The 2026 Copa del Rey semifinals open with a heavyweight clash: Valencia Basket and Real Madrid, the two strongest teams in the 2025-26 Liga Endesa, face off for a spot in the final. The matchup, this Saturday at 6:00 PM, also reedits the last league final and pits the two teams that have set the competitive pace of the season.
Real Madrid arrives as the leader with an 18-2 record, while Valencia Basket follows closely with a 15-5 mark that confirms their consistency. It's not just a matter of numbers: both have demonstrated the ability to dominate on defense, punish in transition, and deliver in tight finishes. It is, simply put, the matchup many expected.
The Roig Arena Factor
If there's one element that conditions the game, it's Valencia's performance at home. Valencia has turned the Roig Arena into a fortress: an average differential close to twenty points in Liga Endesa and just one loss in ten home games this season, suffered in January against Unicaja (70-76). All their home victories have come by double digits, a stat that underscores their authority in front of their crowd.
Scariolo vs. Martínez: Experience Without Direct Precedent
Sergio Scariolo and Pedro Martínez, both 64 years old, have accumulated 26 Copa appearances between them. However, they have never faced each other directly in this tournament. They have coincided in previous editions, but always on opposite sides of the bracket.
Scariolo holds a special memory of Zaragoza 2005, where he won the title. Martínez, for his part, has more tournament appearances and an extensive trajectory on the Valencia bench. The 2026 Valencia semifinal will be the first time their paths cross in the Copa, adding a historical nuance to the clash.
Copa Tradition Favors Real Madrid
The historical statistic in the competition is striking: six Copa eliminations between both teams and six Madrid victories. Semifinals, quarterfinals, and even a final—the 2017 edition—have gone the white side's way. Valencia will look to break that streak at home and change the recent narrative.
The League Precedent
The last matchup between the two saw a significant Real Madrid comeback (94-79). Valencia struck first with a devastating start, but the white team tightened up on defense and ultimately imposed their roster depth. Mario Hezonja was decisive in the second half, posting 23 points and a clear impact on the team's differential.
A Clash of Titans
It's not just a semifinal; it's a test of hierarchy. The leader against the immediate challenger. The best home team of the season against a squad that knows how to compete in high-pressure scenarios. The Copa doesn't care about previous records, but it does care about moments. And both arrive at one of those peaks in form that turn the game into an anticipated final.
Valencia and Madrid, face to face. A contemporary classic with history, context, and a single prize: continuing to dream of the title.