both fans and bookmarkers were stunned alike. The team from Greece had an overwhelming favorite odds of 1.30 as they were expected to cruise to victory as the Serbian underdogs had a 5.00 odd to win.

Partizan defied expectations with a fearless display of basketball as NBA star Bojan Bogdanovic led his team to victory. Partizan’s defense shone, and clutch shooting from Aleks Maric was enough to help his team seal the deal.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. CSKA Moscow (2004): A Semifinal Shocker

Lastly, the 2004 EuroLeague Final Four saw one of the greatest upsets in history as CSKA Moscow entered the semifinal as overwhelming favorites but somehow managed to win. Bookmakers gave CSKA odds of 1.20, while Maccabi Tel Aviv’s chances were placed at 4.50. But given the gravity of the match in question made this one of the greatest upsets in the history of the sport.

This upset was pivotal in Maccabi’s story, as they went on to claim the championship with a dominant performance in the final. Maccabi’s main game plan was to use their defense to disrupt CSKA’s offensive rhythm and it worked like a charm.

Although CSKA Moscow asserted their dominance using size and depth, Maccabi’s teamwork and never-die attitude helped them with clutch three-pointers and relentless pace. The game eventually ended 93-85 in favor of the Israeli team. However, this not only sent Maccabi to the finals, but it gave a whole new meaning to the phrase, thrive under pressure.

With that said, these are some of the biggest upsets in basketball history.