EuroLeague Final Four Preview: Valencia Basket vs Real Madrid Spanish Semifinal Without Tavares and Len

Valencia Basket and Real Madrid meet at the Telekom Center Athens in a Spanish Final Four semifinal marked by Real Madrid's absence of both Walter Tavares and Alex Len due to injury. The loss of their two starting centers significantly alters the interior balance of the matchup

Valencia arrives with one of the best offenses in the 2025/26 EuroLeague. They average 90.4 points, second only to Olympiacos, and surpass Real Madrid in scoring, total rebounds, offensive rebounds, assists and steals. The orange team produces 21.0 assists per night, captures 38.0 rebounds and punishes especially through collective dynamism, with many offensive options and a rotation capable of maintaining rhythm and intensity.

Jean Montero emerges as Valencia's main reference point. His 14.4 points, 4.7 assists and 17.8 efficiency rating make him the team's offensive engine. Around him, Kameron Taylor provides exterior balance, physicality and rebounding; Darius Thompson adds direction and three-point threat; and Nathan Reuvers, with 72.1% on two-pointers and 41% on three-pointers, could be a key piece to punish Real Madrid's interior matchups.

The Tavares and Len situation significantly changes the preview. Real Madrid loses its primary rim protector, its main rebounding reference and an essential part of its defense. Tavares averaged 9.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 15.5 efficiency rating, while Len provided height, rotation and physical presence near the basket. Without both, the interior load will fall much more on Usman Garuba, Chuma Okeke, Gabriel Deck, Trey Lyles and possibly more spread-out lineups.

Madrid, nonetheless, arrives with plenty of arguments. Its average efficiency rating is identical to Valencia Basket's, 103.5, and it has a better three-point percentage, 37.6% versus Valencia's 36.1%. Facundo Campazzo will be the white team's competitive axis, with 12.3 points, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Alongside him, Mario Hezonja, Trey Lyles, Theo Maledon, Andrés Feliz and Alberto Abalde will need to multiply production and energy to compensate for the lack of size.

The rebounding battle could be decisive. Valencia is already superior in offensive rebounding, with 13.1 captures per game, and will now face a Real Madrid without its two starting centers. Neal Sako, Reuvers, Jaime Pradilla, Matthew Costello and Braxton Key will have a clear opportunity to attack the glass, generate second chances and punish every defensive breakdown.

Pace will also be key. Valencia needs to run, move the ball and force Madrid to defend many pick-and-pop situations, continuations and open shots from their interior players. Real Madrid, meanwhile, will try to control turnovers, protect itself defensively without Tavares and capitalize on its exterior quality, where Campazzo, Hezonja, Lyles and Maledon can change the game.

In the regular season the record was tied (1-1), the first in matchday 10, with a Valencia victory (89-76), and in the second round, the rematch went to the whites, matchday 31, with an equally clear (96-79).

The statistics present a very even semifinal, but the physical context tilts several factors toward Valencia Basket. The orange team has scoring, rebounding, depth and an unmissable opportunity to attack one of Real Madrid's most weakened areas. In a Final Four, however, Madrid always finds competitive resources. Athens will decide what weighs more: Valencia's historic opportunity or Madrid's ability to survive even in extreme conditions.